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.

Assistive Technology to Support Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Assistive technology (AT) is defined as any device or technology ranging from low to high that helps to improve functional skills of individuals with cognitive, physical, or neurological disorders. These technologies are devised to improve the functional activities of persons. ATs focussing on cognitive disorders like dementia, autism spectrum disorders, etc. can be categorized as ATs for cognition (ATC) and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). AAC interventions consist of tools that aid the challenges faced by individuals with speech impairment during communication. AACs used often are speech-generating devices (SGD), software programs, and communication apps for efficient production of speech. ATCs include social stories and video modeling strategies. The use of assistive technology in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has great importance due to increased requirement for interventions in helping students. There are several lines of evidence showing the effectiveness of technology-assisted training in ASD patients.

Genetic analysis of the postsynaptic transmembrane X-linked neuroligin 3 gene in autism

Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder, the prevalence of which has increased drastically in India in recent years. Neuroligin is a type I transmembrane protein that plays a crucial role in synaptogenesis. Alterations in synaptic genes are most commonly implicated in autism and other cognitive disorders. The present study investigated the neuroligin 3 gene in the Indian autistic population by sequencing and in silico pathogenicity prediction of molecular changes. In total, 108 clinically described individuals with autism were included from the North Karnataka region of India, along with 150 age-, sex-, and ethnicity-matched healthy controls. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood, and exonic regions were sequenced. The functional and structural effects of variants of the neuroligin 3 protein were predicted. One coding sequence variant (a missense variant) and four non-coding variants (two 5'-untranslated region [UTR] variants and two 3'-UTR variants) were recorded. The novel missense variant was found in 25% of the autistic population. The C/C genotype of c.551T>C was significantly more common in autistic children than in controls (p = 0.001), and a significantly increased risk of autism (24.7-fold) was associated with this genotype (p = 0.001). The missense variant showed pathogenic effects and high evolutionary conservation over the functions of the neuroligin 3 protein. In the present study, we reported a novel missense variant, V184A, which causes abnormal neuroligin 3 and was found with high frequency in the Indian autistic population. Therefore, neuroligin is a candidate gene for future molecular investigations and functional analysis in the Indian autistic population.

The Post-COVID-19 cognitive impairment. A modern view of the problem, pathogenesis and treatment

COVID-19 infection is a significant and poorly understood problem of modern world medicine. As the virus spreads, data on the clinical picture of the disease and damage to the nervous system are accumulating. Symptoms such as fatigue, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances and many other neurological and somatic symptoms are often recorded, persist for a long time even after the acute infectious stage of the disease has been stopped, and make it difficult for the patient to fully recover. These symptoms occur even with a mild disease and persist for many months. One of the most common and disabling symptoms of post-COVID syndrome is cognitive impairment, in the formation of which, in addition to the direct ability of the virus to penetrate the nervous system and pathology of the microvasculature, various pathological mechanisms are involved, including dysregulation of cholinergic transmission. A comprehensive approach is important in the treatment of cognitive impairment; it is advisable to use both medication and non-medication methods. The main approaches to the treatment of secondary cognitive disorders are based on the hypothesis of replenishing the defect in mediator systems, including those associated with the death of cholinergic neurons. With these abnormalities, it is advisable to replenish acetylcholine. Among the precursors of choline, choline alfoscerate occupies a special place due to its proven efficacy in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, as well as due to data on its multifactorial action. The article presents the actual literature data on the mechanisms of development and features of the clinical manifestations of post-COVID cognitive impairment, as well as materials of experimental and clinical studies of the drug choline alfoscerate (Gliatilin).

Psycho-emotional state and cognitive functioning in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Many researchers note the “neurotization” of patients with endocrine diseases, formation of psycho-emotional disorders and cognitive impairment. Prevalence of mental disorders and maladaptive forms of response to the disease reaches 70—100 % among these patients. Mental disorders and negative psychological factors complicate the course of the disease, restorative and rehabilitation processes. And it is also one of the main causes of patient’s temporary and complete disability. The data from clinical and psychopathological research indicate the presence of emotional and cognitive disorders in examined patients. Emotional disturbances are represented by anxious, depressive, astheno- hypochondriac, hysteroform variants of psychopathological symptoms. Based on the data obtained during this study, a comprehensive program of psychotherapeutic and medical psychological support for patients with type 2 diabetes has been developed.

Treatment of Cognitive and Behavioral Disorders in Children Using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: Literature Review

Speech disorders have the leading position among cognitive disorders and represent the urgent medical problem. The modern approach to the treatment of cognitive and behavioral disorders in children consists of the integrity of pharmacotherapeutic, correctional and psychotherapeutic, as well as non-invasive instrumental methods of brain neurostimulation. This article provides the overview of the currently available data on transcranial magnetic stimulation method as noninvasive treatment of various neuropsychiatric disorders in children and its difference from physiotherapeutic methods used in traditional Russian practice.

Fibromyalgia: transformation of views

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a mystery of modern rheumatology. Despite the high prevalence of FM according to special epidemiological studies, clinicians make this diagnosis rarely. The modern concept of fibromyalgia was created by Smythe and Moldofsky in the mid-70s. They introduced a new term «fibromyalgia», thereby emphasizing that this condition is more due to pain syndrome than inflammation of connective tissue. A disturbance of sensory information processing in the central nervous system (dysfunction of the pain system with the formation of central sensitization, CS) plays a key role in the pathogenesis of FM. Clinical manifestations of FM include chronic widespread pain associated with a wide range of psychosomatic disorders (sleep disorders, cognitive disorders [fibro fog], anxiety, depression, fatigue, morning stiffness, etc.). The diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia have undergone significant changes. The latest FM diagnostic criteria were developed by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) in 2016. According to the ACR (2016) FM criteria, a diagnosis of FM does not exclude the presence of other clinically important illnesses. Concomitant FM among patients with rheumatic diseases (RD) occurs 2–3 times more often than in the general population. Diagnostics and treatment of FM are extremely difficult for clinicians, it is especially difficult with comorbidity of FM with RD. Therefore, FM requires a multidisciplinary approach within a biopsychosocial model of pain syndrome: the treatment of a patient with RD and FM should combine anti-inflammatory therapy with a complex of methods (medications and nondrug therapy) used for FM therapy. The diagnostics of comorbid FM in patients with RD will allow for personalized and more effective analgesic therapy.