20 research outputs found
Down-Regulation of Negative Emotional Processing by Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation: Effects of Personality Characteristics
Evidence from neuroimaging and electrophysiological studies indicates that the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is a core region in emotional processing, particularly during down-regulation of negative emotional conditions. However, emotional regulation is a process subject to major inter-individual differences, some of which may be explained by personality traits. In the present study we used transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the left DLPFC to investigate whether transiently increasing the activity of this region resulted in changes in the ratings of positive, neutral and negative emotional pictures. Results revealed that anodal, but not cathodal, tDCS reduced the perceived degree of emotional valence for negative stimuli, possibly due to an enhancement of cognitive control of emotional expression. We also aimed to determine whether personality traits (extraversion and neuroticism) might condition the impact of tDCS. We found that individuals with higher scores on the introversion personality dimension were more permeable than extraverts to the modulatory effects of the stimulation. The present study underlines the role of the left DLPFC in emotional regulation, and stresses the importance of considering individual personality characteristics as a relevant variable, although replication is needed given the limited sample size of our study
Association between the DRD2 TaqIA gene polymorphism and Parkinson disease risk: an updated meta-analysis
Chagas' disease and ageing: the coexistence of other chronic diseases with Chagas' disease in elderly patients Doença de Chagas e envelhecimento: a associação de outras enfermidades crÎnicas em pacientes idosos chagåsicos
This study aimed to identify the main comorbidities in elderly chagasic patients treated in a reference service and identify possible associations between the clinical form of Chagas' disease and chronic diseases. Ninety patients aged 60 years-old or over were interviewed and their clinical diagnoses recorded. The study population profile was: women (55.6%); median age (67 years); married (51.1%); retired (73.3%); up to four years' education (64.4%); and earning less than two minimum wages (67.8%). The predominant forms of Chagas' disease were the cardiac (46.7%) and mixed forms (30%). There was a greater proportion of mild cardiac dysfunction (84.1%), frequently in association with megaesophagus. The mean number of concurrent diseases was 2.856 ± 1.845, and 33% of the patients had four or more comorbidities. The most frequent were systemic arterial hypertension (56.7%), osteoporosis (23.3%), osteoarthritis (21.2%) and dyslipidemia (20%). Positive correlations were verified between sex and comorbidities and between age group and comorbidities.<br>Este trabalho objetivou avaliar o perfil sociodemogrĂĄfico e identificar as principais co-morbidades de idosos chagĂĄsicos, buscando associação entre forma clĂnica da doença de Chagas e enfermidades crĂŽnicas. Foi realizada entrevista e levantamento dos diagnĂłsticos clĂnicos de 90 chagĂĄsicos com idade > 60 anos. Encontrou-se: mulheres (55,6%), mediana de 67 anos, casados (51,1%) e renda mensal inferior a dois salĂĄrios-mĂnimos (67,8%). A forma clĂnica predominante foi a cardĂaca (46,7%), seguida da mista (30%). Houve maior proporção de cardiopatia leve (84,1%), sendo frequente a associação com megaesĂŽfago. Trinta e trĂȘs por cento apresentavam quatro ou mais co-morbidades, dentre elas: hipertensĂŁo arterial (56,7%), osteoporose (23,3%), osteoartrite (21,2%) e dislipidemia (20%). Obteve-se correlação positiva entre gĂȘnero e co-morbidades, faixa etĂĄria e co-morbidades
Two-Year Longitudinal Monitoring of Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment Patients with Prodromal Alzheimer's Disease Using Topographical Biomarkers Derived from Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Electroencephalographic Activity
Auditory "oddball" event-related potentials (aoERPs), resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) connectivity, and electroencephalographic (rsEEG) rhythms were tested as longitudinal functional biomarkers of prodromal Alzheimer's disease (AD). Data were collected at baseline and four follow-ups at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months in amnesic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) patients classified in two groups: "positive" (i.e., "prodromal AD"; nâ=â81) or "negative" (nâ=â63) based on a diagnostic marker of AD derived from cerebrospinal samples (AÎČ42/P-tau ratio). A linear mixed model design was used to test functional biomarkers for Group, Time, and GroupĂTime effects adjusted by nuisance covariates (only data until conversion to dementia was used). Functional biomarkers that showed significant Group effects ("positive" versus "negative", pâ< â0.05) regardless of Time were 1) reduced rsfMRI connectivity in both the default mode network (DMN) and the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), both also giving significant Time effects (connectivity decay regardless of Group); 2) increased rsEEG source activity at delta (<4âHz) and theta (4-8âHz) rhythms and decreased source activity at low-frequency alpha (8-10.5âHz) rhythms; and 3) reduced parietal and posterior cingulate source activities of aoERPs. TimeĂGroup effects showed differential functional biomarker progression between groups: 1) increased rsfMRI connectivity in the left parietal cortex of the DMN nodes, consistent with compensatory effects and 2) increased limbic source activity at theta rhythms. These findings represent the first longitudinal characterization of functional biomarkers of prodromal AD relative to "negative" aMCI patients based on 5 serial recording sessions over 2 years