Association between Apoε4 allele and cardiometabolic and social risk factors with cognitive impairment in elderly population from Bogota / Associação entre o alelo Apoε4 fatores de risco cardiometabólicos e sociais com prejuízo cognitivo em idosos de Bogotá

ABSTRACT Being an ϵ4 carrier in the Apoϵ gene has been suggested as a modifying factor for the interaction between cardio-metabolic, social risk factors, and the development of cognitive impairment. Objective: The main objective of this study was to assess the existence of such interaction in a sample of Bogota's elderly population. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1,263 subjects older than 50 years. Each participant was diagnosed by consensus, after neuropsychological and neuropsychiatric evaluations, under a diagnosis of normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) according to Petersen's criteria, or dementia according to DSM-IV criteria. Apoϵ was typified and an analysis of MoCA test was performed in each group carrying or not ϵ4 allele. Results: Our study showed that 75% were women with a median age of 68 years (interquartile range 62-74 years) and a median schooling for 6 years (interquartile range 4-12 years). Dementia was related to low education level of ≤5 years OR=11.20 (95%CI 4.99-25.12), high blood pressure (HBP) OR=1.45 (95%CI 1.03-2.05), and age over 70 years OR=7.68 (95%CI 3.49-16.90), independently of being or not an ϵ4 allele carrier. Diabetic subjects with dementia carrying ϵ4 allele showed a tendency to exhibit lower scores on the MoCA test, when compared with noncarriers' diabetic subjects with dementia. Conclusions: The presence of ϵ4 allele does not modify the relationship between cognitive impairment and the different cardio-metabolic and social risk factors, except in diabetic subjects ϵ4 carriers with dementia who showed a tendency to exhibit lower scores of the MoCA test, when compared with noncarriers' diabetic subjects with dementia.

RESUMO Ser um portador ϵ4 no gene Apoϵ tem sido sugerido como um fator modificador da interação entre fatores cardiometabólicos, de risco social e o desenvolvimento de comprometimento cognitivo. Objetivo: O objetivo principal deste trabalho é avaliar a existência de tal interação em uma amostra da população idosa de Bogotá. Métodos: Um estudo transversal foi realizado com 1.263 indivíduos com mais de 50 anos. Cada participante foi diagnosticado por consenso após avaliações neuropsicológicas e neuropsiquiátricas, sob um diagnóstico de cognição normal, comprometimento cognitivo leve de acordo com os critérios de Petersen ou demência de acordo com os critérios do Manual Diagnóstico e Estatístico de Trastornos Mentais (DSM-IV). Apoϵ4 foi tipificada e uma análise do Montréal Cognitive Assessment Test (teste de MoCA) foi realizada em cada grupo portador ou não do alelo ϵ4. Resultados: Nosso estudo mostrou que 75% eram mulheres com idade mediana de 68 anos (intervalo interquartil 62 a 74 anos) e escolaridade mediana de seis anos (intervalo interquartil 4 a 12 anos). A demência estava relacionada ao baixo nível de escolaridade ≤5 anos Odds Ratio (OR)=11,20 (intervalo de confiança — IC95% 4,99-25,12), pressão alta OR=1,45 (IC95% 1,03-2,05) e idade acima de 70 anos OR=7,68 (IC95% 3,49-16,90), independentemente de ser ou não portador do alelo ϵ4. Indivíduos diabéticos com demência portadores do alelo ϵ4 mostraram tendência de exibir pontuações mais baixas no teste MoCA quando comparados com indivíduos diabéticos com demência não portadores do alelo ϵ4. Conclusões: A presença do alelo ϵ4 não modifica a relação entre o comprometimento cognitivo e os diferentes fatores de risco cardiometabólico e social, exceto em diabéticos portadores de ϵ4 com demência, que exibiram tendência a apresentar menores escores no teste MoCA quando comparados com indivíduos diabéticos com demência não portadores do alelo ϵ4.

Efficacy of a mindfulness-based programme with and without virtual reality support to reduce stress in university students: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of a mindfulness-based programme (MBP) for reducing stress in university students and its action mechanisms and to explore the capacity of virtual reality (VR) exposure to enhance adherence to the intervention. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial (RCT) involved assessment time points of baseline, posttreatment, and 6-month follow-up. A total of 280 students from two Spanish universities were randomly assigned to 'MBP', 'MBP + VR', or 'Relaxation' (active controls). Perceived stress posttreatment was the primary outcome; wellbeing and academic functional outcomes were assessed as well. Multilevel mixed-effects models were performed to estimate the efficacy of the programme. RESULTS: Both 'MBP' (B = -2.77, d = -0.72, p = .006) and 'MBP + VR' (B = -2.44, d = -0.59, p = .014) were superior to 'Relaxation' in improving stress, as well as most of the secondary outcomes, with medium-to-large effects posttreatment and at follow-up. The long-term effects of MBPs on stress were mediated by mindfulness and self-compassion in parallel. Treatment adherence was improved in the 'MBP + VR' group, with higher retention rates and session attendance (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: This RCT supports the efficacy of an MBP compared to relaxation for reducing stress in university students through mindfulness and self-compassion as mechanisms of change. VR exposure may enhance treatment adherence. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03771300.

Association between Apoϵ4 allele and cardiometabolic and social risk factors with cognitive impairment in elderly population from Bogota.

Being an ϵ4 carrier in the Apoϵ gene has been suggested as a modifying factor for the interaction between cardio-metabolic, social risk factors, and the development of cognitive impairment. Objective: The main objective of this study was to assess the existence of such interaction in a sample of Bogota's elderly population. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1,263 subjects older than 50 years. Each participant was diagnosed by consensus, after neuropsychological and neuropsychiatric evaluations, under a diagnosis of normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) according to Petersen's criteria, or dementia according to DSM-IV criteria. Apoϵ was typified and an analysis of MoCA test was performed in each group carrying or not ϵ4 allele. Results: Our study showed that 75% were women with a median age of 68 years (interquartile range 62-74 years) and a median schooling for 6 years (interquartile range 4-12 years). Dementia was related to low education level of ≤5 years OR=11.20 (95%CI 4.99-25.12), high blood pressure (HBP) OR=1.45 (95%CI 1.03-2.05), and age over 70 years OR=7.68 (95%CI 3.49-16.90), independently of being or not an ϵ4 allele carrier. Diabetic subjects with dementia carrying ϵ4 allele showed a tendency to exhibit lower scores on the MoCA test, when compared with noncarriers' diabetic subjects with dementia. Conclusions: The presence of ϵ4 allele does not modify the relationship between cognitive impairment and the different cardio-metabolic and social risk factors, except in diabetic subjects ϵ4 carriers with dementia who showed a tendency to exhibit lower scores of the MoCA test, when compared with noncarriers' diabetic subjects with dementia.

Ser um portador ϵ4 no gene Apoϵ tem sido sugerido como um fator modificador da interação entre fatores cardiometabólicos, de risco social e o desenvolvimento de comprometimento cognitivo. Objetivo: O objetivo principal deste trabalho é avaliar a existência de tal interação em uma amostra da população idosa de Bogotá. Métodos: Um estudo transversal foi realizado com 1.263 indivíduos com mais de 50 anos. Cada participante foi diagnosticado por consenso após avaliações neuropsicológicas e neuropsiquiátricas, sob um diagnóstico de cognição normal, comprometimento cognitivo leve de acordo com os critérios de Petersen ou demência de acordo com os critérios do Manual Diagnóstico e Estatístico de Trastornos Mentais (DSM-IV). Apoϵ4 foi tipificada e uma análise do Montréal Cognitive Assessment Test (teste de MoCA) foi realizada em cada grupo portador ou não do alelo ϵ4. Resultados: Nosso estudo mostrou que 75% eram mulheres com idade mediana de 68 anos (intervalo interquartil 62 a 74 anos) e escolaridade mediana de seis anos (intervalo interquartil 4 a 12 anos). A demência estava relacionada ao baixo nível de escolaridade ≤5 anos Odds Ratio (OR)=11,20 (intervalo de confiança ­ IC95% 4,99­25,12), pressão alta OR=1,45 (IC95% 1,03­2,05) e idade acima de 70 anos OR=7,68 (IC95% 3,49­16,90), independentemente de ser ou não portador do alelo ϵ4. Indivíduos diabéticos com demência portadores do alelo ϵ4 mostraram tendência de exibir pontuações mais baixas no teste MoCA quando comparados com indivíduos diabéticos com demência não portadores do alelo ϵ4. Conclusões: A presença do alelo ϵ4 não modifica a relação entre o comprometimento cognitivo e os diferentes fatores de risco cardiometabólico e social, exceto em diabéticos portadores de ϵ4 com demência, que exibiram tendência a apresentar menores escores no teste MoCA quando comparados com indivíduos diabéticos com demência não portadores do alelo ϵ4.

Differences between individuals with schizophrenia or obsessive-compulsive disorder and healthy controls in social cognition and mindfulness skills: A controlled study.

The study of social cognition (SC) has emerged as a key domain of mental health, supporting the notion that poorer performance in SC tasks is linked to psychopathology, although most studies have primarily addressed only schizophrenia (SZ). Some recent studies have also shown deficits of SC in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients; however, little is known about how individuals with OCD may differ on SC performance from individuals with SZ. Moreover, initial research in this field suggests that mindfulness skills may be related to SC abilities such as theory of mind (ToM), emotion processing and empathy. Given the potential benefits of mindfulness for treating OCD and SZ, further efforts are needed to understand the association between mindfulness and SC in these populations. The main objective of this study was to compare samples of patients with SZ and OCD to healthy controls (HCs) on several social cognition (SC) domains and mindfulness measures. In total, 30 outpatients diagnosed with SZ, 31 outpatients diagnosed with OCD and 30 healthy controls were assessed in emotion recognition (the Eyes Test), ToM (the Hinting Task), attributional style (the Ambiguous Intentions and Hostility Questionnaire), empathy (the Interpersonal Reactivity Index) and dispositional mindfulness (the MAAS and the FFMQ). Both clinical groups showed poorer performance in emotion recognition and ToM than the HCs. The OCD and SZ patients did not significantly differ in impairment in SC, but the OCD group had higher scores in attributional style (intentionality and anger bias). With regard to mindfulness, the results found lower levels of acting with awareness for the HCs than for either clinical group and higher non-reactivity to inner experience for the HCs than for the individuals with OCD; the results also yielded significant correlations between SC and mindfulness. In conclusion, these findings revealed that SC abilities were impaired in the SZ and OCD groups compared to the HC group, suggesting a similar disrupted pattern in both clinical groups. Aspects of dispositional mindfulness were differentially associated with SC, which may suggest their potential role in novel transdiagnostic interventions.

Mindfulness as a complementary intervention in the treatment of overweight and obesity in primary health care: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Mindfulness has been applied in the United States and Europe to improve physical and psychological health; however, little is known about its feasibility and efficacy in a Brazilian population. Mindfulness may also be relevant in tackling obesity and eating disorders by decreasing binge eating episodes-partly responsible for weight regain for a large number of people-and increasing awareness of emotional and other triggers for overeating. The aim of the present study protocol is to evaluate and compare the feasibility and efficacy of two mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) addressing overweight and obesity in primary care patients: a general programme called Mindfulness-Based Health Promotion and a targeted mindful eating protocol called Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training. METHODS/DESIGN: A randomised controlled trial will be conducted to compare treatment as usual separately in primary care with both programmes (health promotion and mindful eating) added to treatment as usual. Two hundred forty adult women with overweight and obesity will be enrolled. The primary outcome will be an assessment of improvement in eating behaviour. Secondary outcomes will be (1) biochemical control; (2) anthropometric parameters, body composition, dietary intake and basal metabolism; and (3) levels of mindfulness, stress, depression, self-compassion and anxiety. At the end of each intervention, a focus group will be held to assess the programme's impact on the participants' lives, diet and health. A feasibility study on access to benefits from and importance of MBIs at primary care facilities will be conducted among primary care health care professionals and participants. Monthly maintenance sessions lasting at least 1 hour will be offered, according to each protocol, during the 3-month follow-up periods. DISCUSSION: This clinical trial will result in more effective mindfulness-based interventions as a complementary treatment in primary care for people with overweight and obesity. If the findings of this study confirm the effectiveness of mindfulness programmes in this population, it will be possible to improve quality of life and health while optimising public resources and reaching a greater number of people. In addition, on the basis of the evaluation of the feasibility of implementing this intervention in primary care facilities, we expect to be able to suggest the intervention for incorporation into public policy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02893150 . Registered retrospectively on 30 March 2017.

Effects of Mindfulness-Based Interventions on Salivary Cortisol in Healthy Adults: A Meta-Analytical Review.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to elucidate the effects of Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) on salivary cortisol levels in healthy adult populations. Method: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), published between January 1980 and June 2015 in PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO and the Cochrane library. The PRISMA and Cochrane guidelines were followed. The pooled effect sizes were calculated with the random-effects model, using Hedges' g-values, and heterogeneity was measured using the I2 statistic. The contribution of different characteristics of participants and programmes were assessed by meta-regression models, using beta coefficients. Results: Five RCTs with 190 participants in total were included in this systematic review. The overall effect size (ES) for improving the state of health related to cortisol levels was moderately low (g = 0.41; p = 0.025), although moderate heterogeneity was found (I2 = 55; p = 0.063). There were no significant differences between active (g = 0.33; p = 0.202) and passive (g = 0.48; p = 0.279) controls, but significant differences were found when comparing standard (g = 0.81; p = 0.002) and raw (g = 0.03; p = 0.896) measures. The percentage of women in each study was not related to ES. Nevertheless, age (beta = -0.03; p = 0.039), the number of sessions (beta = 0.33; p = 0.007) and the total hours of the MBI (beta = 0.06; p = 0.005) were significantly related to ES, explaining heterogeneity (R2 = 1.00). Conclusions: Despite the scarce number of studies, our results suggest that MBIs might have some beneficial effect on cortisol secretion in healthy adult subjects. However, there is a need for further RCTs implemented in accordance with standard programmes and measurements of salivary cortisol under rigorous strategies in healthy adult populations.