Can chronic oral inflammation and masticatory dysfunction contribute to cognitive impairment?
This article provides an overview of current literature focused on oral health and cognitive impairment in older adulthood, focusing in particular on whether oral inflammation, tooth loss and masticatory dysfunction might increase the risk of cognitive impairment in this age group.
Recent findings
There is now general acceptance that cognitive impairment contributes to poor oral health, largely through detrimental changes in behaviours related to maintaining good oral hygiene. There is more limited evidence for the reverse causal direction, but at least some studies now suggest that inflammatory mechanisms, tooth loss a...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - January 29, 2020 Category: Psychiatry Tags: NEUROCOGNITIVE DISORDERS: Edited by Perminder S. Sachdev Source Type: research
Developing robust biomarkers for vascular cognitive disorders: adding ‘V’ to the AT(N) research framework
Purpose of review
The AT(N) research framework was introduced in 2018 to define Alzheimer's disease as a biological entity. It is recognized that Alzheimer's disease lesions rarely occur in isolation in older brains, with cerebrovascular disease (CVD) being a common comorbidity. To fully characterize the disorder of dementia, the AT(N) framework needs to be extended with biomarkers for other disorders. The present review examines some of the requirements for adding a ‘V’ to the AT(N), and examines the currently available biomarkers as definitive markers of CVD.
Recent findings
Neuroimaging biomarkers of CVD have r...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - January 29, 2020 Category: Psychiatry Tags: NEUROCOGNITIVE DISORDERS: Edited by Perminder S. Sachdev Source Type: research
Going around in circles: deciphering the role of circular RNAs in neurodegenerative disease
Purpose of review
Circular RNAs are highly expressed in the brain, accumulate with ageing and may play important functional roles. Hence, their role in age-related neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, is under active investigation. This review provides an overview of our current knowledge regarding the roles of circular RNAs in Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.
Recent findings
More studies have examined Alzheimer's disease than Parkinson's disease. Circular RNA 7 (ciRS-7) has been implicated in both diseases and may play a causative pathological role in at least...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - January 29, 2020 Category: Psychiatry Tags: NEUROCOGNITIVE DISORDERS: Edited by Perminder S. Sachdev Source Type: research
Genetic testing for Alzheimer's disease: trends, challenges and ethical considerations
Purpose of review
Advances in personal genomics have made predictive genetic testing increasingly popular. The purpose of this review is to examine and summarize recent literature regarding the ethical concerns and considerations surrounding genetic testing for Alzheimer's disease.
Recent findings
Four basic bioethical principles can be applied in the context of genetic testing: autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence and justice. The concepts of clinical validity, clinical utility and personal utility are also necessary for the ethical deliberation of genetic testing for Alzheimer's disease. Ethical considerations can ...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - January 29, 2020 Category: Psychiatry Tags: NEUROCOGNITIVE DISORDERS: Edited by Perminder S. Sachdev Source Type: research
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy: understanding the facts and debate
Purpose of review
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is hypothesized to be a progressive neurodegenerative disease leading to dementia after repetitive head impacts. This review summarizes the recent evidence on CTE to highlight the facts currently known and the areas that remain poorly understood.
Recent findings
Increasing evidence suggests that many of the prior assertions about CTE in relation to repetitive head trauma are premature. First, CTE lesions have been observed in individuals with no history of head trauma/impacts. In addition, attempts to characterize possible clinical markers of CTE have had severa...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - January 29, 2020 Category: Psychiatry Tags: NEUROCOGNITIVE DISORDERS: Edited by Perminder S. Sachdev Source Type: research
Substance use disorders in people with intellectual disability
Purpose of review
To provide an overview of studies on substance use and substance use disorder (SUD) in individuals with mild intellectual disability or borderline intellectual functioning (MID–BIF).
Recent findings
Many individuals with MID–BIF use tobacco, alcohol, and drugs. On average, rates of substance use and SUD are similar to or even higher than those in peers with average intelligence. Individuals with MID–BIF are overrepresented in (forensic) addiction care. Several instruments are now available for the assessment of SUD and its risk factors in this target group. Prevention and intervention programs ...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - January 29, 2020 Category: Psychiatry Tags: NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS: Edited by James C. Harris Source Type: research
Sex and gender impacts on the behavioural presentation and recognition of autism
Purpose of review
With increasing awareness of potential differences of autism presentation in nonmale versus male individuals, this review summarizes the rapidly evolving literature on sex and gender impacts on autism across nosology, behavioural presentation, developmental change and contextual recognition biases.
Recent findings
Most studies have not differentiated sex versus gender impacts. Regarding behavioural presentation, measurement invariance across sex/gender was found in several standard measures. On this basis, diagnosed females overall showed lower restricted/repetitive behaviour/interests/activities (RR...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - January 29, 2020 Category: Psychiatry Tags: NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS: Edited by James C. Harris Source Type: research
The development of the social brain in baby siblings of children with autism
Purpose of review
Impairments in social interaction/communication become apparent after 12 months of age in children who develop Autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Studies of baby siblings of children with ASD provide the means to detect changes in the brain that are present before behavioral symptoms appear. In this review, advances from brain imaging studies of infant siblings over the past 18 months are highlighted.
Recent findings
During the first 2 months of life, functional differences in social brain regions and microstructural differences in dorsal language tracks are found in some high-risk baby siblings. At 4â€...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - January 29, 2020 Category: Psychiatry Tags: NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS: Edited by James C. Harris Source Type: research
Psychological treatment strategies for challenging behaviours in neurodevelopmental disorders: what lies beyond a purely behavioural approach?
Purpose of review
Challenging behaviour shown by individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) has a major negative impact. There is robust evidence for the efficacy of treatments based on applied behaviour analysis. However, such approaches are limited in important ways – providing only part of the whole solution. We reviewed the literature to provide an overview of recent progress in psychological treatments for challenging behaviour and how these advance the field beyond a purely behavioural approach.
Recent finding
We identified 1029 articles via a systematic search and screened for those implementing a p...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - January 29, 2020 Category: Psychiatry Tags: NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS: Edited by James C. Harris Source Type: research
Mindfulness-based programs and practices for people with intellectual and developmental disability
Purpose of review
People with intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) commonly exhibit behaviors that present challenges to their parents, caregivers, and teachers. Mindfulness-based practices and programs have emerged as a viable alternative to current interventions for such behaviors and the stress faced by their caregivers. This review addresses publications between 2018 and 2019 that examined the effectiveness of mindfulness-based practices and programs for people living with IDD.
Recent findings
Individuals with IDD can learn mindfulness practices to self-manage their aggressive and destructive behaviors....
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - January 29, 2020 Category: Psychiatry Tags: NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS: Edited by James C. Harris Source Type: research
Self-determination in adolescents and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities
Purpose of review
The importance of self-determination to wellbeing and life satisfaction has been established by research in motivation and education. The present review provides a synthesis of research in these areas at a time when the two lines of research are converging.
Recent findings
Research has established that youth and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are not as self-determined as their nondisabled peers and that this negatively impacts the quality of their lives. Further, research has established the positive benefits of a focus on self-determination assessment and intervention...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - January 29, 2020 Category: Psychiatry Tags: NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS: Edited by James C. Harris Source Type: research
Editorial: Advances in understanding self-determination, mindfulness approaches, and behavioral interventions, outcomes in autistic siblings and substance abuse in neurodevelopmental disorders
No abstract available (Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry)
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - January 29, 2020 Category: Psychiatry Tags: NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS: Edited by James C. Harris Source Type: research
Editorial introductions
No abstract available (Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry)
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - January 29, 2020 Category: Psychiatry Tags: EDITORIAL INTRODUCTIONS Source Type: research
Integrated treatment for patients with comorbid depression and personality disorders
Purpose of review
To provide an update on the epidemiology and the clinical consequences of depression complicated by comorbid personality disorders, and to discuss optimal treatment options.
Recent findings
Studies have confirmed the frequent co-occurrence of depression and personality disorders. These comorbid states are consistently associated with unfavourable clinical indicators such as duration of episode, symptom severity and recurrence of depression, as well as a negative effect on treatment outcome. Nevertheless, this is a neglected theme and there are hardly any well designed treatment studies available.
Su...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - November 28, 2019 Category: Psychiatry Tags: PERSONALITY DISORDERS: Edited by Aleksandar Janca and Charles B. Pull Source Type: research
Personality functioning in anxiety disorders
Purpose of review
The alternative model for personality disorders in DSM-5 and the upcoming ICD-11 stimulated an increased interest in the concept of personality functioning for the diagnosis of personality disorders. Furthermore, the impact of personality functioning on other mental disorders has become the focus of recent research efforts. The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive and critical study of the empirical literature on the relationship between personality functioning and anxiety disorders.
Recent findings
Recent studies predominantly show a positive association of anxiety symptoms and disor...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - November 28, 2019 Category: Psychiatry Tags: PERSONALITY DISORDERS: Edited by Aleksandar Janca and Charles B. Pull Source Type: research
