Average Mini-Mental State Examination Score Research Articles

Home Care for the Elderly: An Integrated Approach to Perception, Quality of Life, and Cognition.

This study investigated the impact of home care, health status, and cognition. A qualitative and quantitative approach was employed through a cross-sectional study with a sample of 60 elderly individuals in need of home care in the municipality of Itatiba, São Paulo, Brazil. The analysis utilized the Discourse of the Collective Subject (DCS), EQ-5D, EQ VAS, and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). The sample consisted of 40.0% male and 60.0% female individuals. The majority (61.6%) received weekly visits, mainly from community health agents, who were responsible for the majority of the care (45%). Positive considerations were highlighted, with 36.6% emphasizing the contribution to treatment continuity. The EQ VAS assessment indicated a moderately good perception of health. The EQ-5D analysis revealed significant differences between genders in personal care (p = 0.04). There were significant differences between clinical characteristics and EQ-5D dimensions, such as neoplasia and reduced mobility (p = 0.04), and arthritis/osteoarthritis/rheumatism and a limitation in common activities (p = 0.01). The presence of anxiety/depression was significant in cases of neoplasia (p = 0.006), arthritis/osteoarthritis/rheumatism (p = 0.01), and stroke (p = 0.04). The logistic regression analysis showed associations between usual activities and arthritis, osteoarthritis, rheumatism (p = 0.034), pain/malaise and arthritis, osteoarthritis, rheumatism (p = 0.038), and anxiety/depression and stroke (p= 0.028). The average MMSE scores (17.52) suggested a mild cognitive impairment, with no statistical differences between genders. Based on these results, it can be concluded that home care can provide a comprehensive approach and continuous assistance, emphasizing the importance of personalized care based on perceived and clinical differences.

Quiescent ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease have potential effect on cognitive function

BackgroundUlcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD) imply chronic intestinal inflammation with both local and systemic manifestations. Cognition is a lifelong process of learning and memory processing, which has been identified to be affected by chronic systemic illnesses.AimTo evaluate the cognitive functions in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients in remissionPatients and methodsInclusion criteria are as follows: 70 IBD patients in remission and a group of 50 healthy control. Mini-mental state examination (MMSE) was used for assessment of global cognitive function and Trail Making Test (TMT) for assessment of executive functions. TMT consists of part A which measures attention and performance speed and part B which measures mental flexibility. Both tests have been previously validated on Arabic-speaking populations.ResultsThe study included 70 patients (50 UC and 20 CD), who have been in remission for 21 ± 9 months. Of the included cases, about 51 were already on steroids ± azathioprine, and 19 patients were on biologics. Males represented 60% (n = 42) while females 40% (n = 28), and their mean age was 34 ± 8 years. Both cases and controls were matched for age and sex. The mean score of MMSE among IBD cases was significantly worse than controls (28.5 ± 3 versus 30, P < 0.001). Also, the duration of TMT parts A and B was significantly longer in cases than controls. The cases group scored 32 ± 19.5 s in TMT part A, versus 23 s by the controls. In TMT B, the recorded scores were 255 ± 48, versus 234 s in cases and control groups respectively (P < 0.001). In the cases group, 6 patients (8%) had below normal MMSE score of less than 24, with mild (3 patients, mean score was 21) to moderate cognitive impairment (3 patients, mean score was 15). The presence of extraintestinal manifestation was the only disease-related factor that was associated with cognitive impairment. Of the patient-related factor: older age, being divorced, and living in rural areas were associated with poorer cognitive functions.ConclusionIBD patients potentially suffer from cognitive impairment. In our study, factors as extraintestinal complications, older age, marital status, and residence in rural areas could be contributing factors to this impairment.

APOE-ε4 Alleles Modify the Decline of MMSE Scores Associated With Time-Dependent PM2.5 Exposure: Findings From a Community-Based Longitudinal Cohort Study

Limited research has explored the long-term effect of reduced PM2.5 exposure on cognitive function. This study aimed to investigate the effects of time-dependent PM2.5 exposure and the interactions of PM2.5 and aging on declines in Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores, in carriers and non-carriers of the APOE-ε4 allele. Participants aged over 60 were recruited for this cohort study, undergoing MMSE tests twice from the Taiwan Biobank Program from 2008 to 2020. Participants with dementia or baseline MMSE scores <24 were excluded. Annual PM2.5 levels were estimated using a hybrid kriging/land use regression model with extreme gradient boosting, treated as a time-dependent variable. Generalized estimating equations were used to assess the impacts of repeated PM2.5 on MMSE decline, further stratified by the presence of APOE-ε4 alleles. After follow-up, 290 participants out of the overall 7,000 community residents in the Biobank dataset demonstrated incidences of MMSE declines (<24), with an average MMSE score decline of 1.11 per year. Participants with ε4/ε4 alleles in the APOE gene had significantly 3.68-fold risks of MMSE decline. High levels of PM2.5 across all visits were significantly associated with worsening of scores on the overall MMSE. As annual levels of PM2.5 decreased over time, the impact of PM2.5 on MMSE decline also slowly diminished. Long-term PM2.5 exposure may be associated with increased risk of MMSE decline, despite improvements in ambient PM2.5 levels over time. Validation of these results necessitates a large-scale prospective cohort study with more concise cognitive screening tools.

Mild cognitive impairment in novel SPG4/SPAST mutation‐related sporadic late onset hereditary spastic paraplegia: case series

AbstractBackgroundMutations and deletions in the SPG4/SPAST gene cause for up to 50% of the autosomal dominant forms of hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) and for up to 15% of the sporadic cases. Affected individuals have pyramidal signs in the lower limbs and some present additional features. Cognitive impairment is common in late‐onset forms of HSPs.MethodsThis study examined the cognitive abilities of 20 sporadic late‐onset patients with HSP using next‐generation sequencing. We also used a combination of the Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) to assess their cognition.ResultsThe present study led to the discovery of three new pathogenic mutations of the SPG4 gene through evolutionary conservation and analysis of structural models. We also confirmed mild cognitive impairment (MCI) with normal MMSE scores (≥27) and reduced MoCA scores (&lt;26) in these HSP‐SPG4 mutant patients. Such individuals mainly present with impaired executive function, delayed memory, abstraction and language.ConclusionsThe results broaden the mutational space of SPG4‐associated HSP with sporadic late‐onset modality and indicate a combination of reduced MoCA and normal MMSE for diagnosis, indicating that clinicians should consider performing a MoCA to detect MCI in patients with HSP, particularly those with sporadic onset SPG4/SPAST‐HSP.

ANALYSIS OF THE OCCURRENCE OF POSTOPERATIVE COGNITIVE DYSFUNCTION IN OBESE PATIENTS AFTER HIP ARTHROPLASTY UNDER SPINAL ANESTHESIA

The article analyzes the dynamics of cognitive dysfunction and the dependence of the occurrence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) in obese patients after hip arthroplasty under spinal anesthesia. The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) scale was used as one of the main evaluation scales of POCD. On the day of admission, the patient’s BMI was calculated. Neuropsychological testing was performed in dynamics: 1) the day before surgery; 2) 3 days after the operation – as of the 4th day; 3) after 6 days – as of the 7th day and 4) the day before discharge from the hospital. The number of patients included in the study is 120 patients. Depending on the level of the average MMSE score in the postoperative period in relation to the level in the admission period, retrospectively divided into groups: «Without negative dynamics of cognitive functions» (n=85) and «With negative dynamics of cognitive functions» (n=35). The analysis of the average value of the body mass index and the character of the physique of patients depending on the dynamics of cognitive function the day before discharge indicated only the presence of a tendency to increase the average value of the body mass index (27.6 vs. 25.8 kg/m2, p=0.14 for T -test for Independent Samples) and cases with severe alimentary- constitutional obesity (7.7 % vs. 0.9 %, p=0.07 according to the χ2 test) in the group of patients with negative dynamics of cognitive function compared to the group without it. Thus, the results of the analysis suggest a certain dependence of severe obesity with the development of cognitive disorders.

Evaluating cognitive impairment in the early stages of Parkinson’s disease using the Cambridge brain sciences-cognitive platform

BackgroundNon-motor symptoms (NMS) such as cognitive impairment are among common presentations in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). In parallel with motor symptoms, these impediments can affect PD patients’ quality of life. However, cognitive impairment has received less attention in early PD. On the other hand, the relationship between olfactory symptoms and cognitive impairment is unclear in early PD. Considering the importance of accurate and timely assessment of cognitive function in PD patients using readily available/validated tests, this study has employed the Cambridge Brain Sciences-Cognitive Platform (CBS-CP) as a computer-based tool to assess cognitive presentations in early PD patients. MethodsThirty-four eligible males and females were assigned to PD and healthy controls (HCs). The cognitive performance was assessed using CBS-CP and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and olfactory function was measured through the standardized olfactory Quick Smell test (QST). ResultsPD patients had poorer performance in all CBS-CP tasks, including short-term memory, attention, and reasoning domains than HCs. Meanwhile, the verbal domain task scores showed no significant difference between groups. PD MMSE results were in the normal range (mean=26.96), although there was a significant difference between the PD and HCs groups (P = 0.000). Our results revealed no correlation between cognitive impairment and olfactory function in PD patients. ConclusionGiven the widely studied features of CBS-CP and its reliability across published evidence, CBS-CP appears to be a suitable measurement to evaluate cognitive impairment in early PD with normal MMSE scores. It seems cognitive and olfactory impairments are independent in early PD. Data availability statementThe datasets generated during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Prognostic value of imaging-based ATN profiles in a memory clinic cohort.

The ATN model represents a research framework used to classify subjects based on the presence or absence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology through biomarkers for amyloid (A), tau (T), and neurodegeneration (N). The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between ATN profiles defined through imaging and cognitive decline in a memory clinic cohort. One hundred-eight patients from the memory clinic of Geneva University Hospitals underwent complete clinical and neuropsychological evaluation at baseline and 23 ± 5months after inclusion, magnetic resonance imaging, amyloid and tau PET scans. ATN profiles were divided into four groups: normal, AD pathological change (AD-PC: A + T-N-, A + T-N +), AD pathology (AD-P: A + T + N-, A + T + N +), and suspected non-AD pathology (SNAP: A-T + N-, A-T-N + , A-T + N +). Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores were significantly different among groups, both at baseline and follow-up, with the normal group having higher average MMSE scores than the other groups. MMSE scores changed significantly after 2years only in AD-PC and AD-P groups. AD-P profile classification also had the largest number of decliners at follow-up (55%) and the steepest global cognitive decline compared to the normal group. Cox regression showed that participants within the AD-P group had a higher risk of cognitive decline (HR = 6.15, CI = 2.59-14.59), followed by AD-PC (HR = 3.16, CI = 1.17-8.52). Of the different group classifications, AD-P was found to have the most significant effect on cognitive decline over a period of 2years, highlighting the value of both amyloid and tau PET molecular imaging as prognostic imaging biomarkers in clinical practice.

Effects of APOE4 and education on the clinical onset of autosomal dominant Alzheimer’s disease due to the PSEN1 E280A mutation (S39.004)

<h3>Objective:</h3> Determine the impact of APOE4 genotype and education on the clinical onset of autosomal dominant Alzheimer’s disease. <h3>Background:</h3> Autosomal dominant Alzheimer’s disease (ADAD) is genetically determined, but variability in age of symptom onset suggests it may be influenced by additional genetic and environmental risk factors. Although the e4 allele of the apolipoprotein E (APOE4) gene and education level both influence clinical onset of dementia in sporadic Alzheimer’s disease (AD), it is unclear whether APOE4 affects onset of ADAD. Here, we investigated the effects of APOE4 and education on the clinical onset of ADAD. <h3>Design/Methods:</h3> We analyzed retrospective data from 675 presenilin-1 (<i>PSEN1</i>) E280A mutation carriers (141 APOE4 carriers, 534 APOE4 non-carriers) and 594 <i>PSEN1</i> non-carriers (148 APOE4 carriers, 446 APOE4 non-carriers) from a Colombian kindred with ADAD. We used the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) as a proxy for clinical impairment. Model parameters in both <i>PSEN1</i> carriers and non-carriers were estimated using a Hamiltonian Markov chain Monte Carlo method. The age-related trajectories of APOE4 carriers versus non-carriers were compared in both <i>PSEN1</i> carriers and non-carriers. <h3>Results:</h3> In <i>PSEN1</i> carriers, lower MMSE scores began to significantly differentiate APOE4 carriers from non-carriers at age 45, the average age of mild cognitive impairment onset in this kindred. Years of education moderated the effect of APOE such that APOE4 carriers with lower educational levels had lower average MMSE scores in comparison to APOE4 non-carriers. <h3>Conclusions:</h3> Our findings suggest 1) age-related changes in global cognitive function may be accelerated in ADAD mutation carriers who are APOE4 carriers, compared to APOE4 non-carriers; and 2) higher educational levels may have a protective effect against cognitive impairment, even in the presence of genetic risk factors. Further longitudinal studies are necessary to clarify the impact of both education and APOE4 genotype on ADAD clinical progression. <b>Disclosure:</b> Mr. Barksdale has nothing to disclose. The institution of Dr. Langella has received research support from Alzheimer’s Association. Dr. Vasquez has nothing to disclose. David Fernando Aguillon, Sr. has nothing to disclose. Yinghua Chen has nothing to disclose. Dr. Su has nothing to disclose. Dr. ACOSTA-BAENA has nothing to disclose. Juliana Acosta Uribe has nothing to disclose. Ana Baena has nothing to disclose. Gloria Garcia-Ospina has nothing to disclose. Margarita Giraldo-Chica has nothing to disclose. Victoria Tirado has nothing to disclose. Mrs. Munoz has nothing to disclose. Miss Guzman Martinez has nothing to disclose. Dr. Rios Romenets has nothing to disclose. Mr. Oliveira has nothing to disclose. Dr. Yang has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a invited speaker with Genentech, Inc.. The institution of Clara Vila-Castelar has received research support from Alzheimer’s Association. The institution of Clara Vila-Castelar has received research support from NIA . The institution of Dr. Pruzin has received research support from Alzheimer’s Association. Dr. Ghisays has received personal compensation for serving as an employee of Banner Alzheimer’s Institute. Joseph Arboleda-Velasquez has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kosik has received personal compensation in the range of $50,000-$99,999 for serving as an officer or member of the Board of Directors for Rainwater Foundation. The institution of Dr. Kosik has received research support from National Institute of Health. The institution of Dr. Kosik has received research support from Hillblom Foundation. The institution of Dr. Kosik has received research support from Adelson Medical Foundation. The institution of Dr. Kosik has received research support from Alzheimer Association/Rainwater Foundation. The institution of Dr. Kosik has received research support from Thome Memorial FOundation. Dr. Reiman has received personal compensation in the range of $50,000-$99,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Denali, Green Valley, Zinfandel, and Takeda. Dr. Reiman has received stock or an ownership interest from Alkahest, Alzheon, Aural Analytics, Denali, and United Neuroscience.. Dr. Reiman has received intellectual property interests from a discovery or technology relating to health care. Dr. Reiman has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Member, National Advisory Council on Aging (NACA) with NIA. Francisco Lopera has nothing to disclose. Dr. Quiroz has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Biogen. Dr. Quiroz has received intellectual property interests from a discovery or technology relating to health care.

Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 35 Caused by a New TGM6 Variant: Video Documentation of a German Family.

Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 35 Caused by a New TGM6 Variant: Video Documentation of a German Family.

Predicting Postoperative Emergence Delirium From the Heart Rate Variability of Patients Undergoing Elective Cardiac Surgery.

Background and objective The complication of postoperative delirium is directly linked to prognosis, leading to prolonged hospital stays and an increase in mortality. Since there is no magic medicine that cures delirium, the prevention of its onset is important, and the development of simple tools that enable the early assessment of the risk is valuable. In the previous study, we hypothesized that postoperative delirium could be predicted from heart rate variability (HRV) measured by using an electrocardiogram (ECG) on the day before elective esophageal cancer surgery. HRV is calculated based on the fluctuation of RR intervals on ECG. The preoperative high-frequency (HF) power in delirium patients was significantly lower than that in non-delirium patients. The HF component is considereda reflection of parasympathetic function. In the current study, we evaluated the hypothesis that parasympathetic nerve activity is low in the resting HRV on the night before surgery in patients who go on to develop postoperative delirium. To that end, we recorded resting HRV in patients scheduled for cardiac surgery on the night before surgery. We then compared the HRV between patients with and without delirium in the postoperative intensive care unit (ICU). The Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU (CAM-ICU) was used to diagnosedelirium. Methods This was a prospective observational study involving patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery. After obtaining approval from the institutional review board, patients aged 65 years and older were enrolled in the study. The day before surgery, a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was performed. The ECG was used in patients for five minutes. All patients were transferred to the ICU after surgery, and CAM-ICU was measured every eight hours until discharge from the ICU, and positive patients were diagnosed with delirium. Results In this study, 14 patients who developed delirium and 22 patients who did notwere included in the analysis. The average MMSE score was 27.4, with no patients diagnosed with preoperative dementia. In the analysis of HRV, the HF component was significantly lower in the group with delirium compared to the group without delirium (Mann-Whitney U test, p<0.05). Conclusion Based on our findings, in patients with postoperativedelirium, the activity of parasympathetic nerves was lower than before surgery, andwe concluded that it is possible to predict the onset of postoperative delirium based on preoperative ECG measurement.

Investigating the efficacy of Ginkgo biloba on the cognitive function of patients undergoing treatment with electric shock: a double-blind clinical trial.

Cognitive impairment is common in patients undergoing electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Researchers are seeking pharmaceutical compounds with low side effects to decrease these outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Ginkgo biloba therapy on the cognitive function of patients treated with electroshock. In a double-blinded clinical trial, 80 patients with psychiatric disorders who were candidates for ECT in 2019 were randomly assigned to two groups: the intervention group (receiving Ginkgo biloba drug) and the control group (receiving placebo). We used the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Wechsler Memory Scale Recipe III (WMS-III) questionnaires to evaluate the efficacy of the drug on the cognitive function at time 0, after 4 sessions and 72 hours post-final session of ECT. The data were analyzed by SPSS version 22, with a significance level of 0.05. Patients' assessment after the intervention showed that the average MMSE scores in the intervention group (28.92±1.04) were statistically higher than in the control group (27.85±1.56). The average scores of the WMS-III in the intervention group and the control group were 97.45±8.04 and 92.00±4.45 after 4 sessions of ECT, and 100.26±8.33 and 92.40±3.92 after the intervention (p=0.001). According to the findings, Gingko biloba increased MMSE and WMS-III scores in older patients (patients over 40 had better scores in both questionnaires, the drug was more effective, and with no side effects).

Association between depression tendency and cognitive trajectory in the elderly in rural area in China

Objective: To explore cognitive trajectory and its association with depression tendency in the elderly in rural area in China. Methods: Based on the data of the rural elderly aged ≥65 years in the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) from 2011 to 2018, unconditional and conditional latent variable growth curve models were constructed to analyze the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) score trajectory and its association with depression tendency in the elderly. Results: A total of 1 788 elderly persons were included, and 19.1% of them had a depression tendency. The average MMSE score of those with and without a depression tendency at baseline survey were 26.62±3.54 and 27.59±3.17 respectively. The rate of MMSE score decline was 0.52 points (P<0.05). Before and after controlling covariates, the initial score was 0.84 points lower (P<0.05) and 0.81 points lower (P<0.05) in those with depressive tendency than in those without depressive tendency respectively, furthermore, the decline rate of MMSE score was 0.33 points lower (P<0.05) and 0.40 points lower (P<0.05) in those with depressive tendency than in those without respectively. Conclusions: The depression tendency in the elderly in rural area in China was associated with the cognitive function change trajectory, with those with depression tendency had lower-level trajectory. Attention should be paid to the mental health of the elderly in rural area to prevent dementia and slow its development.

Clinical and Genetic Aspects of Huntington's Disease in the Malian Population.

Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by mutation in the HTT gene and characterized by involuntary movements as well as cognitive and behavioral impairment. Since its first description 150 years ago, studies have been reported worldwide. However, genetically confirmed cases have been scarce in Africa. To describe the clinical and genetic aspects of HD in the Malian population. Patients with HD phenotype and their relatives were enrolled after obtaining consent. Symptoms were assessed using the Total Motor Scale (TMS) of the United Huntington's Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS) and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Brain imaging and blood tests were performed to exclude other causes. DNA was extracted for HTT sequencing. Eighteen patients (13 families) with a HD phenotype were evaluated. A familial history of the disease was found in 84.6% with 55.5% of maternal transmission. The average length of the HTT CAG repeat was 43.6±11.5 (39-56) CAGs. The mean age at onset was 43.1±9.7years. Choreic movements were the predominant symptoms (100% of the cases) with an average TMS of 49.4±30.8, followed by cognitive impairment (average MMSE score: 23.0±12.0) and psychiatric symptoms with 22.2% and 44.4%, respectively. This is one of the largest HD cohorts reported in Africa. Increasing access to genetic testing could uncover many other HD cases and disease-modifying genetic variants. Future haplotype and psychosocial studies may inform the origin of the Malian mutation and the impact of the disease on patients and their relatives.

Are Abbreviated Mental Test (AMT) and Ascertain Dementia 8 Indonesia (AD8-INA) Questionnaires More Superior than Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) as Dementia Screening Instrument among Elderly in Rural Areas?

Introduction: Dementia screening provides numerous benefits to its users. However, current screening methods have several limitations regarding applicability and accuracy, making it difficult to accommodate the results. Objective: To describe whether the Abbreviated Mental Test (AMT) and Ascertain Dementia 8 Indonesia (AD8-INA) questionnaire is superior to Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) questionnaire as a dementia screening instrument for the elderly in rural areas. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in February 2020 at Banyuwangi residence. Dementia screening was conducted among elderly respondents using MMSE, AMT, and AD8-INA questionnaires. Sensitivity and specificity of AMT, AD8-INA and combined AMT+AD8-INA were compared with the MMSE questionnaire using crosstabs. Comparison of time required to complete each questionnaire was analyzed using Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test. Results: Mean age among 59 respondents was 68.44 years. The average MMSE score was 24.54. Compared with MMSE, the AMT questionnaire had a sensitivity of 47.37% and specificity of 100% (X2 = 22.36, p &lt;0.001). Meanwhile, the AD8-INA questionnaire had a sensitivity of 63.16% and specificity of 45% (X2 = 24.64, p &lt;0.001). The average questionnaire completion time of AMT, AD8-INA, and combined AMT+AD8-INA each was significantly shorter than MMSE (122.59, 121.17, and 243.76 seconds vs 319.83 seconds, p&lt;0.001, &lt;0.001, and &lt;0.001, respectively). Conclusion: This study found that the combined AMT+AD8-INA questionnaire could be used as a dementia screening instrument among the elderly in rural areas with considerable sensitivity and shorter administration time.

Characteristics and Outcome Determinants of Hospitalized Older Patients with Cognitive Dysfunction.

Cognitive dysfunction commonly occurs among older patients during admission and is associated with adverse prognosis. This study evaluated clinical characteristics and outcome determinants in hospitalized older patients with cognitive disorders. The main outcomes were length of stay, readmission within 30 days, Barthel index (BI) score at discharge, BI score change (discharge BI score minus BI score), and proportion of positive BI score change to indicate change of activities of daily living (ADL) change during hospitalization. A total of 642 inpatients with a mean age of 79.47 years (76–103 years) were categorized into three groups according to the medical history of dementia, and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores at admission. Among them, 74 had dementia diagnosis (DD), 310 had cognitive impairment (CI), and 258 had normal MMSE scores. Patients with DD and CI generally had a higher risk of many geriatric syndromes, such as multimorbidities, polypharmacy, delirium, incontinence, visual and auditory impairment, fall history, physical frailty. They had less BI score, BI score change, and proportion of positive BI score change ADL at discharge. (DD 70.0%, CI 79.0%), suggesting less ADL change during hospitalization compared with those with normal MMSE scores (92.9%; p < 0.001). Using multiple regression analysis, we found that among patients with DD and CI, age (p = 0.008) and walking speed (p = 0.023) were predictors of discharge BI score. In addition, age (p = 0.047) and education level were associated with dichotomized BI score change (positive vs. non-positive) during hospitalization. Furthermore, the number and severity of comorbidities predicted LOS (p < 0.001) and readmission (p = 0.001) in patients with cognitive disorders. It is suggested that appropriate strategies are required to improve clinical outcomes in these patients.

Random Forest Model in the Diagnosis of Dementia Patients with Normal Mini-Mental State Examination Scores.

Background: Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is the most widely used tool in cognitive screening. Some individuals with normal MMSE scores have extensive cognitive impairment. Systematic neuropsychological assessment should be performed in these patients. This study aimed to optimize the systematic neuropsychological test battery (NTB) by machine learning and develop new classification models for distinguishing mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia among individuals with MMSE ≥ 26. Methods: 375 participants with MMSE ≥ 26 were assigned a diagnosis of cognitively unimpaired (CU) (n = 67), MCI (n = 174), or dementia (n = 134). We compared the performance of five machine learning algorithms, including logistic regression, decision tree, SVM, XGBoost, and random forest (RF), in identifying MCI and dementia. Results: RF performed best in identifying MCI and dementia. Six neuropsychological subtests with high-importance features were selected to form a simplified NTB, and the test time was cut in half. The AUC of the RF model was 0.89 for distinguishing MCI from CU, and 0.84 for distinguishing dementia from nondementia. Conclusions: This simplified cognitive assessment model can be useful for the diagnosis of MCI and dementia in patients with normal MMSE. It not only optimizes the content of cognitive evaluation, but also improves diagnosis and reduces missed diagnosis.

Assessment of the Risk of Depression in Residents Staying at Long-Term Care Institutions in Poland During the COVID-19 Pandemic Depending on the Quality of Cognitive Functioning.

Background: The development of the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted the implementation of many procedures to safeguard against further increases in illness. Unfortunately, this has drastically reduced residents’ contact with their families, which has increased feelings of loneliness and isolation. This is particularly difficult in long-term care facilities, where the risk of developing depression is higher than in the general population.Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the risk of depression among the residents of long-term care institutions in Poland during the COVID-19 pandemic and to determine the relationship between the risk of depression and the occurrence of cognitive impairment in the study group.Methods: The study included 273 residents from long-term care institutions in Poland. The risk of depression was determined based on an originally designed questionnaire. The cognitive state of the subjects was assessed using the screening test Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Both the depression risk assessment and the MMSE test were conducted twice: in March and December 2020.Results: In March, severe dementia was present in 28.2% of the residents and normal MMSE scores were observed in 16.1% of the subjects; in December, the prevalence of severe dementia increased to 31.1% and that of normal scores decreased to 10.3%. In March, no participant was found to be at high risk of depression and moderate risk was observed in 14.3% of the subjects; in December, 2.6% of the residents had a high risk score and 45.4% had a moderate risk score. Statistical analysis revealed that higher MMSE scores correspond with a higher risk of depression.Conclusion: A higher risk of depression was observed with the development of the pandemic. Residents with cognitive impairment were characterised by a lower risk of depression compared to individuals with normal MMSE scores. During the study, progression of cognitive impairment was observed in the residents.

Post-stroke cognitive impairment: screening with MMSE and MoCA and predictors of their persistence after treatment at the Stroke Center

Objective — to analyze the results of screening for post‑stroke cognitive impairment (PCI) in patients with cerebral stroke (CS) admitted to the Stroke Center (SC) in different disease phases, and to determine independent predictors of the PCI persistence at discharge.&#x0D; Methods and subjects. 399 patients were enrolled, including 242 (60.7 %) men and 157 (39.3 %) women with the median age was 66.2 years (IQR 58.5 — 76.3). IS was diagnosed in 331 (82.9 %), and ICH in 68 (17.1 %) patients. Among patients with IS, 137 (41.4 %) had an atherothrombotic subtype, 152 (46.0 %) had a cardioembolic subtype, 21 (6.3 %) had a lacunar subtype, another 21 (6.3 %) had another or unknown cause of stroke. Patients were screened for PCI using the Mini‑Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) on admission and at discharge. Participants with MMSE score of 0 — 24 or a MoCA score of 0 — 25 were considered having PCI. Upon admission, all patients were assessed using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Bartel Index, and Modified Rankine Scale (mRS). The method of constructing and analyzing logistic regression models was used to determine independent predictors of the preservation of PCI at discharge. The analysis was carried out using the MedCalc v. 19.1.&#x0D; Results. The baseline NIHSS score ranged from 0 to 39 (median 11, IQR 6 — 18). The majority (64.2 %) of the subjects were hospitalized within the first 30 days from the CS onset. The MMSE score on admission ranged from 0 to 30 (median 20, IQR 2 — 27), and in 179 (44.9 %) of the patients the initial score was 0 to 17 (severe PCI), whereas in 61 (15 3 %) of the participants it was 18 to 24 (moderately severe PCI) and only 159 (39.8 %) persons scored 25 to 30 (no PCI). The baseline MoCA score ranged from 0 to 30 (median 15, IQR 1 — 24), and 356 (89.2 %) patients were shown to have PCI (score 0 to 25). According to screening with MMSE at discharge, 125 (31.4 %) patients had severe PCI, and 67 (16.8 %) had moderately severe PCI. The MoCA assessment before discharge indicated PCI in 324 (81.2 %) patients. According to both MMSE and MoCA, the rate of PCI on admission was significantly higher than at discharge (p &lt; 0.001). Among the 240 patients who had PCI according to MMSE score, 239 (99.6 %) had PCI according to the MoCA score. However, among 159 patients who screened negative for PCI with MMSE at admission, 117 (73.6 %) screened positive with MoCA. Screening results using both MMSE and MoCA were not significantly associated with affected hemisphere. ICH was associated with lower (p &lt; 0.0001) MMSE and MoCA scores compared with IS. Predictors of PCI according to MMSE score at discharge were a longer time interval from CS onset to SC admission, and a lower baseline MMSE score. However, with MoCA, the predictors were AT subtype IS, lesions in the distribution of the right or both middle cerebral arteries, older patient age, and a lower baseline MoCA score.&#x0D; Conclusions. In patients with MI, a high rate of PCI was documented on admission, but was significantly lower at discharge. In patients with established PCI, according to MMSE score, the use of MoCA for screening seems useless, however, screening with MoCA identified PCI in 3/4 in patients with a normal MMSE score. The independent predictors of scores on these two scales, indicating PCI, were significantly different, so they should not be considered interchangeable.

A Novel Game-Based Intelligent Test for Detecting Elderly Cognitive Function Impairment.

Purposes This research explores the game-based intelligent test (GBIT), predicts the possibilities of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores and the risk of cognitive impairment, and then verifies GBIT as one of the reliable and valid cognitive assessment tools. Methods This study recruited 117 elderly subjects in Taiwan (average age is 79.92 ± 8.68, average height is 156.91 ± 8.01, average weight is 59.14 ± 9.67, and average MMSE score is 23.33 ± 6.16). A multiple regression model was used to analyze the GBIT parameters of the elderly's reaction, attention, coordination, and memory to predict their MMSE performance. The binary logistic regression was then utilized to predict their risk of cognitive impairment. The statistical significance level was set as α = 0.05. Results Multiple regression analysis showed that gender, the correct number of reactions, and the correct number of memory have a significantly positive predictive power on MMSE of the elderly (F = 37.60, R2 = 0.69, and p < 0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis noted that the correct average number of reactions falls by one question, and the ratio of cognitive dysfunction risk increases 1.09 times (p < 0.05); the correct average number of memory drops by one question, the ratio of cognitive dysfunction risk increases 3.76 times (p < 0.05), and the overall model predictive power is 88.20% (sensitivity: 84.00%; specificity: 92.30%). Conclusions This study verifies that GBIT is reliable and can effectively predict the cognitive function and risk of cognitive impairment in the elderly. Therefore, GBIT can be used as one of the feasible tools for evaluating older people's cognitive function.

Brain magnetic resonance imaging and cognitive alterations after ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation

Catheter ablation is an important non-pharmacological intervention for atrial fibrillation (AF), but its effect on the incidence of asymptomatic cerebral emboli and long-term effects on cognitive function remain unknown. We prospectively enrolled 101 patients who underwent AF ablation. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (72 patients) and neuropsychological assessments (66 patients) were performed 1–3 days (baseline) and 6 months after ablation. Immediately after ablation, diffusion-weighted MRI and 3-dimensional double inversion recovery (3D-DIR) detected embolic microinfarctions in 63 patients (87.5%) and 62 patients (86.1%), respectively. After 6 months, DIR lesions disappeared in 41 patients. Microbleeds (MBs) increased by 17%, and 65% of the de novo MBs were exactly at the same location as the microinfarctions. Average Mini-Mental State Examination scores improved from 27.9 ± 2.4 to 28.5 ± 1.7 (p = 0.037), and detailed neuropsychological assessment scores showed improvement in memory, constructional, and frontal lobe functions. Ejection fraction, left atrial volume index and brain natriuretic peptide level improved from baseline to 3–6 months after ablation. Despite incidental microemboli, cognitive function was preserved 6 months after ablation.