%0 Journal Article %J J Alzheimers Dis %D 2017 %T Impact of Recruitment Methods in Subjective Cognitive Decline. %A Abdelnour, Carla %A Rodríguez-Gómez, Octavio %A Alegret, Montserrat %A Valero, Sergi %A Moreno-Grau, Sonia %A Sanabria, Ángela %A Hernandez, Isabel %A Rosende-Roca, Maitee %A Vargas, Liliana %A Mauleón, Ana %A Sánchez, Domingo %A Espinosa, Ana %A Ortega, Gemma %A Pérez-Cordón, Alba %A Diego, Susana %A Gailhajanet, Anna %A Guitart, Marina %A Sotolongo-Grau, Oscar %A Ruiz, Agustin %A Tárraga, Lluís %A Boada, Merce %X

BACKGROUND: Recruitment methods can determine sample characteristics in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease dementia, but little is known about its influence in subjective cognitive decline (SCD).

OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of two types of recruitment methods in the characteristics of individuals with SCD.

METHODS: We select and compare clinical and neuropsychological features, and frequency of APOE ɛ4 allele of 326 subjects with SCD from two cohorts: Open House Initiative (OHI) versus Memory Unit (MU). A logistic regression analysis (LRA), using gender and years of education as covariates, was used to examine the neuropsychological variables.

RESULTS: The OHI sample were mostly women (75.9% versus 64.5%, p < 0.05), with higher educational level (12.15 [3.71] versus 10.70 [3.80] years, p = 0.001), and more family history of dementia (138 [62.7%] versus 44 [41.5%], p < 0.001) than the MU sample. Also, the OHI sample showed better overall neuropsychological performance than the MU sample, and after a LRA, this trend continued in automatic response inhibition capacity, abstract reasoning, and recognition memory. We did not find differences in age, depression history, and/or APOE ɛ4 allele frequency.

CONCLUSION: SCD subjects showed different demographic and neuropsychological characteristics depending on the recruitment method, which should be taken into account in the design of research studies with this target population.

%B J Alzheimers Dis %V 57 %P 625-632 %8 2017 %G eng %N 2 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28269773?dopt=Abstract %R 10.3233/JAD-160915 %0 Journal Article %J J Alzheimers Dis %D 2016 %T Beneficial Effects of an Integrated Psychostimulation Program in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease. %A Ibarria, Marta %A Alegret, Montserrat %A Valero, Sergi %A Morera, Amèrica %A Guitart, Marina %A Cañabate, Pilar %A Moreno, Mariola %A Lara, Susana %A Diego, Susana %A Hernández, Joan %A Tantinyá, Natàlia %A Vera, Maribel %A Hernandez, Isabel %A Becker, James T %A Ruiz, Agustin %A Boada, Merce %A Tárraga, Lluís %K Activities of Daily Living %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Alzheimer Disease %K Cholinesterase Inhibitors %K Cognition %K Combined Modality Therapy %K Disease Progression %K Female %K Humans %K Male %K Neuropsychological Tests %K Psychotherapy %K Severity of Illness Index %K Treatment Outcome %X

BACKGROUND: The existing pharmacological treatments for Alzheimer's disease (AD) can only slow the progression of symptoms or delay admission to long-term care facilities. The beneficial effects of non-drug treatments are poorly studied.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the effects of an Integrated Psychostimulation Program (IPP) in patients with mild-moderate AD treated with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors; and to identify factors related to greater benefit of the IPP.

METHODS: 206 patients (mean age = 75.9 years; MMSE = 19.6) were evaluated before starting the IPP and 3, 6, 9, and 12 months later. Measures included: Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Cognitive Subscale of Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS-Cog), Rapid Disability Rating Scale (RDRS-2), and Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q).

RESULTS: Patients remained cognitively stable (MMSE/ADAS-Cog) for more than 6 months and significantly worsened at 9-month and 12-month follow-ups, without clinically significant functional changes (RDRS-2) or psychiatric symptoms(NPI-Q). The mean annual change on MMSE and ADAS-Cog were 2.06 and 3.56 points, respectively, lower than the annual decline demonstrated previously in similar patients (2.4 and 4.5, respectively). 42.7% of patients maintained or improved global cognitive scores between baseline and 12-month follow-up. The patients who maintained cognitive functions were older than those who did not (77.5 versus 74.7 years).

CONCLUSIONS: The IPP may be an effective treatment to maintain cognition, functionality, and psychiatric symptoms in AD patients pharmacologically treated, and older age seems to increase beneficial effects of IPP.

%B J Alzheimers Dis %V 50 %P 559-66 %8 2016 %G eng %N 2 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26757182?dopt=Abstract %R 10.3233/JAD-150455