Objective and Subjective Measurements of Motor Function: Results from the HELIAD Study.

BACKGROUND: Slow gait speed has recently emerged as a potential prodromal feature of cognitive decline and dementia. Besides objective measurements, subjective motor function (SMF) difficulties might be present prior to the manifestation of gait disorders. OBJECTIVES: To examine the association of walking time and the presence of SMF with future cognitive decline in cognitively normal individuals. DESIGN: Longitudinal study. SETTINGS: Athens and Larissa, Greece. PARTICIPANTS: 931 cognitively normal individuals over the age of 64 with longitudinal follow-up from the Hellenic Longitudinal Investigation of Aging and Diet (HELIAD). MEASUREMENTS: We used a simple chronometer for recording objective walking time (OWT) and SMF was assessed using a self-reported physical functioning questionnaire. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) models were deployed to explore the associations between baseline OWT and SMF difficulties and the rate of change of performance scores on individual cognitive domains over time. Models were adjusted for age, years of education and sex. RESULTS: Each additional second of OWT was associated with 1.1% of a standard deviation more decline per year in the composite z-score, 1.6% in the memory z-score, 1.1% in the executive z-score and 1.8% in the attention-speed z-score. The presence of SMF difficulties was not associated with differential rates of decline in any cognitive domain. CONCLUSION: Gait speed can be indicative of future cognitive decline adding credence to the notion that gait speed might serve as a simple and easily accessible clinical tool to identify a larger pool of at risk individuals and improve the detection of prodromal dementia.

Remote neuropsychological evaluation of older adults.

The use of technological means in the process of neuropsychological assessment has been proposed as a technique with promising results in the field of detection of neurocognitive disorders for community-dwelling older adults. Especially during the pandemic period due to COVID-19, telemedicine assumed to be vital in the field of early diagnosis of cognitive disorders and highlighted the clinical utility of remote methods of neuropsychological assessmentby video-conference. This descriptive study presents the development of a remote neuropsychological assessment protocol by selecting appropriate validated tests as part of a more comprehensive evaluation for older adults dwelling in the community. We recruited participants from the Athens Alzheimer's Association center in collaboration with the Hellenic Neuropsychological Society, in Athens, Greece, regarding the period between April 2020 and October 2021. 90 individuals, tested for the first time, were categorized into three groups according to their diagnosis which included: (a) Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), (b) Alzheimer's disease, (c) cognitively healthy older adults. The presented protocol outlines the main considerations of a framework about remote neuropsychological assessment, which can maximize the effectiveness of interventions and continuity regarding the care of older adults. The recommendations outlined in the presented protocol highlight strengths and limitations that should be taken into account in remote control procedures. Although the protocol was created in response to pandemic restrictions, tele-neuropsychology shows promise as a way to improve access opportunity to neurodiagnostic services for rural aging and underserved populations, which lack specialized healthcare services. Further application to different populations will add validity to the presented descriptive protocol.

Assessing functional status using the IADL-extended scale: results from the HELIAD study.

OBJECTIVES: Instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) have been operationalized as exhibiting a greater level of complexity than basic ADL. In the same way, incorporating more advanced ADLs may increase the sensitivity of functional measures to identify cognitive changes that may precede IADL impairment. Towards this direction, the IADL-extended scale (IADL-x) consists of four IADL tasks and five advanced ADLs (leisure time activities). DESIGN: Retrospective, cross-sectional study. SETTING: Athens and Larissa, Greece. PARTICIPANTS: 1,864 community-dwelling men and women aged over 64. MEASUREMENTS: We employed both the IADL-x and IADL scales to assess functional status among all the participants. Diagnoses were assigned dividing the population of our study into three groups: cognitively normal (CN), mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia patients. Neuropsychological evaluation was stratified in five cognitive domains: memory, language, attention-speed, executive functioning and visuospatial perception. Z scores for each cognitive domain as well as a composite z score were constructed. Models were controlled for age, sex, education and depression. RESULTS: In both IADL-x and IADL scales dementia patients reported the most functional difficulties and CN participants the fewest, with MCI placed in between. When we restricted the analyses to the CN population, lower IADL-x score was associated with worse cognitive performance. This association was not observed when using the original IADL scale. CONCLUSION: There is strong evidence that the endorsement of more advanced IADLs in functional scales may be useful in detecting cognitive differences within the normal spectrum.

Aiginition Longitudinal Biomarker Investigation Of Neurodegeneration (ALBION): study design, cohort description, and preliminary data.

Objectives: Aiginition Longitudinal Biomarker Investigation Of Neurodegeneration (ALBION) is a longitudinal ongoing study initiated in 2018 that takes place in the Cognitive Disorders Clinic of Aiginition Hospital of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Its aim is to address several research questions concerning the preclinical and prodromal stage of Alzheimer's disease and explore potential markers for early detection, prediction, and primary prevention of dementia. Methods: We here present the design and the preliminary baseline characteristics of ALBION. The sample of our study consists of people aged over 50 who are concerned about their memory but are cognitively normal (CN) or have mild cognitive deficits. Each participant undergoes an extensive assessment including several demographic, medical, social, environmental, clinical, nutritional, neuropsychological determinants and lifestyle activities. Furthermore, we are collecting data from portable devices, neuroimaging techniques and biological samples (blood, stools, CSF). All participants are assessed annually for a period of 10 years. Results: In total, 47 participants have completed the initial evaluation up to date and are divided in two groups, CN individuals (N = 26) and MCI patients (N = 21), based on their cognitive status. The participants are, on average, 64 years old, 46.3% of the sample is male with an average of 12.73 years of education. MCI patients report more comorbidities and have a lower score in the MMSE test. Regarding APOE status, 2 participants are ε4 homozygotes and 10 ε4 heterozygotes. CSF analyses (Aß42, Τ-tau, P-tau) revealed no differences between the two groups. Conclusion: The ALBION study offers an opportunity to explore preclinical dementia and identify new and tailored markers, particularly relating to lifestyle. Further investigation of these populations may provide a wider profile of the changes taking place in the preclinical phase of dementia, leading to potentially effective therapeutic and preventive strategies.