Llewellyn, David J., Lang, Iain A., Langa, Kenneth M., Muniz-Terrera, Graciela, Phillips, Caroline L., Cherubini, Antonio, Ferrucci, Luigi, Melzer, David

Background: To our knowledge, no prospective study has examined the association between vitamin D and cognitive decline or dementia.; Methods: We determined whether low levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) were associated with an increased risk of substantial cognitive decline in the InCHIANTI population-based study conducted in Italy between 1998 and 2006 with follow-up assessments […]

Santoro, Aurelia, Siviero, Paola, Minicuci, Nadia, Bellavista, Elena, Mishto, Michele, Olivieri, Fabiola, Marchegiani, Francesca, Chiamenti, Andrea Maria, Benussi, Luisa, Ghidoni, Roberta, Nacmias, Benedetta, Bagnoli, Silvia, Ginestroni, Andrea, Scarpino, Osvaldo, Feraco, Emidio, Gianni, Walter, Cruciani, Guido, Paganelli, Roberto, Di Iorio, Angelo, Scognamiglio, Mario, Grimaldi, Luigi Maria Edoardo, Gabelli, Carlo, Sorbi, Sandro, Binetti, Giuliano, Crepaldi, Gaetano, Franceschi, Claudio

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) have been used to improve cognitive status and disability in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, while the efficacy of AChEIs (i.e. how they act in randomized controlled trials) in this setting is widely accepted, their effectiveness (i.e. how they behave in the real world) remains controversial. To compare […]

Chiatti, Carlos, Masera, Filippo, Rimland, Joseph M., Cherubini, Antonio, Scarpino, Osvaldo, Spazzafumo, Liana, Lattanzio, Fabrizia

Background: The epidemic of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) represents a significant challenge for the health care and social service systems of many developed countries. AD affects both patients and family caregivers, on whom the main burden of care falls, putting them at higher risk of stress, anxiety, mortality and lower quality of life. Evidence remains controversial […]

Santangelo, G., Morgante, L., Savica, R., Marconi, R., Grasso, L., Antonini, A., De Gaspari, D., Ottaviani, D., Tiple, D., Simoni, L., Barone, P.

Objective: To assess the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS) and to study the relationship between anhedonia, depression and cognitive impairment in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD).; Methods: The SHAPS (14 items) was translated into Italian and pre-tested in a pilot study. Two items evaluating physical anhedonia related to […]

MORETTI, Francesca, DE RONCHI, Diana, BERNABEI, Virginia, MARCHETTI, Lucia, FERRARI, Barbara, FORLANI, Claudia, NEGRETTI, Francesca, SACCHETTI, Cleta, ATTI, Anna Rita

Background: To evaluate the effects of pet therapy on cognitive function, mood and perceived quality of life on elderly inpatients (mean age 84.7 years; 95.2% women) affected by dementia, depression and psychosis.; Methods: Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and 15-items Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) were administered to 10 patients (pet group) and 11 controls (control group) […]

Isella, V

The Scales for Outcomes in Parkinson’s disease-Cognition (SCOPA-Cog) has been shown to be a clinimetrically rigorous and valid instrument for a disease-oriented neuropsychological assessment of Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients. In the present study we evaluated the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the SCOPA-Cog in 121 PD patients. The scale explores memory, attention, and […]

Gareri, Pietro, Putignano, Daria, Castagna, Alberto, Cotroneo, Antonino Maria, De Palo, Grazia, Fabbo, Andrea, Forgione, Luigi, Giacummo, Attilio, Lacava, Roberto, Marino, Saverio, Simone, Maurizio, Zurlo, Amedeo, Putignano, Salvatore

Background: Combined therapy of memantine and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) may be associated with higher benefits than either monotherapy.; Objective: This retrospective multicentric study conducted in seven Italian Ambulatory Centers for Dementia assessed the efficacy and safety of memantine 20 mg/day administered for 6 months in addition to an AChEI […]

Attanasio, A., Bedin, M., Stocco, S., Negrin, V., Biancon, A., Cecchetto, G., Tagliapietra, M.

Aim: Several reviews or clinical trials published in the last years have not demonstrated that tube feeding can improve outcomes, including inhalation pneumonia, survival, pressure sores. Further, high rate of risks are recognized. Therefore, this practice should be discouraged for severely demented patients. The aim of this study was to assess the validity of these […]