Search

BackgroundStroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide and it causes important long-term cognitive and physical deficits that hamper patients' daily activity. Neuropsychological rehabilitation (NR) has increasingly become more important to recover from cognitive disability and to improve the functionality and quality of life of these patients. Since in most stroke cases, restoration of functional connectivity (FC) precedes or accompanies cognitive and behavioral recovery, understanding the electrophysiological signatures underlying stroke recovery mechanisms is a crucial scientific and clinical goal.MethodsFor this purpose, a longitudinal study was carried out with a sample of 10 stroke patients, who underwent two neuropsychological assessments and two resting-state magnetoencephalographic (MEG) recordings, before and after undergoing a NR program. Moreover, to understand the degree of cognitive and neurophysiological impairment after stroke and the mechanisms of recovery after cognitive rehabilitation, stroke patients were compared to 10 healthy controls matched for age, sex, and educational level.FindingsAfter intra and inter group comparisons, we found the following results: (1) Within the stroke group who received cognitive rehabilitation, almost all cognitive domains improved relatively or totally; (2) They exhibit a pattern of widespread increased in FC within the beta band that was related to the recovery process (there were no significant differences between patients who underwent rehabilitation and controls); (3) These FC recovery changes were related with the enhanced of cognitive performance. Furthermore, we explored the capacity of the neuropsychological scores before rehabilitation, to predict the FC changes in the brain network. Significant correlations were found in global indexes from the WAIS-III: Performance IQ (PIQ) and Perceptual Organization index (POI) (i.e., Picture Completion, Matrix Reasoning, and Block Design).

Comorbidity between substance use disorders and other psychiatric disorders or dual diagnosis (PD) is characterized by difficulty in their therapeutic approach, constant relapses and hospital admissions, as well as higher violent and criminal behavior. Our objective was to determine the prevalence of PD in individuals treated at a psychiatric center in Arequipa, Peru. It is a descriptive epidemiological study based on analysis of 445 case histories (HC) of patients admitted during the period of three years (2011-2013). Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of subjects by comparing those who had a diagnosis of PD, with those who had a diagnosis just by consuming psychotropic substances were established. The results show a prevalence of dual diagnosis in 49%.The average ages were M = 31.45, DS = 15.59 in the with dual diagnosis group CPD and M = 33.93, DS = 15.48 in the without dual diagnosis group SPD; the prevalence of substance use was 51% SPD. Alcohol was the most used substance, followed by cannabis marijuana and cocaine base (PBC). The socio-family and individual vulnerability of the population is evidence for protection or resistance to mental illness, as well as the lack of implementation of effective policies in mental health care for dual disorders, showing worse prognosis and indexes every time higher. La comorbilidad entre un trastorno por uso de sustancias y otros trastornos psiquiátricos o patología dual (PD) se caracteriza por la dificultad en su abordaje terapéutico, recaídas constantes e ingresos hospitalarios. Nuestro objetivo fue conocer la prevalencia de PD en un centro psiquiátrico de Arequipa-Perú. Es un estudio descriptivoepidemiológico basado en el análisis de 445 historias clínicas (HC) de pacientes ingresados durante el lapso de tres años (periodo 2011-2013). Se establecieron características sociodemográficas y clínicas de los sujetos comparando entre quienes presentaron un diagnóstico de PD, con aquellos que solo tuvieron diagnóstico por consumo de sustancias psicótropas. Los resultados evidencian una prevalencia de patología dual de 49%. Las edades promedio fueron de M = 31.45, DE = 15.59 en el grupo con patología dual (CPD) y M = 33.93, DE = 15.48 en el grupo sin patología dual (SPD); la prevalencia del consumo de sustancias SPD fue del 51%. El alcohol fue la sustancia más consumida, seguida de cannabis, marihuana y la pasta básica de cocaína (PBC). Se evidencia la vulnerabilidad socio-familiar e individual de la población en cuanto a protección o resistencia frente a la enfermedad mental, además de la carencia de políticas efectivas en salud mental, que muestran peor pronóstico e índices cada vez más elevados.

BACKGROUND: Dementia has an increased rating in elderly people in low-income countries. Estimations of the prevalence of dementias worldwide envision an unfavorable outlook, especially in developing countries; since factors such as education, socioeconomic status and health that play an important role in the development of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. Perhaps, not well epidemiological studies have been performed with tests that present adequate levels of reliability or cut-off point. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we want to complete two different but complementary objectives. First of all, we analyzed the sensibility and specificity of the ACE-R test vs MMSE in the Peruvian population, to obtain recommended cut-off scores for dementia. Then, we analyze in a sample of 1500 patients (mean age between 60 - 90 years old) the prevalence of dementia through the ACE-R test. METHODS: We combined an instrumental and epidemiological study. 342 participants complete the first experiment and in 1500 the second one. Ranges between 60 to 90 years old were obtained to display the prevalence of cognitive impairment and dementia. RESULTS: The most suitable cut points for our population were selected through the ROC curves and the Youden index. The percentage of global mild cognitive deterioration and dementia were higher than previously reported in Peru.

BACKGROUND: Theory of mind (ToM) is a core cognitive process of social cognition, with huge importance in neuroscience research and neuropsychiatric disorders. Regarding its relevance, a well-extended method to assess advanced ToM in adults is the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore its psychometric properties in the Peruvian population, accuracy percent for each item among different countries versions of the RMET; and test-retest reliability after one-year follow-up.METHODS: 288 participants from 17 to 55 years old were recruited among first-year students from a technologic institute and general population of Arequipa City. 55 participants were followed-up for a year and completed the same psychological assessment.RESULTS: The RMET display good validity and consistency in the Cronbach Alphau00b4s approach, as well as test-retest reliability after one-year follow-up. Bland-Altman test and Intraclass coefficient correlation display score-stability. No differences were found between the kind of education or socioeconomic status. Regarding gender, females score better than men confirming previous results. CONCLUSION: The RMET has been widely used to measure theory of mind and have good psychometric properties in Peruvian Population. These results may improve clinical practice and further studies in clinical and nonclinical samples.

Objective: This study sought to identify magnetoencephalography (MEG) power spectra patterns associated with cerebrovascular damage (white matter hyperintensities - WMH) and their relationship with cognitive performance and brain structure integrity in aging individuals without cognitive impairment., Methods: We hypothesized a "slowness" pattern characterized by increased power in δ and θ bands and decreased power in the β band associated with the severity of vascular damage. MEG signals were analyzed in cognitively healthy older adults to investigate these associations., Results: Contrary to expectations, we did not observe an increase in δ and θ power. However, we found a significant negative correlation between β band power and WMH volume. This β power reduction was linked to structural brain changes, such as larger lateral ventricles, reduced white matter volume, and decreased fractional anisotropy in critical white matter tracts, but not to cognitive performance. This suggests that β band power reduction may serve as an early marker of vascular damage before the onset of cognitive symptoms., Conclusion: Our findings partially confirm our initial hypothesis by demonstrating a decrease in β band power with increased vascular damage but not the anticipated increase in slow band power. The lack of correlation between the βpow marker and cognitive performance suggests its potential utility in early identification of at-risk individuals for future cognitive impairment due to vascular origins. These results contribute to understanding the electrophysiological signatures of preclinical vascular damage and highlight the importance of MEG in detecting subtle brain changes associated with aging.