Optimizing mobile cognitive assessment reduces administration time while maintaining screening accuracy in older adults.

Growing dementia prevalence underscores the need for efficient screening methods, but lengthy digital assessments often cause fatigue among older adults. To address this, we developed and validated the Digital Assessment of Cognitive Impairment (DACI), a brief mobile application designed to accurately identify cognitive impairment (CI). Initially, 304 older adults (272 healthy, 32 cognitively impaired) completed both a pencil-and-paper Cognitive Impairment Screening Test (CIST) and a full-length DACI.

Standardized Procedures for Blood and Cerebrospinal Fluid Collection and Storage in Neurodegenerative Biomarker Research: A Comprehensive Review.

Blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers are essential tools for the rapid diagnosis and monitoring of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, even minor variations in sample collection and storage procedures can significantly impact biomarker measurements, emphasizing the importance of standardized operating procedures. This review discusses the main pre-analytical factors that influence biomarker stability, outlines the best practices for blood and CSF collection and storage, and extensively analyzes recent research findings to ensure optimal reproducibility in biomarker studies.

Unveiling blood biomarkers for neuronal hyperplasticity: Insights from AD molecular subtyping, a comprehensive review.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder, predominantly affecting the aging population. Early detection through biomarkers is essential for early intervention. Recent sub-classification of AD through extensive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) proteomic analyses revealed distinct characteristics of each subtype, necessitating tailored therapeutic strategies.

Validation of criteria for frontotemporal dementia with right anterior temporal lobe predominance.

Introduction: Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) with right anterior temporal lobe (rATL) predominance lacks universally agreed-upon diagnostic criteria. This study validated the Amsterdam diagnostic tree (ADT) for right temporal variant FTD (rtvFTD) and the diagnostic criteria for semantic behavioral variant FTD (sbvFTD), examining clinical, behavioral, and imaging differences.

Methods: The study included 138 patients with behavioral variant FTD and 87 with semantic variant primary progressive aphasia who had 3D T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging scans.

Machine learning based prediction of cognitive metrics using major biomarkers in SuperAgers.

As populations age, understanding cognitive decline and age-related diseases like dementia has become increasingly important. "SuperAgers," individuals over 65 with cognitive abilities similar to those in their 40s, provide a unique perspective on cognitive reserve. This study analyzed 55 blood biomarkers, including cellular components and metabolism/inflammation-related factors, in 39 SuperAgers and 42 typical agers.

Eligibility for Lecanemab Treatment in the Republic of Korea: Real-World Data From Memory Clinics.

Background And Purpose: We aimed to determine the proportion of Korean patients with early Alzheimer's disease (AD) who are eligible to receive lecanemab based on the United States Appropriate Use Recommendations (US AUR), and also identify the barriers to this treatment.

Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 6,132 patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment or mild amnestic dementia at 13 hospitals from June 2023 to May 2024. Among them, 2,058 patients underwent amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) and 1,199 (58.

Clinical Practice Guidelines for Dementia: Recommendations for the Pharmacological Treatment of Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms.

Background And Purpose: Dementia often accompanies behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), including agitation, aggression, depression, and psychosis, which impact patients' quality of life and caregiver burden. Effective management of BPSD is essential to support patient and caregiver well-being. This study presents evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for pharmacological treatments of BPSD in dementia, focusing on antipsychotics, antidepressants, cognitive enhancers, and other medications.

Clinical Practice Guidelines for Dementia: Recommendations for Cholinesterase Inhibitors and Memantine.

Background And Purpose: This clinical practice guideline provides evidence-based recommendations for treatment of dementia, focusing on cholinesterase inhibitors and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other types of dementia.

Methods: Using the Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes (PICO) framework, we developed key clinical questions and conducted systematic literature reviews. A multidisciplinary panel of experts, organized by the Korean Dementia Association, evaluated randomized controlled trials and observational studies.

Preserved brain youthfulness: longitudinal evidence of slower brain aging in superagers.

Background: Superagers, older adults with exceptional cognitive abilities, show preserved brain structure compared to typical older adults. We investigated whether superagers have biologically younger brains based on their structural integrity.

Methods: A cohort of 153 older adults (aged 61-93) was recruited, with 63 classified as superagers based on superior episodic memory and 90 as typical older adults, of whom 64 were followed up after two years.

South Korean study to prevent cognitive impairment and protect brain health through multidomain interventions via face-to-face and video communication platforms in mild cognitive impairment (SUPERBRAIN-MEET): A randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: We investigated the efficacy of a multidomain intervention (MI) via face-to-face and video communication platforms using a tablet personal computer application in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Methods: Three hundred participants with MCI and ≥ 1 modifiable dementia risk factor, aged 60-85 years, were randomly assigned to either the MI group, who underwent a 24-week intervention, or the control group, who received usual care.

Results: The overall adherence rate to MI was 84.

Lecanemab: Appropriate Use Recommendations by Korean Dementia Association.

Lecanemab (product name Leqembi®) is an anti-amyloid monoclonal antibody treatment approved for use in Korea for patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild dementia due to Alzheimer's disease. The Korean Dementia Association has created recommendations for the appropriate use of lecanemab to assist clinicians. These recommendations include selecting patients for administration, necessary pre-administration tests and preparations, administration methods, monitoring for amyloid related imaging abnormalities (ARIA), and communication with patients and caregivers.

Predicting superagers: a machine learning approach utilizing gut microbiome features.

Objective: Cognitive decline is often considered an inevitable aspect of aging; however, recent research has identified a subset of older adults known as "superagers" who maintain cognitive abilities comparable to those of younger individuals. Investigating the neurobiological characteristics associated with superior cognitive function in superagers is essential for understanding "successful aging." Evidence suggests that the gut microbiome plays a key role in brain function, forming a bidirectional communication network known as the microbiome-gut-brain axis.

Elevated cerebral blood flow proxy with increased beta-amyloid burden in Alzheimer's disease preclinical phase evaluated by dual-phase F-florbetaben positron emission tomography.

This study investigated the earliest change of cerebral blood flow (CBF) and its relationship with β-amyloid (Aβ) burden in preclinical Alzheimer's disease (AD) employing dual-phase F-florbetaben (FBB) PET. Seventy-one cognitively normal (NC) individuals were classified as Aβ negative (AβNC) or positive (AβNC) based on two different cutoff values: an SUVR of > 1.08 and a Centiloid scale of > 20.

Executive Summary of 2023 International Conference of the Korean Dementia Association (IC-KDA 2023): A Report From the Academic Committee of the Korean Dementia Association.

The Korean Dementia Association (KDA) has been organizing biennial international academic conferences since 2019, with the International Conference of the KDA (IC-KDA) 2023 held in Busan under the theme 'Beyond Boundaries: Advancing Global Dementia Solutions.' The conference comprised 6 scientific sessions, 3 plenary lectures, and 4 luncheon symposiums, drawing 804 participants from 35 countries. Notably, a Korea-Taiwan Joint Symposium addressed insights into Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Alterations in Gut Microbiota and Their Correlation with Brain Beta-Amyloid Burden Measured by F-Florbetaben PET in Mild Cognitive Impairment Due to Alzheimer's Disease.

This study investigated changes in the gut microbial composition of individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer's disease (AD) and their relationship with positron emission tomography (PET) amyloid accumulation. In total, 17 cognitively normal individuals without amyloid-beta (Aβ) accumulation (AβNC) and 24 with Aβ-positive mild cognitive impairment (AβMCI) who underwent F-florbetaben PET and fecal bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing were enrolled. The taxonomic compositions of the AβNC and AβMCI groups were compared.

Geriatric depression and anxiety screening via deep learning using activity tracking and sleep data.

Background: Geriatric depression and anxiety have been identified as mood disorders commonly associated with the onset of dementia. Currently, the diagnosis of geriatric depression and anxiety relies on self-reported assessments for primary screening purposes, which is uncomfortable for older adults and can be prone to misreporting. When a more precise diagnosis is needed, additional methods such as in-depth interviews or functional magnetic resonance imaging are used.

The Usefulness of F-FDG PET to Differentiate Subtypes of Dementia: The Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background And Purpose: Dementia subtypes, including Alzheimer's dementia (AD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), pose diagnostic challenges. This review examines the effectiveness of F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography (F-FDG PET) in differentiating these subtypes for precise treatment and management.

Methods: A systematic review following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines was conducted using databases like PubMed and Embase to identify studies on the diagnostic utility of F-FDG PET in dementia.

Discourse-based verbal working memory training and transfer effects for individuals with an amnestic type of mild cognitive impairment.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate the treatment efficacy of a discourse-based working memory (WM) protocol for individuals with the amnestic type of mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Method: The current study employed a randomised, single-blind design. Fourteen individuals with MCI participated in the study ( = 7 treatment group and  = 7 control group).

Sex differences in the structural rich-club connectivity in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Background And Objectives: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is more prevalent in women than in men; however, there is a discrepancy in research on sex differences in AD. The human brain is a large-scale network with hub regions forming a central core, the rich-club, which is vital to cognitive functions. However, it is unknown whether alterations in the rich-clubs in AD differ between men and women.

Identifying the acute toxicity of contaminated sediments using machine learning models.

Ecological risk assessment of contaminated sediment has become a fundamental component of water quality management programs, supporting decision-making for management actions or prompting additional investigations. In this study, we proposed a machine learning (ML)-based approach to assess the ecological risk of contaminated sediment as an alternative to existing index-based methods and costly toxicity testing. The performance of three widely used index-based methods (the pollution load index, potential ecological risk index, and mean probable effect concentration) and three ML algorithms (random forest, support vector machine, and extreme gradient boosting [XGB]) were compared in their prediction of sediment toxicity using 327 nationwide data sets from Korea consisting of 14 sediment quality parameters and sediment toxicity testing data.

Predictive Scale for Amyloid PET Positivity Based on Clinical and MRI Variables in Patients with Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment.

The presence of amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition is considered important in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), since they can progress to Alzheimer's disease dementia. Amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) has been used for detecting Aβ deposition, but its high cost is a significant barrier for clinical usage. Therefore, we aimed to develop a new predictive scale for amyloid PET positivity using easily accessible tools.

Executive Summary of the 2021 International Conference of Korean Dementia Association: A Report From the Academic Committee of the Korean Dementia Association.

Recently, aducanumab, a beta amyloid targeted immunotherapy, has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of Alzheimer's dementia (AD). Although many questions need to be answered, this approval provides a promising hope for the development of AD drugs that could be supported by new biomarkers such as blood-based ones and composite neuropsychological tests that can confirm pathologic changes in early stages of AD. It is important to elucidate the complexity of AD which is known to be associated with other factors such as vascular etiologies and neuro-inflammation.