Validation and Normative Data of the Spanish Version of the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test and Associated Long-Term Forgetting Measures in Middle-Aged Adults

Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) is an episodic memory helpful measure to detect changes associated with abnormal aging. There is a lack of RAVLT validation and normalization studies in Spain. The aim was to determine its psychometric properties and explore long-term forgetting (LTF) performance through 1-week delayed recall under three different modes of administration. The RAVLT was administered to 602 cognitively healthy volunteers, aged between 41 and 65 years, of whom 251 completed the LTF assessment. Findings reveal a factorial structure of four components, with satisfactory goodness of fit, and adequate convergent and divergent validity. We also demonstrated the differential effect of three methodologies used in LTF assessment, supporting that test expectancy positively influences long-term storage. Finally, normative data were generated according to age, sex, and education. The test, including the LTF measure, is a promising tool to estimate memory in middle-aged adults and develop predictive brain aging models

Cognitive Reserve as a Protective Factor of Mental Health in Middle-Aged Adults Affected by Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is associated with worse mental health and cognitive impairment, which can be a cause or a consequence of brain structure and function alterations, e.g., maladaptive plasticity, antinociceptive system dysregulation. Cognitive reserve reflects the effectiveness of the internal connections of the brain and it has been shown to be a protective factor in brain damage, slowing cognitive aging or reducing the risk of mental health disorders. The current study explored the impact of chronic pain on psychosocial factors, mental health, and cognition. Furthermore, we aimed to examine the role of cognitive reserve in the relationship between mental health and chronic pain clinical characteristics in middle-aged adults. The study group consisted of 477 volunteers from the Barcelona Brain Health Initiative who completed online surveys on pain, mental health, cognitive reserve, and psychosocial factors (sleep and quality of life). We described the differences in sociodemographic data, psychosocial factors, mental health, and self-perceived cognitive impairment, and neuropsychological assessment, between participants reporting pain compared with those without pain, as well as the main characteristics of the chronic pain group. Finally, to study the role of cognitive reserve in the modulation of the relationship between chronic pain and mental health, we compared variables between subgroups of participants with high/low pain intensity and cognitive reserve. The results showed that chronic pain was reported by 45.5% of middle-aged adults. Our results revealed that participants with chronic pain were older and had worse health status than people without pain. The presence of chronic pain affected working memory, mental health, and daily life activities. Moreover, cognitive reserve moderated the influence of pain intensity on mental health, resulting in less mental health affection in people suffering from high pain intensity with high cognitive reserve. In conclusion, the construct of the cognitive reserve could explain differential susceptibility between chronic pain and its mental health association and be a powerful tool in chronic pain assessment and treatment, principally due to its modifiable nature

Long-interval intracortical inhibition in primary motor cortex related to working memory in middle-aged adults

Excitability of the primary motor cortex measured with TMS has been associated with cognitive dysfunctions in patient populations. However, only a few studies have explored this relationship in healthy adults, and even fewer have considered the role of biological sex. Ninety-seven healthy middle-aged adults (53 male) completed a TMS protocol and a neuropsychological assessment. Resting Motor Threshold (RMT) and Long-Interval Intracortical Inhibition (LICI) were assessed in the left motor cortex and related to attention, episodic memory, working memory, reasoning, and global cognition composite scores to evaluate the relationship between cortical excitability and cognitive functioning. In the whole sample, there was a significant association between LICI and cognition; specifically, higher motor inhibition was related to better working memory performance. When the sample was broken down by biological sex, LICI was only associated with working memory, reasoning, and global cognition in men. No associations were found between RMT and cognitive functions. Greater intracortical inhibition, measured by LICI, could be a possible marker of working memory in healthy middle-aged adults, and biological sex plays a critical role in this association

Local Prefrontal Cortex TMS-Induced Reactivity Is Related to Working Memory and Reasoning in Middle-Aged Adults

Introduction: The prefrontal cortex (PFC) plays a crucial role in cognition, particularly in executive functions. Cortical reactivity measured with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation combined with Electroencephalography (TMS-EEG) is altered in pathological conditions, and it may also be a marker of cognitive status in middle-aged adults. In this study, we investigated the associations between cognitive measures and TMS evoked EEG reactivity and explored whether the effects of this relationship were related to neurofilament light chain levels (NfL), a marker of neuroaxonal damage. Methods: Fifty two healthy middle-aged adults (41-65 years) from the Barcelona Brain Health Initiative cohort underwent TMS-EEG, a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment, and a blood test for NfL levels. Global and Local Mean-Field Power (GMFP/LMFP), two measures of cortical reactivity, were quantified after left prefrontal cortex (L-PFC) stimulation, and cognition was set as the outcome of the regression analysis. The left inferior parietal lobe (L-IPL) was used as a control stimulation condition. Results: Local reactivity was significantly associated with working memory and reasoning only after L-PFC stimulation. No associations were found between NfL and cognition. These specific associations were independent of the status of neuroaxonal damage indexed by the NfL biomarker and remained after adjusting for age, biological sex, and education. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that TMS evoked EEG reactivity at the L-PFC, but not the L-IPL, is related to the cognitive status of middle-aged individuals and independent of NfL levels, and may become a valuable biomarker of frontal lobe-associated cognitive function. Keywords: Electroencephalography; TMS-EEG; cognition; cortical reactivity; prefrontal cortex (PFC); transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

Local Prefrontal Cortex TMS-Induced Reactivity Is Related to Working Memory and Reasoning in Middle-Aged Adults

Introduction: The prefrontal cortex (PFC) plays a crucial role in cognition, particularly in executive functions. Cortical reactivity measured with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation combined with Electroencephalography (TMS-EEG) is altered in pathological conditions, and it may also be a marker of cognitive status in middle-aged adults. In this study, we investigated the associations between cognitive measures and TMS evoked EEG reactivity and explored whether the effects of this relationship were related to neurofilament light chain levels (NfL), a marker of neuroaxonal damage. Methods: Fifty two healthy middle-aged adults (41–65 years) from the Barcelona Brain Health Initiative cohort underwent TMS-EEG, a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment, and a blood test for NfL levels. Global and Local Mean-Field Power (GMFP/LMFP), two measures of cortical reactivity, were quantified after left prefrontal cortex (L-PFC) stimulation, and cognition was set as the outcome of the regression analysis. The left inferior parietal lobe (L-IPL) was used as a control stimulation condition. Results: Local reactivity was significantly associated with working memory and reasoning only after L-PFC stimulation. No associations were found between NfL and cognition. These specific associations were independent of the status of neuroaxonal damage indexed by the NfL biomarker and remained after adjusting for age, biological sex, and education. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that TMS evoked EEG reactivity at the L-PFC, but not the L-IPL, is related to the cognitive status of middle-aged individuals and independent of NfL levels, and may become a valuable biomarker of frontal lobe-associated cognitive function

Sense of Coherence Mediates the Relationship Between Cognitive Reserve and Cognition in Middle-Aged Adults

In recent years, supported by new scientific evidence, the conceptualization of cognitive reserve (CR) has been progressively enriched and now encompasses not only cognitive stimulating activities or educational level, but also lifestyle activities, such as leisure physical activity and socialization. In this context, there is increasing interest in understanding the role of psychological factors in brain health and cognitive functioning. In a previous study, we have found that these factors mediated the relationship between CR and self-reported cognitive functioning. In this study, we have confirmed an association between two important constructs included in the psychological wellbeing and salutogenic models, 'purpose in life' and 'sense of coherence,' CR, as assessed using a questionnaire, and cognitive functioning, as evaluated using a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. Results from 888 middle-aged healthy participants from the Barcelona Brain Health Initiative indicate that both sense of coherence (SoC) and CR were positively associated with verbal memory, reasoning and attention, working memory, and global cognition. Moreover, the relation between CR and cognitive functioning in the different domains is partially mediated by SoC. When we controlled for brain integrity, introducing into the model neurofilament light chain measures, the mediator role of SoC was confirmed for reasoning and attention and global cognition. However, purpose in life was not associated with cognitive functioning. These results reveal the central role of the SoC construct, which mediates the association between classic CR estimates and cognitive functions, potentially representing a modifiable target for interventions that aim to promote brain health

Labour and social security law in Spain in 2015

El informe ha sido elaborado por la Sección Juvenil de la Asociación Española de Derecho del Trabajo y Seguridad SocialEste Informe deja constancia de los cambios normativos más relevantes y de las tendencias judiciales más paradigmáticas del ordenamiento laboral en 2015. En él se observa el imparable dinamismo del Derecho del Trabajo y de la Seguridad Social en España. El documento, consciente de tal mutabilidad, recoge una minuciosa selección de cuestiones esenciales, a juicio de las personas que abordan cada una de las materias, de las que son especialistas; los autores y las autoras, que forman parte de la Sección Juvenil de la Asociación Española de Derecho del Trabajo y de la Seguridad Social, se adscriben a los grupos temáticos por afinidad con sus principales líneas de investigación y su labor docente universitaria. En síntesis, en el Informe “El Derecho del Trabajo y de la Seguridad Social en España en 2015” se puede encontrar información muy útil para los profesionales del iuslaboralismo en materia de derechos fundamentales inespecíficos, contratación laboral y empleo, vicisitudes del contrato de trabajo, derechos colectivos, igualdad y corresponsabilidad, Seguridad Social o prevención de riesgos laborales.This report has as aim leaving a record of the most relevant normative changes and the most paradigmatic judicial trends in Labour Law in 2015. One can easily observe the unstoppable dynamismof Labour and Social Security Law in Spain. The document, conscious of that mutability, collects a thorough selection of key issues, according to the judgement of the authors, all of them specialists and all of them members of the Young Scholars’ Section of the Spanish Association for Labour and Social Security Law. They are part of thematic groups, linked to their main research lines and their teaching task. Summing up, in this report “Labour and Social Security Law in Spain in 2015”, one can easily find useful information for labour lawyers in subjects such as unspecific fundamental rights, work contracts and employment, issues of the labour relationship, collective rights, equality and co-responsibility, Social Security or occupational risk prevention

El Derecho del Trabajo y de la Seguridad Social en España en 2015. Sección Juvenil de la Asociación Española de Derecho del Trabajo y de la Seguridad Social.

Este Informe deja constancia de los cambios normativos más relevantes y de las tendencias judiciales más paradigmáticas del ordenamiento laboral en 2015. En él se observa el imparable dinamismo del Derecho del Trabajo y de la Seguridad Social en España. El documento, consciente de tal mutabilidad, recoge una minuciosa selección de cuestiones esenciales, a juicio de las personas que abordan cada una de las materias, de las que son especialistas; los autores y las autoras, que forman parte de la Sección Juvenil de la Asociación Española de Derecho del Trabajo y de la Seguridad Social, se adscriben a los grupos temáticos por afinidad con sus principales líneas de investigación y su labor docente universitaria. En síntesis, en el Informe “El Derecho del Trabajo y de la Seguridad Social en España en 2015” se puede encontrar información muy útil para los profesionales del iuslaboralismo en materia de derechos fundamentales inespecíficos, contratación laboral y empleo, vicisitudes del contrato de trabajo, derechos colectivos, igualdad y corresponsabilidad, Seguridad Social o prevención de riesgos laborales. This report has as aim leaving a record of the most relevant normative changes and the most paradigmatic judicial trends in Labour Law in 2015. One can easily observe the unstoppable dynamismof Labour and Social Security Law in Spain. The document, conscious of that mutability, collects a thorough selection of key issues, according to the judgement of the authors, all of them specialists and all of them members of the Young Scholars’ Section of the Spanish Association for Labour and Social Security Law. They are part of thematic groups, linked to their main research lines and their teaching task. Summing up, in this report “Labour and Social Security Law in Spain in 2015”, one can easily find useful information for labour lawyers in subjects such as unspecific fundamental rights, work contracts and employment, issues of the labour relationship, collective rights, equality and co-responsibility, Social Security or occupational risk prevention

El derecho del trabajo y de la seguridad social en españa en 2018

En su quinta edición, el Informe “El Derecho del Trabajo y de la Seguridad Social en España 2018” le ofrece una síntesis, que por concreta no es menos rigurosa, de los principales hitos por los que ha transitado el iuslaboralismo a lo largo del último año. En concreto, en las páginas que siguen, los expertos integrantes de la Sección Juvenil de la Asociación Española de Derecho del Trabajo y de la Seguridad Social (AEDTSS) analizan para usted, en primer lugar, las principales resoluciones europeas y nacionales en materia de igualad y no discriminación, acoso en sus más diversas manifestaciones, liberad religiosa y libertad de expresión. Asimismo, se abordan también las cuestiones relativas al empleo y la contratación, casi monopolizadas por el impacto de las plataformas y las consecuencias del caso de Diego. En materia de vicisitudes, sin perder importancia el despido colectivo, observará un cierto auge de los casos relativos a sucesión empresarial, movilidad funcional y empleo público. En el ámbito del derecho colectivo, además de analizarse el IV AENC, encontrará un estudio pormenorizado de las principales resoluciones en materia de libertad sindical, representación unitaria y ultraactividad. La sección relativa a conciliación y corresponsabilidad incluye este año como novedad un apartado relativo a violencia de género, al hilo de los avances normativos derivados del Real Decreto-ley 9/2018. Los epígrafes concernientes a la protección social y la prevención de riesgos laborales crecen de forma significativa en esta edición, lo que ha permitido abordar la evolución jurisprudencial para buena parte de las prestaciones y riesgos previstos en la Ley. Por último, las expertas del apartado de derecho procesal se han encargado de revisar a fondo los casos más significativos en el marco de las modalidades procesales especiales, con especial hincapié en el ámbito concursal. También han abordado la jurisprudencia constitucional más reciente sobre el de recurso de reposición. En suma, tienen ante usted un trabajo científico consolidado en el tiempo y sólido en cuanto al contenido, fiel reflejo de, a pesar del difícil contexto, el buen hacer de la joven doctrina iuslaboralista española

El Derecho del Trabajo y de la Seguridad Social en España en 2016. Sección Juvenil de la Asociación Española de Derecho del Trabajo y de la Seguridad Social

En su quinta edición, el Informe “El Derecho del Trabajo y de la Seguridad Social en España 2018” le ofrece una síntesis, que por concreta no es menos rigurosa, de los principales hitos por los que ha transitado el iuslaboralismo a lo largo del último año. En concreto, en las páginas que siguen, los expertos integrantes de la Sección Juvenil de la Asociación Española de Derecho del Trabajo y de la Seguridad Social (AEDTSS) analizan para usted, en primer lugar, las principales resoluciones europeas y nacionales en materia de igualad y no discriminación, acoso en sus más diversas manifestaciones, liberad religiosa y libertad de expresión. Asimismo, se abordan también las cuestiones relativas al empleo y la contratación, casi monopolizadas por el impacto de las plataformas y las consecuencias del caso de Diego. En materia de vicisitudes, sin perder importancia el despido colectivo, observará un cierto auge de los casos relativos a sucesión empresarial, movilidad funcional y empleo público. En el ámbito del derecho colectivo, además de analizarse el IV AENC, encontrará un estudio pormenorizado de las principales resoluciones en materia de libertad sindical, representación unitaria y ultraactividad. La sección relativa a conciliación y corresponsabilidad incluye este año como novedad un apartado relativo a violencia de género, al hilo de los avances normativos derivados del Real Decreto-ley 9/2018. Los epígrafes concernientes a la protección social y la prevención de riesgos laborales crecen de forma significativa en esta edición, lo que ha permitido abordar la evolución jurisprudencial para buena parte de las prestaciones y riesgos previstos en la Ley. Por último, las expertas del apartado de derecho procesal se han encargado de revisar a fondo los casos más significativos en el marco de las modalidades procesales especiales, con especial hincapié en el ámbito concursal. También han abordado la jurisprudencia constitucional más reciente sobre el de recurso de reposición. En suma, tienen ante usted un trabajo científico consolidado en el tiempo y sólido en cuanto al contenido, fiel reflejo de, a pesar del difícil contexto, el buen hacer de la joven doctrina iuslaboralista española. The fifth edition of the report, "Labour and Social Security Law in Spain in 2018" analyses the key issues in the changing scenario of Labour Law and Social Security during last year. Elaborated by the Young Scholars’ Section of the Spanish Association of Labour and Social Security Law focuses on the following thematic blocks: non-specific fundamental rights; employment contracts and employment; issues related to employment relationship; collective rights; equality and co-responsibility; occupational risks prevention; and procedural law. In conclusion, you may find here a concrete but detailed analysis of the the main legal and case law novelties of Spanish Social Law