Transdiagnostic neurocognitive deficits in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia: a 1-year follow-up study

Background Neurocognition impairments are critical factors in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder (BD), and schizophrenia (SZ), and also in those with somatic diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Intriguingly, these severe mental illnesses are associated with an increased co-occurrence of diabetes (direct comorbidity). This study sought to investigate the neurocognition and social functioning across T2DM, MDD, BD, and SZ using a transdiagnostic and longitudinal approach. Methods A total of 165 participants, including 30 with SZ, 42 with BD, 35 with MDD, 30 with T2DM, and 28 healthy controls (HC), were assessed twice at a 1-year interval using a comprehensive, integrated test battery on neuropsychological and social functioning. Results Common neurocognitive impairments in somatic and psychiatric disorders were identified, including deficits in short-term memory and cognitive reserve (p < 0.01, η²p=0.08–0.31). Social functioning impairments were observed in almost all the disorders (p < 0.0001; η²p=0.29–0.49). Transdiagnostic deficits remained stable across the 1-year follow-up (p < 0.001; η²p=0.13–0.43) and could accurately differentiate individuals with somatic and psychiatric disorders (χ² = 48.0, p < 0.0001). Limitations The initial sample size was small, and high experimental mortality was observed after follow-up for one year. Conclusions This longitudinal study provides evidence of some possible overlap in neurocognition deficits across somatic and psychiatric diagnostic categories, such as T2DM, MDD, BD, and SZ, which have high comorbidity. This overlap may be a result of shared genetic and environmental etiological factors. The findings open promising avenues for research on transdiagnostic phenotypes of neurocognition in these disorders, in addition to their biological bases

Dinàmica poblacional de dos equinoïdeus irregulars de l’Aptià de Cinctorres (conca del Maestrat)

S’estudia la tafonomia i la comunitat d’un jaciment de l’Aptià de Cinctorres (Conca sedimentaria del Maestrat, Serralada Ibèrica). S’analitza la dinàmica poblacional d’Heteraster oblongus (Brongniart 1821) i Pliotoxaster collegnii (Sismonda 1843). Les conclusions més importants són que es tracta d’una paleobiocenosi, però presenta un biaix estratinòmic a favor d’espècies infàuniques en contra de les epifàuniques i un alter biaix fossildiagenètic a favor dels éssers amb conquilla composta de calcita davant els que tenen la closca d’aragonita. Que l’estudi de les poblacions permet constatar l’existència de dos equinoïdeus detritívors amb poblacions pròsperes explotant un mateix recurs alimentari. Population dynamics of two irregular echinoid of Aptian from Cinctorres (Maestrat Basin) The taphonomy and the fossil community of the one site from Aptian of the Cinctorres (sedimentary basin Maestrat, Iberian Chain) is studied. The population dynamics of Heteraster oblongus (Brongniart 1821) and Pliotoxaster collegnii (Sismondi 1843) are analysed. The most important conclusions is that this is a paleobiocenosis, but has a biostratinomic bias in favour of infaunal species against epifaunal and a diagenetic bias in favour of shells composed of calcite against the shell of aragonite. The study populations can confirm the existence of two detritivores equinoids with prosperous populations, exploiting the same food resource

Visual memory dysfunction as a neurocognitive endophenotype in bipolar disorder patients and their unaffected relatives. Evidence from a 5-year follow-up Valencia study

BACKGROUND: Scarce research has focused on Visual Memory (VM) deficits as a possible neurocognitive endophenotype of bipolar disorder (BD). The main aim of this longitudinal, family study with healthy controls was to explore whether VM dysfunction represents a neurocognitive endophenotype of BD. METHODS: Assessment of VM by Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (ROCF) was carried out on a sample of 317 subjects, including 140 patients with BD, 60 unaffected first-degree relatives (BD-Rel), and 117 genetically-unrelated healthy controls (HC), on three occasions over a 5-year period (T1, T2, and T3). BD-Rel group scores were analyzed only at T1 and T2. RESULTS: Performance of BD patients was significantly worse than the HC group (p < 0.01). Performance of BD-Rel was also significantly different from HC scores at T1 (p < 0.01) and T2 (p?=?0.05), and showed an intermediate profile between the BD and HC groups. Only among BD patients, there were significant differences according to sex, with females performing worse than males (p?=?0.03). Regarding other variables, education represented significant differences only in average scores of BD-Rel group (p?=?0.01). LIMITATIONS: Important attrition in BD-Rel group over time was detected, which precluded analysis at T3. CONCLUSIONS: BD patients show significant deficits in VM that remain stable over time, even after controlling sociodemographic and clinical variables. Unaffected relatives also show stable deficits in VM. Accordingly, the deficit in VM could be considered a potential endophenotype of BD, which in turn may be useful as a predictor of the evolution of the disease. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.VB-M is supported by the national grant PI16/01770 (PROBILIFE Study), from the ISCIII. RTS was supported in part by grant PROMETEOII/2015/021 from Generalitat Valenciana and the national grands PI14/00894, PI17/00719 and PIE14/00031 from ISCIII-FEDER. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

Specific metabolic syndrome components predict cognition and social functioning in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus and severe mental disorders

Objective: Obesity and metabolic diseases such as metabolic syndrome (MetS) are more prevalent in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), major depres sive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder (BD), and schizophrenia (SZ). MetS com ponents might be associated with neurocognitive and functional impairments in these individuals. The predictive and discriminatory validity of MetS and its components regarding those outcomes were assessed from prospective and trans diagnostic perspectives. Methods: Metabolic syndrome components and neurocognitive and social func tioning were assessed in 165 subjects, including 30 with SZ, 42 with BD, 35 with MDD, 30 with T2DM, and 28 healthy controls (HCs). A posteriori, individuals were classified into two groups. The MetS group consisted of those who met at least three of the following criteria: abdominal obesity (AO), elevated triglycerides (TG), reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), elevated blood pres sure (BP), and elevated fasting glucose (FPG); the remaining participants com prised the No-MetS group. Mixed one-way analysis of covariance and linear and binary logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: Cognitive impairment was significantly greater in the MetS group (n = 82) than in the No-MetS group (n = 83), with small effect sizes (p < 0.05; η²p = 0.02 – 0.03). In both groups, the most robust associations between MetS compo nents and neurocognitive and social functioning were observed with TG and FPG (p < 0.05). There was also evidence for a significant relationship between cogni tion and BP in the MetS group (p < 0.05). The combination of TG, FPG, elevated systolic BP and HDL best classified individuals with greater cognitive impairment (p < 0.001), and TG was the most accurate (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Specific MetS components are significantly associated with cogni tive impairment across somatic and psychiatric disorders. Our findings provide further evidence on the summative effect of MetS components to predict cogni tion and social functioning and allow the identification of individuals with worse outcomes. Transdiagnostic, lifestyle-based therapeutic interventions targeted at that group hold the potential to improve health outcomes

Probiotic, prebiotic, synbiotic and fermented food supplementation in psychiatric disorders: A systematic review of clinical trials

The use of probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics or fermented foods can modulate the gut-brain axis and constitute a potentially therapeutic intervention in psychiatric disorders. This systematic review aims to identify current evidence regarding these interventions in the treatment of patients with DSM/ICD psychiatric diagnoses. Forty-seven articles from 42 studies met the inclusion criteria. Risk of bias was assessed in all included studies. Major depression was the most studied disorder (n = 19 studies). Studies frequently focused on schizophrenia (n = 11) and bipolar disorder (n = 5) and there were limited studies in anorexia nervosa (n = 4), ADHD (n = 3), Tourette (n = 1), insomnia (n = 1), PTSD (n = 1) and generalized anxiety disorder (n = 1). Except in MDD, current evidence does not clarify the role of probiotics and prebiotics in the treatment of mental illness. Several studies point to an improvement in the immune and inflammatory profile (e.g. CRP, IL6), which may be a relevant mechanism of action of the therapeutic response identified in these studies. Future research should consider lifestyle and dietary habits of patients as possible confounders that may influence inter-individual treatment response

Population dynamics of two irregular echinoid of Aptian from Cictorres (Maestrat Basin)

S’estudia la tafonomia i la comunitat d’un jaciment de l’Aptià de Cinctorres (Conca sedimentaria del Maestrat, Serralada Ibèrica). S’analitza la dinàmica poblacional d’Heteraster oblongus (Brongniart 1821) i Pliotoxaster collegnii (Sismonda 1843). Les conclusions més importants són que es tracta d’una paleobiocenosi, però presenta un biaix estratinòmic a favor d’espècies infàuniques en contra de les epifàuniques i un altre biaix fossildiagenètic a favor dels éssers amb conquilla composta de calcita davant els que tenen la closca d’aragonita. Que l’estudi de les poblacions permet constatar l’existència de dos equinoïdeus detritívors amb poblacions pròsperes explotant un mateix recurs alimentari.The taphonomy and the fossil community of the one site from Aptian of the Cinctorres (sedimentary basin Maestrat, Iberian Chain) is studied. The population dynamics of Heteraster oblongus (Brongniart 1821) and Pliotoxaster collegnii (Sismondi 1843) are analysed. The most important conclusions is that this is a paleobiocenosis, but has a biostratinomic bias in favour of infaunal species against epifaunal and a diagenetic bias in favour of shells composed of calcite against the shell of aragonite. The study populations can confirm the existence of two detritivores equinoids with prosperous populations, exploiting the same food resource

Transdiagnostic neurocognitive deficits in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia: A 1-year follow-up study.

Neurocognition impairments are critical factors in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder (BD), and schizophrenia (SZ), and also in those with somatic diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Intriguingly, these severe mental illnesses are associated with an increased co-occurrence of diabetes (direct comorbidity). This study sought to investigate the neurocognition and social functioning across T2DM, MDD, BD, and SZ using a transdiagnostic and longitudinal approach. A total of 165 participants, including 30 with SZ, 42 with BD, 35 with MDD, 30 with T2DM, and 28 healthy controls (HC), were assessed twice at a 1-year interval using a comprehensive, integrated test battery on neuropsychological and social functioning. Common neurocognitive impairments in somatic and psychiatric disorders were identified, including deficits in short-term memory and cognitive reserve (p  The initial sample size was small, and high experimental mortality was observed after follow-up for one year. This longitudinal study provides evidence of some possible overlap in neurocognition deficits across somatic and psychiatric diagnostic categories, such as T2DM, MDD, BD, and SZ, which have high comorbidity. This overlap may be a result of shared genetic and environmental etiological factors. The findings open promising avenues for research on transdiagnostic phenotypes of neurocognition in these disorders, in addition to their biological bases

Grip Strength, Neurocognition, and Social Functioning in People WithType-2 Diabetes Mellitus, Major Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, and Schizophrenia

[Background] Frailty is a common syndrome among older adults and patients with several comorbidities. Grip strength (GS) is a representative parameter of frailty because it is a valid indicator of current and long-term physical conditions in the general population and patients with severe mental illnesses (SMIs). Physical and cognitive capacities of people with SMIs are usually impaired; however, their relationship with frailty or social functioning have not been studied to date. The current study aimed to determine if GS is a valid predictor of changes in cognitive performance and social functioning in patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus and SMIs.[Methods] Assessments of social functioning, cognitive performance, and GS (measured with an electronic dynamometer) were conducted in 30 outpatients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, 35 with major depressive disorder, 42 with bipolar disorder, 30 with schizophrenia, and 28 healthy controls, twice during 1-year, follow-up period. Descriptive analyses were conducted using a one-way analysis of variance for continuous variables and the chi-squared test for categorical variables. Differences between groups for the motor, cognitive, and social variables at T1 and T2 were assessed using a one-way analysis of covariance, with sex and age as co-variates (p < 0.01). To test the predictive capacity of GS at baseline to explain the variance in cognitive performance and social functioning at T2, a linear regression analysis was performed (p < 0.05).[Results] Predictive relationships were found among GS when implicated with clinical, cognitive, and social variables. These relationships explained changes in cognitive performance after one year of follow-up; the variability percentage was 67.7%, in patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus and 89.1% in patients with schizophrenia. Baseline GS along with other variables, also predicted changes in social functioning in major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, with variability percentages of 67.3, 36, and 59%, respectively.[Conclusion] GS combined with other variables significantly predicted changes in cognitive performance and social functioning in people with SMIs or type-2 diabetes mellitus. Interventions aimed to improve the overall physical conditions of patients who have poor GS could be a therapeutic option that confers positive effects on cognitive performance and social functioning.RT-S was supported in part by grant PROMETEOII/2015/021 from Generalitat Valenciana and the national grants PI14/00894 and PIE14/00031 from ISCIII-FEDER. RA-A is funded by a Miguel Servet contract from the Carlos III Health Institute (CP18/00003)