Predicting Cognitive Decline in Patients with TIA and Minor Stroke

Dementia is an incurable neurocognitive disorder and recognizing early pathological biomarkers can help to predict future dementia. Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) and minor stroke patients are at risk of dementia. We hypothesized that TIA and minor stroke patients experience higher brain atrophy rates and that baseline brain and hippocampal volumes may predict cognitive decline at 3 years. Our results suggest that TIA and minor stroke patients experienced a higher percent brain atrophy rate over 3 years compared to controls. Cognitive decline was observed at 3 years for tests assessing processing speed, and short and long delay free recall. Age was a predictor of decline in processing speed and time was a predictor for short and long delay free recall as well. Higher whole-brain atrophy and cognitive decline at 3 years suggests that TIA/minor stroke patients are a high-risk population for dementia

On right-angled spherical Artin monoid of type Dn

Recently Berceanu and Iqbal proved that the growth rate of all the spherical Artin monoids is bounded above by 4. In this paper we compute the Hilbert series of the right-angled spherical Artin monoid M(Dn∞)$\begin{array}{} M({D}^{\infty}_{n}) \end{array}$ and graphically prove that growth rate is bounded by 4. We also discuss its recurrence relations and other main properties

Associations between negative COVID-19 experiences and symptoms of anxiety and depression: a study based on a representative Canadian national sample

IntroductionAmid the widespread impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, a notable increase in symptoms of anxiety and depression has become a pressing concern. This study examined the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms in Canada from September to December 2020, assessing demographic and socioeconomic influences, as well as the potential role of COVID-19 diagnoses and related negative experiences. MethodsData were drawn from the Survey on COVID-19 and Mental Health by Statistics Canada, which used a two-stage sample design to gather responses from 14 689 adults across ten provinces and three territorial capitals, excluding less than 2% of the population. Data were collected through self-administered electronic questionnaires or phone interviews. Analytical techniques, such as frequencies, cross-tabulation and logistic regression, were used to assess the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms, the demographic characteristics of Canadians with increased anxiety and depression symptoms and the association of these symptoms with COVID-19 diagnoses and negative experiences during the pandemic. ResultsThe study found that 14.62% (95% CI: 13.72%–15.51%) of respondents exhibited symptoms of depression, while 12.89% (95% CI: 12.04%–13.74%) reported anxiety symptoms. No clear differences in symptom prevalence were observed between those infected by COVID-19, or those close to someone infected, compared to those without these experiences. However, there were strong associations between traditional risk factors for depressive and anxiety symptoms and negative experiences during the pandemic, such as physical health problems, loneliness and personal relationship challenges in the household. ConclusionThis study provides insight into the relationship between COVID-19 and Canadians’ mental health, demonstrating an increased prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms associated with COVID-19-related adversities and common prepandemic determinants of these symptoms. The findings suggest that mental health during the pandemic was primarily shaped by traditional determinants of depression and anxiety symptoms and also by negative experiences during the pandemic

Associations entre les expériences négatives liées à la COVID-19 et les symptômes d’anxiété et de dépression : étude fondée sur un échantillon national canadien représentatif

IntroductionParmi les répercussions généralisées de la pandémie de COVID-19, l’aggravation marquée des symptômes d’anxiété et de dépression est devenue une préoccupation urgente. Dans cette étude, les auteurs ont analysé la prévalence des symptômes d’anxiété et de dépression au Canada de septembre à décembre 2020, en évaluant les influences démographiques et socio-économiques ainsi que le rôle potentiel des diagnostics de COVID-19 et des expériences négatives liées à la maladie. MéthodologieLes données ont été tirées de l’Enquête sur la COVID-19 et la santé mentale réalisée par Statistique Canada, qui a utilisé un plan d’échantillonnage à deux degrés pour recueillir les réponses de 14 689 adultes dans les dix provinces et les trois capitales territoriales, en excluant moins de 2 % de la population. Ces données ont été recueillies au moyen de questionnaires électroniques auto-administrés ou d’entrevues téléphoniques. Nous avons utilsé des techniques d’analyse comme les fréquences, les tableaux croisés et la régression logistique pour évaluer la prévalence des symptômes d’anxiété et de dépression, les caractéristiques sociodémographiques des Canadiens présentant des symptômes accrus d’anxiété et de dépression et l’association de ces symptômes avec les diagnostics de COVID-19 et les expériences négatives vécues pendant la pandémie. RésultatsL’étude a révélé que 14,62 % (intervalle de confiance [IC] à 95 % : 13,72 % à 15,51 %) des répondants présentaient des symptômes de dépression et que 12,89 % (IC à 95 % : 12,04 % à 13,74 %) ont fait état de symptômes d’anxiété. Aucune différence nette n’a été observée quant à la prévalence des symptômes entre les personnes infectées par la COVID-19 ou les proches d’une personne infectée et les personnes n’ayant pas vécu ces situations. Toutefois, il y avait de fortes associations entre les facteurs de risque classiques de symptômes de dépression et d’anxiété et les expériences négatives vécues pendant la pandémie, comme des problèmes de santé physique, la solitude et des difficultés dans les relations personnelles au sein du ménage. ConclusionL’étude fournit un aperçu du lien entre COVID-19 et santé mentale au sein de la population canadienne en révélant une prévalence accrue des symptômes d’anxiété et de dépression associés aux épreuves liées à la COVID-19 et aux déterminants courants de ces symptômes avant la pandémie. D’après nos résultats, la santé mentale en période de pandémie a été principalement façonnée par les déterminants classiques des symptômes de dépression et d’anxiété ainsi que par les expériences négatives vécues au cours de la pandémie

Hippocampal atrophy and cognitive function in transient ischemic attack and minor stroke patients over three years

Introduction: Transient ischemic attack (TIA) and minor ischemic stroke (IS) is associated with a increased risk of late life dementia. In this study we aim to study the extent to which the rates of hippocampal atrophy in TIA/IS differ from healthy controls, and how they are correlated to neuropsychological measurements. Methods: TIA or minor stroke patients were tested with a neuropsychological battery including tests of executive function, and verbal and non-verbal memory at three time points out to 3 years. Annualized rates of hippocampal atrophy in TIA/IS patients were compared to controls. A linear-mixed regression model was used to assess the difference in rates of hippocampal atrophy after adjusting for time and demographic characteristics. Results: TIA/IS patients demonstrated a higher hippocampal atrophy rate than healthy controls over a 3-year interval: the annual percentage change of the left hippocampal volume was 2.5% (78 mm3 per year (SD 60)) for TIA/IS patients compared to 0.9% (29 mm3 per year (SD 32)) for controls (p < 0.01); and the annual percentage change of the right hippocampal volume was 2.5% (80 mm3 per year (SD 46)) for TIA/IS patients compared to 0.5% (17 mm3 per year (SD 33)) for controls (P < 0.01). Patients with higher annual hippocampal atrophy were more likely to report higher TMT B times, but lower ROC total score, lower California Verbal Learning Test-II total recall, and lower ROC Figure recall scores longitudinally. Conclusion: TIA/IS patients experience a higher rate of hippocampal atrophy independent of TIA/IS recurrence that are associated with changes in episodic memory and executive function over 3 years