Computerised cognitive training tools and online nutritional group counselling for people with mild cognitive impairment: study protocol of a completely digital, randomised, controlled trial

IntroductionPeople with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are at increased risk of decreasing cognitive functioning. Computerised cognitive training (CCT) and nutrition have been shown to improve the cognitive capacities of people with MCI. For each variable, we developed two kinds of interventions specialised for people with MCI (CCT: ‘individualised’ CCT; nutrition: a whole-food, plant-based diet). Additionally, there are two kinds of active control measures (CCT: ‘basic’ CCT; nutrition: a healthy diet following the current guidelines of the German Nutrition Society). The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of the two interventions on cognition in people with MCI in a 2×2 randomised controlled trial with German participants.Methods and analysisParticipants will be community-dwelling individuals with a psychometric diagnosis of MCI based on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Mini-Mental State Examination. With N=200, effects with an effect size of f≥0.24 (comparable to Cohen’s d≥0.48) can be detected. Screening, baseline, t6 and t12 testing will be conducted via a videoconferencing assessment, telephone, and online survey. Participants will be randomly allocated to one of four groups and will receive a combination of CCT and online nutritional counselling. The CCT can be carried out independently at home on a computer, laptop, or tablet. Nutrition counselling includes 12 online group sessions every fortnight for 1.5 hours. The treatment phase is 6 months with follow-ups after six and 12 months after baseline.Ethics and disseminationAll procedures were approved by the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg Ethics Committee (Ref. 21-318-1-B). Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. Results will be published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, conference presentations.Trial registration numberISRCTN10560738

1Hz rTMS über dem primärmotorischen Kortex der nicht betroffenen Hemisphäre in Kombination mit funktioneller Elektrotherapie in der Rehabilitation von schweren Handfunktionsstörungen nach Schlaganfall

Theilig S, Podubecka J, Bösl K, Sarfeld A-S, Nowak D-A. 1Hz rTMS über dem primärmotorischen Kortex der nicht betroffenen Hemisphäre in Kombination mit funktioneller Elektrotherapie in der Rehabilitation von schweren Handfunktionsstörungen nach Schlaganfall. Neurologie und Rehabilitation . 2010;16(6):309

1Hz rTMS über dem primärmotorischen Kortex der nicht betroffenen Hemisphäre steigt die Effizienz eines motorischen Handtrainings in der Rehabilitation von Handfunktionsstörungen nach Schlaganfall

Podubecka J, Theilig S, Bösl K, Sarfeld A-S, Nowak D-A. 1Hz rTMS über dem primärmotorischen Kortex der nicht betroffenen Hemisphäre steigt die Effizienz eines motorischen Handtrainings in der Rehabilitation von Handfunktionsstörungen nach Schlaganfall. Neurologie und Rehabilitation . 2010;16(6):322

Association of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Prenatal Maternal Depression with Offspring Low-Grade Inflammation in Early Adolescence

(1) This longitudinal study aimed to investigate the link between prenatal alcohol exposure and prenatal maternal depression with the offspring’s low-grade inflammatory status. (2) Prenatal alcohol exposure was determined via maternal self-report during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy (self-report+: n = 29) and the meconium alcohol metabolite Ethyl Glucuronide (EtG), collected at birth (≥30 ng/g: n = 23). The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to screen for prenatal maternal depressive symptoms during the 3rd trimester (≥10: n = 35). Fifteen years later, 122 adolescents (M = 13.32 years; 48.4% female) provided blood samples for the analysis of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP; M = 0.91; SD = 1.28). (3) Higher hsCRP levels were found in EtG positive adolescents (p = 0.036, ηp2 = 0.04) and an inverse non-significant dose–response relation with hsCRP (r = −0.35, p = 0.113). For maternal self-reported prenatal alcohol consumption (p = 0.780, ηp2 = 0.00) and prenatal depressive symptoms (p = 0.360, ηp2 = 0.01) no differences for hsCRP levels between the affected and unaffected groups were found. (4) Adolescents with prenatal alcohol exposure are at risk for low-grade systemic inflammation. The EtG biomarker may be more accurate compared to self-reports. The findings suggest that prenatal maternal depression does not evoke low-grade systemic inflammation