A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, multi-centre, phase III study of MLC901 (NeuroAiDTMII) for the treatment of cognitive impairment after mild traumatic brain injury.

Introduction: About half of the world population will suffer from a traumatic brain injury (TBI) during their lifetime, of which about 90% of cases are mild TBI. Although up to 40% of adults with mild TBI experience persistent functional deficits, there is no proven-effective treatment to facilitate recovery after it.

Methods And Analysis: This randomized placebo-controlled multi-centre study was aimed to examine the efficacy of herbal supplement MLC901 on complex attention following mild TBI at 6 months post-randomisation, as a primary outcome measured by CNS Vital signs (CNS-VS).

Experiences of an online version of a group education programme for the management of post-stroke fatigue: A qualitative descriptive focus group study.

Post-stroke fatigue (PSF) is a common symptom after stroke, without proven effective treatment. The Fatigue After STroke Educational Recovery (FASTER) randomized control trial evaluated a group-based, educational Fatigue Management Group (FMG) intervention. The current study explored the experiences of stroke patients, informal caregivers, and therapists when the FMG was delivered online (due to the COVID-19 pandemic).

Global, Regional, and National Burden of Nontraumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: The Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.

Importance: Nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) represents the third most common stroke type with unique etiologies, risk factors, diagnostics, and treatments. Nevertheless, epidemiological studies often cluster SAH with other stroke types leaving its distinct burden estimates obscure.

Objective: To estimate the worldwide burden of SAH.

Trends in stroke incidence, death, and disability outcomes in a multi-ethnic population: Auckland regional community stroke studies (1981-2022).

Background: Reliable data on trends of stroke incidence and outcomes over time are necessary for assessing the effectiveness of public health and clinical strategies, and for allocating healthcare resources. We assessed the levels and trends in incidence, mortality, early case fatality and disability for stroke in a defined, ethnically mixed population over 40 years.

Methods: To analyse data from five population-based stroke incidence studies in adult residents (age ≥15 years) of the Greater Auckland Region of New Zealand (NZ) (1.

Functional dysphagia: Developing a framework for assessment and treatment.

Purpose: Functional dysphagia is complex, affecting physical health as well as wellbeing. In this expert opinion paper with associated exemplar case series, we propose a framework for understanding functional dysphagia.

Method: A literature review of approaches to understanding and treating functional dysphagia are presented, moving beyond the predominant medical model to encompass psychosocial aspects of the condition.

Acceptance and commitment therapy for mild traumatic brain injury (ACTion-mTBI): a quasiexperimental feasibility study.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the feasibility of recruiting, implementing and delivering an acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) intervention for mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) (ACTion-mTBI) within a multidisciplinary outpatient mTBI rehabilitation services. The study also aimed to conduct a preliminary investigation of group differences between ACTion-mTBI and an equivalent cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) intervention on various outcome measures and psychological treatment targets.

Design: A two-arm quasiexperimental feasibility study.

Experience of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for those with mild traumatic brain injury (ACTion mTBI): A qualitative descriptive study.

Psychological interventions may make a valuable contribution to recovery following a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and have been advocated for in treatment consensus guidelines. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a more recently developed therapeutic option that may offer an effective approach. Consequently, we developed ACTion mTBI, a 5-session ACT-informed intervention protocol.

Development of a checklist for cognitive assessment requirements (CARE) based on a Delphi consensus study.

Situational factors can influence cognitive performance and should be considered for conducting cognitive assessments. The objective of this project was to develop a checklist for Cognitive Assessment Requirements (CARE) to identify these situational factors before conducting cognitive assessments and account for them. This study employed a four-round Delphi approach involving 22 experts to identify situational factors that can impact cognitive assessment results.

Fatigue After Stroke Educational Recovery Program: A Prospective, Phase III, Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Poststroke fatigue affects ≈50% of patients with stroke, causing significant personal, societal, and economic burden. In the FASTER (Fatigue After Stroke Educational Recovery) study, we assessed a group-based educational intervention for poststroke fatigue.

Methods And Results: Two hundred patients with clinically significant fatigue were included and randomized to either a general stroke education control or fatigue management group (FMG) intervention and assessed at baseline, 6 weeks, and 3 months.

Depression and anxiety at 1- and 12-months post ischemic stroke: methods for examining individual change over time.

Background Depression is commonly studied post stroke, while anxiety is less studied. This study presents prevalence of depression and anxiety at 1- and 12-months post ischemic stroke alongside three methods for examining within-subjects change over time. Methods Participants were ischemic stroke patients of the Auckland Regional Community Stroke Study (ARCOS-V) with Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale data at 1- (n =343) and 12-months (n =307).

Demographic disparities in the incidence and case fatality of subarachnoid haemorrhage: an 18-year nationwide study from New Zealand.

Background: Although the incidence and case-fatality of subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) vary within countries, few countries have reported nationwide rates, especially for multi-ethnic populations. We assessed the nationwide incidence and case-fatality of SAH in New Zealand (NZ) and explored variations by sex, district, ethnicity and time.

Methods: We used administrative health data from the national hospital discharge and cause-of-death collections to identify hospitalised and fatal non-hospitalised aneurysmal SAHs in NZ between 2001 and 2018.

Prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms after stroke in young adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Young adults with stroke have distinct professional and social roles making them vulnerable to symptoms of post-stroke depression (PSD) and post-stroke anxiety (PSA). Prior reviews have examined the prevalence of anxiety and depression in stroke populations. However, there are a lack of studies that have focused on these conditions in young adults.

Quality of life and broader experiences of those with acoustic neuroma: a mixed methods approach.

Background Acoustic neuromas (ANs) are consistently associated with decreased quality of life (QOL) related to the physical and psychosocial impacts of symptoms experienced from the tumour and its treatment. This study explored patient-reported experiences of ANs in New Zealand, with a focus on the impact on QOL and the provision of information, support and services. Methods A mixed methods approach was taken, conducting an online community survey that included the Penn Acoustic Neuroma Quality of Life Scale (N  = 52).

Exploring the influence of appearance evaluation apprehension: How fear of negative evaluation affects quality of life in people with Vestibular Schwannoma.

People diagnosed with Vestibular Schwannoma (VS) can experience several symptoms both pre and post-treatment. These, alongside the diagnosis experience, can significantly impact their daily life. The present research is a continuation of a larger study aiming to explore the impacts of symptomology and body image/fear of negative evaluation (FNAE) on the quality of life (QOL) for people with VS.

Valued living after mild traumatic brain injury: Characteristics and relationship with outcomes.

Psychological factors are strong predictors of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) recovery, consequently, psychological interventions can form part of an individual's rehabilitation. This may include enhancing valued living (VL), an approach that is effective in severe and mixed acquired brain injury samples. This study aimed to characterize VL in mTBI and explore its relationship with mTBI and mental health outcomes.

Health and Wellness Coaching for 5-Year Projected Cardiovascular Health: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background And Objectives: Evidence of effective multifactorial lifestyle interventions for primary stroke prevention is lacking, despite the significant contribution of lifestyle to stroke burden. We aimed to determine the efficacy of health and wellness coaching (HWC) for primary stroke and cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention in adults at a moderate-to-high CVD risk.

Methods: This was a parallel, 2-arm, open-label, single-blinded, phase III randomized controlled trial to determine the efficacy of HWC for primary stroke prevention in individuals 30 years and older with a 5-year CVD risk ≥10% as measured by 5-year absolute CVD risk (as measured by the PREDICT tool) at 9 months post-randomization.

Atypical symptom reporting after mild traumatic brain injury.

Objective: Early reporting of atypical symptoms following a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) may be an early indicator of poor prognosis. This study aimed to determine the percentage of people reporting atypical symptoms 1-month post-mTBI and explore links to recovery 12 months later in a community-dwelling mTBI sample.

Methods: Adult participants (>16 years) who had experienced a mTBI were identified from a longitudinal incidence study (BIONIC).

The effect of symptomatology and mental wellbeing on quality of life in people with acoustic neuroma.

Introduction: Acoustic neuroma (AN) research largely employs a medical framework to understand health outcomes. An alternative is to examine quality of life (QOL) outcomes. This study explored whether mental well-being (i.

Symptoms and Engagement in Anti-social Behavior 10 Years After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Within a Community Civilian Sample: A Prospective Cohort Study With Age-Sex Matched Control Group.

Objective: To determine if there are longer-term effects on symptoms, health status, mood, and behavior 10 years after a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Community-based, civilian sample.

You only get one brain: adult reflections on coping and recovery after traumatic brain injury in adolescence.

Background: TBI during adolescence can result in significant acute symptoms that can persist into adulthood. This research analyzed retrospective qualitative accounts of young adults who had sustained a TBI in adolescence to explore coping and recovery processes specific to this developmental stage.

Methods: Thirteen adults (aged 20-25 years; mean 23 years) who sustained a mild ( = 12) or moderate ( = 1) TBI during adolescence (aged 13-17 years at injury), approximately 7.

Usability and feasibility of PreventS-MD web app for stroke prevention.

Background: Most strokes and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are potentially preventable if their risk factors are identified and well controlled. Digital platforms, such as the PreventS-MD web app (PreventS-MD) may aid health care professionals (HCPs) in assessing and managing risk factors and promoting lifestyle changes for their patients.

Methods: This is a mixed-methods cross-sectional two-phase survey using a largely positivist (quantitative and qualitative) framework.

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Does Not Significantly Affect Midlife Cognitive Functioning Within the General Population: Findings From a Prospective Longitudinal Birth Cohort Study.

Objective: To determine whether differences exist in mid-adulthood cognitive functioning in people with and without history of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).

Setting: Community-based study.

Participants: People born between April 1, 1972, and March 31, 1973, recruited into the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Longitudinal Study, who completed neuropsychological assessments in mid-adulthood.

Outcomes in mild hyperphenylalaninemia: a comparison with PKU and healthy controls across cognition, behaviour, and quality of life.

Aims: Considering the cognitive, behavioural and quality of life (QoL) consequences of high phenylalanine levels in early treated phenylketonuria (PKU), this study examined whether monitoring and active management of individuals with the mild form of the condition hyperphenylalaninemia (HPA) would be advisable.

Method: Six individuals (aged 6 to 15) with untreated HPA were compared with six age and gender matches with PKU, and six healthy controls on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, 5th edition; Wechsler Individual Achievement Test, 2nd edition; Trail-Making test; Contingency Naming Test; and Oral Fluency test. Self- and parent-report rating scales administered included the Conners Comprehensive Behavior Rating Scales; Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, 2nd edition; the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory, and the Phenylketonuria Quality of Life (PKU group only) questionnaires.

The treatment journey of attention-related communication difficulties following traumatic brain injury: Perspectives of international health professionals.

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) can result in long-lasting changes in cognition, communication, behavior, and physical abilities that require specialized rehabilitation by health professionals. Communication difficulties following TBI are driven by difficulties in all aspects of cognition and linguistic skills. This study focuses specifically on attention-related communication difficulties and how international health professionals are treating this frequently occurring difficulty following TBI.

Sex differences in outcomes from mild traumatic brain injury eight years post-injury.

The long-term effects of mild TBI (mTBI) are not well understood, and there is an ongoing debate about whether there are sex differences in outcomes following mTBI. This study examined i) symptom burden and functional outcomes at 8-years post-injury in males and females following mTBI; ii) sex differences in outcomes at 8-years post-injury for those aged <45 years and ≥45 years and; iii) sex differences in outcomes for single and repetitive TBI. Adults (≥16 years at injury) identified as part of a population-based TBI incidence study (BIONIC) who experienced mTBI 8-years ago (N = 151) and a TBI-free sample (N = 151) completed self-report measures of symptoms and symptom burden (Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptom Questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist), and functional outcomes (Participation Assessments with Recombined Tools, Work Limitations Questionnaire).