Neurofeedback and the Aging Brain: A Systematic Review of Training Protocols for Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment

Dementia describes a set of symptoms that occur in neurodegenerative disorders and that is characterized by gradual loss of cognitive and behavioral functions. Recently, non-invasive neurofeedback training has been explored as a potential complementary treatment for patients suffering from dementia or mild cognitive impairment. Here we systematically reviewed studies that explored neurofeedback training protocols based on electroencephalography or functional magnetic resonance imaging for these groups of patients. From a total of 1,912 screened studies, 10 were included in our final sample (N = 208 independent participants in experimental and N = 81 in the control groups completing the primary endpoint). We compared the clinical efficacy across studies, and evaluated their experimental designs and reporting quality. In most studies, patients showed improved scores in different cognitive tests. However, data from randomized controlled trials remains scarce, and clinical evidence based on standardized metrics is still inconclusive. In light of recent meta-research developments in the neurofeedback field and beyond, quality and reporting practices of individual studies are reviewed. We conclude with recommendations on best practices for future studies that investigate the effects of neurofeedback training in dementia and cognitive impairment

Neurofeedback and the aging brain: a systematic review of training protocols for dementia and mild cognitive impairment

Dementia describes a set of symptoms that occur in neurodegenerative disorders and that is characterized by gradual loss of cognitive and behavioral functions. Recently, non-invasive neurofeedback training has been explored as a potential complementary treatment for patients suffering from dementia or mild cognitive impairment. Here we systematically reviewed studies that explored neurofeedback training protocols based on electroencephalography or functional magnetic resonance imaging for these groups of patients. From a total of 1,912 screened studies, 10 were included in our final sample (N=208 independent participants in experimental and N=81 in the control groups completing the primary endpoint). We compared the clinical efficacy across studies, and evaluated their experimental designs and reporting quality. In most studies, patients showed improved scores in different cognitive tests. However, data from randomized controlled trials remains scarce, and clinical evidence based on standardized metrics is still inconclusive. In light of recent meta-research developments in the neurofeedback field and beyond, quality and reporting practices of individual studies are reviewed. We conclude with recommendations on best practices for future studies that investigate the effects of neurofeedback training in dementia and cognitive impairment

Insights on the safety of carotenogenic Chlorella vulgaris in rodents

Chlorella vulgaris (Cv) biomass is widely used as a traditional food in the Orient and its safety for human consumption has been proved. However, carotenogenic biomass (orange), resulting from induced stresses, needs further safety evaluation, which is the aim of this study. The preliminary toxicological characterization of Cv consisted of a single dose (mice), repeated dose studies (mice and rats) and a biodisposition evaluation (rats). Nomortalities nor relevant clinical signs or behavioural changeswere observed inmice or in rats. The carotenoids in the rat faecal matter suggest that the carotenoids contained in Cv have been absorbed through a potentially saturated transport across the intestinalwall. No safety concerns were identified based on clinical signs, biochemical parameters, and liver and spleen histopathology. No significant differences in food/water intake, blood-pressure, blood glucose levels, glucose tolerance and plasticity of erythrocytes were observed over one month with both supplemented and control animals. The intake of carotenogenic Cv did not reveal any signs of toxicity for doses far exceeding the proposed carotenoid human-diet dose. Therefore these preliminary results suggest that the orange Cv microalgae can be used as a source of carotenoids and could be used for human consumption with possible health benefits

Fluidized Bed Catalytic Pyrolysis of Eucalyptus over HZSM-5: Effect of Acid Density and Gallium Modification on Catalyst Deactivation

Catalytic fast pyrolysis of eucalyptus wood was performed on a continuous laboratory-scale fluidized bed fast pyrolysis system. Catalytic activity was monitored from use of fresh catalyst up to a cumulative biomass/catalyst ratio (B/C) of 4:1 over extruded pellets of three different ZSM-5 catalysts by tracking CO, CO₂, H₂, and C₂H₄ production and bio-oil quality. The catalysts employed were extruded HZSM-5 with two different silica/alumina ratios (30 and 80) as well as one modified with Ga (SiO₂/Al₂O₃ = 30) by ion exchange, which was reduced under H₂ prior to pyrolysis. The deactivation of the catalysts over the course of the experiment was reflected in the decline in deoxygenation activity, following the order HZSM-5 (30) > HZSM-5 (80) > GaZSM-5 (30). HZSM-5 (30) lost most of its activity before a cumulative B/C of 2:1 was reached, while HZSM-5 (80) still showed significant deoxygenated activity at this exposure level. GaZSM-5 (30) still showed deoxygenation activity at B/C of >4:1. The improvement exhibited by HZSM-5 with an increasing SiO₂/Al₂O₃ ratio was attributed to reduced acid site density that decreased the propensity for coke formation as a result of reactions occurring between substrates at adjacent active acid sites. For reduced GaZSM-5, initial dehydrogenation activity aided in the production of aromatics by the olefin oligomerization and aromatization route up to B/C of ∼1.5:1, after which Ga became completely oxidized; however, the oxidized GaZSM-5 catalyst continued to exhibit improved decarbonylation and decarboxylation activities