Working drawings: research and study programme

Μέσα στις συνθήκες που διαμορφώνονται με την πτώση της Κωνσταντινούπολης το 1453 και τη διάλυση του βυζαντινού κράτους, η Κρήτη -βενετική κτήση από τις αρχές του 13ου αιώνα (1210) μετασχηματίζεται στο σημαντικότερο καλλιτεχνικό κέντρο του ορθόδοξου κόσμου. Πολυάριθμα εργαστήρια ζωγραφικής οργανώνονται στα αστικά κέντρα του νησιού και ιδιαίτερα στην πρωτεύουσα του τον Χάνδακα, που αναλαμβάνουν μεγάλες παραγγελίες εικόνων. Για να αντεπεξέλθουν στην αυξημένη ζήτηση της αγοράς οργανώνονται κατάλληλα όχι μόνο σε επίπεδο έμψυχου δυναμικού αλλά και σε εκείνο του τεχνολογικού εξοπλισμού. Διερευνώντας τους τρόπους με τους οποίους οι Κρητικοί ζωγράφοι από τον 15ο έως και τον 17ο αιώνα αναπαρήγαγαν και μετέφεραν τα εικονογραφικά τους δέματα από εικόνα σε εικόνα, διαπιστώνουμε ότι αυτό γινόταν με τη βοήθεια ανθιβόλων. Τα ανθίβολα ήταν δηλαδή σχέδια εργασίας με τα οποία οι Κρητικοί ζωγράφοι μπορούσαν να αντιγράψουν και να μεταφέρουν αυτούσιο και «κατά γράμμα» το εικονογραφικό θέμα μιας εικόνας σε μιαν άλλη. Στο Τμήμα Ζωγραφικής, Χαρακτικών και Σχεδίων του Μουσείου Μπενάκη φυλάσσονται δύο πολύ σημαντικοί φάκελοι με ανθίβολα. Τον πρώτο είχε αγοράσει ο ίδιος ο Αντώνης Μπενάκης από τον αρχαιοπώλη Θεόδωρο Ζουμπουλάκη στα μέσα της δεκαετίας του '40. Ο φάκελος αυτός αποτελείται από 372 συνοπτικά σχέδια τοιχογραφιών και σχετίζεται με το Άγιο Όρος. Ο δεύτερος φάκελος ανήκε στο γνωστό βυζαντινολόγο Ανδρέα Ξυγγόπουλο, ο οποίος τον είχε αποκτήσει μέσω του αρχαιοπώλη Δημοσθένη Στάικου, και μετά το θάνατο του το 1979 κληροδοτήθηκε στο Μουσείο Μπενάκη. Ο φάκελος αποτελείται από 464 φύλλα με διάτρητα στην πλειονότητα τους σχέδια, που σχετίζονται με εικόνες. Με τη μελέτη των φακέλων αυτών είχε ασχοληθεί η αείμνηστη Λασκαρίνα Μπούρα και μετά το θάνατο της η γράφουσα ανέλαβε τη συνέχιση και ολοκλήρωση της μελέτης τους με στόχο την τελική δημοσίευση τους σε επιστημονικό κατάλογο. Τα ανθίβολα αρχικά καταγράφηκαν σε παραδοσιακές καρτέλες και στη συνέχεια σε ηλεκτρονικές. Κατόπιν, και με τη μέθοδο της Β-ραδιογραφίας, έγινε προσπάθεια να αποτυπωθούν τα υδατόσημα, τα οποία πολλές φορές διατηρούνται πάνω στο χαρτί των ανθιβόλων. Η χρονολόγηση των υδατόσημων προσφέρει το πιο σταθερό terminus για τη χρονολόγηση των ίδιων των ανθιβόλων.No abstract (available)

Domenikos Theotokopoulos, The Baptism of Christ. A Recent Acquisition of the Municipality of Heraklion, Crete

Παρουσιάζεται ένα άγνωστο έργο με τη Βάπτιση του Χριστού, που ο Δήμος Ηρακλείου Κρήτης απέκτησε το 2004 μέσω δημοπρασίας του οίκου Christie’s του Λονδίνου. Το έργο εμφανίστηκε στην αγορά ως δημιουργία του Δομήνικου Θεοτοκόπουλου. Η μελέτη αυτή ενισχύει την απόδοση του έργου στον κρητικό ζωγράφο και υποστηρίζει ότι έγινε με την άφιξη του νεαρού ζωγράφου στη Βενετία το 1567. Αποτελούσε φύλλο τριπτύχου και μάλιστα την εσωτερική πλευρά του δεξιού φύλλου. Εντοπίζεται ακόμα μια παράσταση από το ίδιο τρίπτυχο, που σήμερα φυλάσσεται στο Agnes Etherington Art Centre του Πανεπιστημίου Kingston στον Καναδά, απεικονίζει την Προσκύνηση των Ποιμένων και ίσως αποτελούσε την εσωτερική πλευρά του αριστερού φύλλου του τριπτύχου. Στην περίπτωση αυτή τα δυο φύλλα του τριπτύχου έχουν ακριβώς την ίδια θέση με τις αντίστοιχες παραστάσεις στο γνωστό τρίπτυχο της Μόδενας, που φέρει την υπογραφή του Δομήνικου Θεοτοκόπουλου.A previously unknown painting of the Baptism of Christ, which was acquired by the Municipality of Heraklion in 2004 at an auction at Christies, London is the subject of this paper. The painting was attributed to Domenikos Theotokopoulos. This study tries to support this attribution with further evidence and to show that it was executed after the painter’s arrival in Venice in 1567. This work was originally the wing of a triptych and specifically this was the inner side of the triptych’s right wing. A panel with the Adoration of the Shepherds in the Agnes Etherington Art Centre of Kingston University, Canada appears to be the inner side of the triptych’s left wing. In this case the triptych had closely followed the form of the Modena triptych, which is a signed work by Domenikos Theotokopoulos

Association between physical activity and longitudinal change in body mass index in middle-aged and older adults

Background: In middle-aged and particularly older adults, body mass index (BMI) is associated with various health outcomes. We examined associations between physical activity (PA) and longitudinal BMI change in persons aged ≥ 50 years. Methods: The sample included 5159 community-dwelling individuals aged ≥ 50 years (50.5% males, mean (SD) age 73.0 (10.2) years at baseline) who were enrolled in the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging (MCSA). Participants had information on PA within one year of baseline assessment, BMI at baseline, and potential follow-up assessments (mean (SD) follow-up 4.6 (3.7) years). Linear mixed-effect models were used to calculate the association between PA (moderate-vigorous physical activity, MVPA; and all PA composite score) and the longitudinal change in BMI, adjusted for baseline age, sex, education and medical comorbidities. In addition to interactions between years since baseline and PA, we also included 2- and 3-way interactions with baseline age to further assess whether age modifies the trajectory of BMI over time. Results: We observed a decrease in BMI among participants engaging at a mean amount of PA (i.e., MVPA: 2.7; all PA: 6.8) and with a mean age (i.e., 73 years) at baseline (MVPA: estimate = -0.047, 95% CI -0.059, -0.034; all PA: estimate = -0.047, 95% CI -0.060, -0.035), and this decline is accelerated with increasing age. Participants with a mean age (i.e., 73 years) that engage at an increased amount of MVPA or all PA at baseline (i.e., one SD above the mean) do not decrease as fast with regard to BMI (MVPA: estimate = -0.006; all PA: estimate = -0.016), and higher levels of MVPA or all PA at baseline (i.e., two SD above the mean) were even associated with an increase in BMI (MVPA: estimate = 0.035; all PA: estimate = 0.015). Finally, MVPA but not all PA is beneficial at slowing BMI decline with increasing age. Conclusion: PA, particularly at moderate-vigorous intensity, is associated with slower decline in longitudinal BMI trajectories. This implies that engaging in PA may be beneficial for healthy body weight regulation in middle and late adulthood

Neuropsychiatric symptoms and the outcome of cognitive trajectories in older adults free of dementia: The Mayo Clinic Study of Aging

Objective Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) are associated with the risk of incident mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. We examined associations between NPS and the outcomes of global and domain‐specific cognitive trajectories. Methods In this longitudinal study conducted in the setting of the population‐based Mayo Clinic Study of Aging, 5081 community‐dwelling, nondemented individuals aged ≥50 years (51% males) underwent NPS assessment using Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI‐Q), and Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories (BDI‐II, BAI). Global and domain‐specific (memory, language, attention, and visuospatial skills) cognitive performance was assessed through neuropsychological testing every 15 months. Associations between baseline NPS and trajectories for individual yearly change in cognitive z‐scores were calculated using linear mixed‐effect models. Results Cognition declined regardless of NPS status over the median follow‐up of 4.5 years. Presence of NPS was associated with increased cognitive decline. Differences in annualized change in global cognition z‐scores for participants with NPS compared to without NPS ranged from −0.018 (95% CI −0.032, −0.004; p = 0.011) for irritability to −0.159 (−0.254, −0.065; p = 0.001) for hallucinations. Associations between NPS and annual decline in global cognition were significant for most NPI‐Q‐assessed NPS and clinical depression (BDI‐II≥13). Participants with NPI‐Q‐assessed depression, apathy, nighttime behavior, and clinical depression had greater decline in all domain‐specific z‐scores; presence of delusions and anxiety was associated with more pronounced decline in language, attention and visuospatial skills. Conclusion NPS were associated with a more accelerated cognitive decline. Clinical assessment and potential treatment of NPS is warranted even in a community setting as NPS may impact cognitive decline in nondemented individuals

Association between CSF biomarkers of Alzheimer\u27s disease and neuropsychiatric symptoms: Mayo Clinic Study of Aging

INTRODUCTION: We examined the association between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-derived biomarkers of Alzheimer\u27s disease and neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) in older non-demented adults. METHODS: We included 784 persons (699 cognitively unimpaired, 85 with mild cognitive impairment) aged ≥ 50 years who underwent CSF amyloid beta (Aβ42), hyperphosphorylated tau 181 (p-tau), and total tau (t-tau) as well as NPS assessment using Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories (BDI-II, BAI), and Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q). RESULTS: Lower CSF Aβ42, and higher t-tau/Aβ42 and p-tau/Aβ42 ratios were associated with BDI-II and BAI total scores, clinical depression (BDI-II ≥ 13), and clinical anxiety (BAI ≥ 10), as well as NPI-Q-assessed anxiety, apathy, and nighttime behavior. DISCUSSION: CSF Aβ42, t-tau/Aβ42, and p-tau/Aβ42 ratios were associated with NPS in community-dwelling individuals free of dementia. If confirmed by a longitudinal cohort study, the findings have clinical relevance of taking into account the NPS status of individuals with abnormal CSF biomarkers

Physical Activity and Trajectory of Cognitive Change in Older Persons: Mayo Clinic Study of Aging

Background: Little is known about the association between physical activity (PA) and cognitive trajectories in older adults. Objective: To examine the association between PA and change in memory, language, attention, visuospatial skills, and global cognition, and a potential impact of sex or Apolipoprotein E (APOE) epsilon 4 status. Methods: Longitudinal study derived from the population-based Mayo Clinic Study of Aging, including 2,060 cognitively unimpaired males and females aged >= 70 years. Engagement in midlife (ages 50-65) and late-life (last year) PA was assessed using a questionnaire. Neuropsychological testing was done every 15 months (mean follow-up 5.8 years). We ran linear mixed-effect models to examine whether mid- or late-life PA at three intensities (mild, moderate, vigorous) was associated with cognitive z-scores. Results: Light intensity midlife PA was associated with less decline in memory function compared to the no-PA reference group (time x light PA; estimate [standard error] 0.047 [0.016], p = 0.004). Vigorous late-life PA was associated with less decline in language (0.033 [0.015], p = 0.030), attention (0.032 [0.017], p = 0.050), and global cognition (0.039 [0.016], p = 0.012). Females who were physically inactive in midlife experienced more pronounced cognitive decline than females physically active in midlife and males regardless of PA (p-values for time interaction terms with midlife PA levels and sex were all p < 0.05 for global cognition). APOE epsilon 4 carriership did not moderate the association between PA and cognition. Conclusion: Engaging in PA, particularly of vigorous intensity in late-life, was associated with less pronounced decline in global and domain-specific cognition. This association may differ by sex

Plasma‐derived biomarkers of Alzheimer\u27s disease and neuropsychiatric symptoms: A community‐based study

INTRODUCTION: We examined associations between plasma-derived biomarkers of Alzheimer\u27s disease (AD) and neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) in community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: Cross-sectional study involving 1005 persons ≥50 years of age (mean 74 years, 564 male, 118 cognitively impaired), who completed plasma-derived biomarker (amyloid beta 42 [Aβ42]/Aβ40, phosphorylated tau 181 [p-tau181], p-tau217, total tau [t-tau], neurofilament light [NfL]), and NPS assessment. RESULTS: P-tau181 (odds ratio [OR] 2.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.41–3.00, p < 0.001), p-tau217 (OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.10–2.61, p = 0.016), and t-tau (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.08–1.92, p = 0.012) were associated with appetite change. We also found that p-tau181 and p-tau217 were associated with increased symptoms of agitation (OR 1.93, 95% CI 1.20–3.11, p = 0.007 and OR 2.04, 95% CI 1.21–3.42, p = 0.007, respectively), and disinhibition (OR 2.39, 95% CI 1.45–3.93, p = 0.001 and OR 2.30, 95% CI 1.33–3.98, p = 0.003, respectively). Aβ42/Aβ40 and NfL were not associated with NPS. CONCLUSION: Higher plasma-derived p-tau181 and p-tau217 levels are associated with increased symptoms of appetite change, agitation, and disinhibition. These findings may support the validity of plasma tau biomarkers for predicting behavioral symptoms that often accompany cognitive impairment. HIGHLIGHTS - We studied 1005 community-dwelling persons aged ≥ 50 years - Higher plasma tau levels are associated with increased neuropsychiatric symptoms - Aβ42/Aβ40 and NfL are not associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms - Clinicians should treat neuropsychiatric symptoms in persons with high plasma-derived ta