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Background: Repeated self‐administered mobile‐based cognitive assessments are increasingly being utilized to identify preclinical cognitive decline. Repetition of cognitive tests during a short time interval often leads to improved performance (i.e., practice effects) due to familiarity with test structure. Therefore, test‐specific practice effects may delay the detection of subtle decline. Alternatively, the lack of practice effect may indicate a decline in cognitive function. This study investigated whether practice effects were present on three digital tests repeated over a 3‐month interval in two cognitively unimpaired cohorts. Method: 549 cognitively intact participants (average age 63.5 years, 40.6% male, 89.6% white) enrolled in the Framingham Heart Study and 26 cognitively unimpaired participants (average age 55 years, 15.4% male, 80.8% white) from the Bogalusa Heart Study completed three self‐administered subtests from Digital Automated Neurobehavioral Assessment (DANA) on their own mobile device at baseline (T1) and three months later (T2). Cognitive scores were calculated using Cognitive Efficiency (CE), a derived measure of speed and accuracy, for Code Substitution (CS), Simple Reaction Time (SRT), and Go/No‐Go (GNG). CS assesses visual scanning and attention, learning, and immediate recall; SRT measures pure reaction time; and GNG assesses sustained attention and impulsivity. For each cohort, separate paired sample t‐tests examined mean differences in CE between timepoints for all three tests. Result: On all three tests, similar trends in test performance were found in both cohorts. FHS participant's CE scores significantly improved at T2 compared to T1 on CS and GNG, but not on SRT (Table 2). Similar trends were observed among BHS participants, with more relative improvements on CS and GNG compared to SRT. Conclusion: This study found similar trends in test‐specific practice effects on mobile‐based cognitive tests in two different cohorts. CS and GNG are inherently more complex than SRT, which may explain why test familiarity improved performance three months after baseline. This is congruent with traditional paper‐and‐pencil neuropsychological tests, wherein tests with complex stimuli show more practice effects relative to simple tasks. Additional research is needed to determine which tests are more sensitive to detecting earliest indicators of cognitive decline, and whether the presence/absence of practice effects itself are clinically meaningful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is growing evidence that epigenetic age acceleration may predict late life cognitive decline and dementia, but it is unknown whether this is due to accelerated neurodegeneration or reduction in cognitive resilience. We examined the relationship between epigenetic clocks and domain specific neuropsychological (NP) factor scores, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Alzheimer's Disease (AD), and all‐cause dementia, before and after accounting for plasma total tau (t‐tau), a marker of neurodegeneration. Method: DNA methylation and plasma t‐tau (Simoa assay; Quanterix) data from 2091 Framingham Heart Study Offspring cohort participants were generated from blood at the same Exam 8 visit (2005‐2008). Three epigenetic clock measures: DunedinPACE, PC PhenoAge, and PC GrimAge were estimated from the DNA methylation data. Longitudinal NP factor scores were previously derived for memory, language, and executive function using confirmatory factor analysis. We tested the association of epigenetic age acceleration with cognitive trajectories using linear mixed effects models and with time to MCI, all‐cause dementia and AD using Cox‐proportional hazard models. Models were run with and without adjustment for plasma t‐tau. All models included APOE ε4‐carrier status, education, smoking, age, and sex as covariates. Epigenetic measures were standardized in all models. Result: At Exam 8, the sample was, on average, 66.3 (SD = 9.0) years of age, 54.8% female, and had 16.4 (SD = 2.7) years of education. DundeinPACE was significantly associated with faster decline in executive function (βtimeXepi_age = ‐0.005, 95% CI:[‐0.009,‐0.002], p = 0.0020), but not with baseline executive function. Older PhenoAge (βepi_age = ‐0.041, 95% CI:[‐0.067,‐0.014], p = 0.0028) and GrimAge (βepi_age = ‐0.042, 95% CI:[‐0.073,‐0.011], p = 0.0084) were significantly associated with worse baseline executive function, but not with rate of decline. Older PhenoAge also was significantly associated with worse baseline memory (βepi_age = ‐0.037, 95% CI:[‐0.061,‐0.012], p = 0.0036). DunedinPACE was significantly associated with time to MCI (HR = 1.20, 95% CI:[1.06,1.35], p = 0.0034), AD (HR = 1.30, 95% CI:[1.07,1.57], p = 0.0068) and all‐cause dementia (HR = 1.30, 95% CI:[1.10,1.53], p = 0.0017). Results remained similar after adjustment for plasma t‐tau. Conclusion: Epigenetic age acceleration may be a marker of cognitive resilience, particularly in executive function. Of the three epigenetic clocks examined, DundedinPACE showed the most robust associations with cognitive resilience, with lower DunedinPACE associated with greater cognitive resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Sex differences in neuropsychological (NP) test performance might have important implications for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study investigates sex differences in neuropsychological performance among individuals without dementia at baseline. METHODS: Neuropsychological assessment data, both standard test scores and process coded responses, from Framingham Heart Study participants were analyzed for sex differences using regression model and Cox proportional hazards model. Optimal NP profiles were identified by machine learning methods for men and women. RESULTS: Sex differences were observed in both summary scores and composite process scores of NP tests in terms of adjusted means and their associations with AD incidence. The optimal NP profiles for men and women have 10 and 8 measures, respectively, and achieve 0.76 mean area under the curve for AD prediction. DISCUSSION: These results suggest that NP tests can be leveraged for developing more sensitive, sex‐specific indices for the diagnosis of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: We examined for associations between potentially modifiable risk factors across the adult life course and incident dementia. METHODS: Participants from the Framingham Heart Study were included (n = 4015). Potential modifiable risk factors included education, alcohol intake, smoking, body mass index (BMI), physical activity, social network, diabetes, and hypertension. Cox models were used to examine associations between each factor and incident dementia, stratified by early adult life (33–44 years), midlife (45–65 years), and late life (66–80 years). RESULTS: Increased dementia risk was associated with diabetes (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.62; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.07–2.46) and physical inactivity (HR = 1.57; 95% CI = 1.12–2.20) in midlife, and with obesity (HR = 1.76; 95% CI = 1.08–2.87) in late life. Having multiple potential modifiable risk factors in midlife and late life was associated with greater risk. DISCUSSION: Potentially modifiable risk factors individually have limited impact on dementia risk in this population across the adult life course, although in combination they may have a synergistic effect. Highlights: Diabetes and physical inactivity in midlife is associated with increased dementia risk.Obesity in late life is associated with increased dementia risk.Having more potentially modifiable risk factors in midlife and late life is associated with greater dementia risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The multisite SuperAging Research Initiative (SRI) was established in 2021 to identify resilience and resistance factors promoting cognitive healthspan through a harmonized multidisciplinary protocol with prospective data collection. The designation of SuperAger is reserved for individuals age 80+ with episodic memory performance that is at least average for those 2‐3 decades younger. Research studies of this relatively uncommon phenotype allow for investigations of fundamental importance to the neurobiology of brain aging, resilience, resistance, and avoidance of cognitive decline related to "average aging" and more severe impairments associated with Alzheimer's and related dementias (ADRD). The SRI is focused on increasing participant diversity and deep phenotyping through the enrollment of 500+ participants into a multi‐component longitudinal protocol. This presentation will summarize the engagement, recruitment, and baseline characteristics as well as the initial scientific findings from the cohort. Method: Enrollment and harmonized data collection occurs across North American sites in the U.S. and Canada. The SRI includes three Cores (Administrative/Biostatistics, Clinical/Imaging, and Biospecimen/Neuropathology) and two Research Projects. The Core infrastructure provides behavioral, health, genetic, environmental, socioeconomic, psychosocial, neuropsychologic, neuroimaging, and neuropathologic measurements. Project 1 uses state‐of‐the‐art wearable technology to obtain quantitative measurements of daily life (e.g., sleep, physical activity, and social engagement) to determine whether SuperAgers have relatively preserved physiologic and behavioral 'complexity'. Project 2 uses transcriptomic, genetic, and protein profiling to examine central and peripheral immune and inflammatory system parameters. Result: Community‐engaged research practices have been implemented, yielding enrollment of >170 participants (ages 80‐108) into the multicomponent harmonized protocol. Approximately half of the participants have been co‐enrolled into Project 1 and the majority have provided biospecimens for Project 2. Additional engagement and recruitment strategies are being deployed and evaluated for efficacy to promote increased enrollment of diverse participants. Conclusion: The multidisciplinary study of 80+ year‐olds with exceptional memory including imaging, blood draw, and unsupervised remote data collection using wearable technologies is feasible. The prospective study of SuperAgers is uncommon but holds promise for identifying mechanisms of resilience and resistance. Outcomes have potential relevance for isolating modifiable factors for promoting healthspan and avoiding ADRD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is recognized to be in the Alzheimer's disease (AD) cognitive continuum. An international working group known as the SCD‐initiative recently proposed "SCD plus" features, including report of memory problems, recent SCD relative to conversion, SCD over age 60, and consistent SCD over time, that increase the risk for future objective cognitive decline. These have not been fully assessed in a large community‐based setting. Method: Participants from all cohorts of the Framingham Heart Study who were ≥ 60 years with normal cognition at analytic baseline were included. SCD was assessed longitudinally using a single question. We treated SCD as a time‐varying variable and considered SCD to be present if it was endorsed at the last cognitively normal visit. If SCD was endorsed during two or more consecutive visits, including the last valid visit, it was considered to begin at the first of the consecutive visits. Outcomes included consensus‐diagnosed mild cognitive impairment (MCI), AD, and all‐cause dementia. Survival analyses were performed on time‐to‐event data obtained between 2005 and 2019 with up to 12 years of follow‐up. Models were adjusted for baseline age, sex, education, APOE ε4 status, and tertiles of AD polygenic risk score (PRS) excluding the APOE region. Result: 3,735 participants (mean baseline age: 68.0 years, women: 55.1%, non‐Hispanic Whites: 91.6%, SCD: 44.5%, APOEε4 carriers: 21.5%) were included. On average, SCD preceded MCI by 4.4 years, AD by 6.8 years, and all‐cause dementia by 6.9 years. APOEε4 and tertiles of AD PRS status did not significantly differ between SCD and non‐SCD groups. SCD was significantly associated with survival time to MCI (HR = 1.57; 95% CI = 1.22−2.03; P = 4.79×10−4), AD (HR = 2.98; 95% CI = 1.89−4.70; P = 2.80×10−6), and all‐cause dementia (HR = 2.14; 95% CI = 1.44−3.18; P = 1.82×10−4). After adjustment for APOE and AD PRS, the effects of SCD were largely unchanged. Conclusion: In a community setting, SCD reflecting "SCD plus" features increased the risk of future MCI, AD, and all‐cause dementia with about the same HR estimated in clinic‐based settings. SCD may be an independent clinically expressed risk factor for preclinical AD and other dementias beyond the risk incurred by APOEε4 and AD PRS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The WHO's dementia research blueprint highlighted assessment tools of cognition and function development as a strategic goal with specific need for validated tools in lower‐ to middle‐income countries (LMIC). The limited availability of such tools in LMICs is attributed to the population diversity. Malaysia is a multi‐ethnic, multi‐cultural, and multi‐religious LMIC within Southeast Asia. Challenges include cultural and educational bias and requirement for multiple translations for written tools. This study, therefore, aimed to develop and evaluate a digital tool using a smartphone application within an existing ageing cohort in Malaysia. Method: The Transforming Cognitive Frailty into Later‐Life Self‐Sufficiency (AGELESS) study combined three pre‐existing longitudinal studies of ageing from 2013, involving individuals aged 55y recruited through electoral rolls and sampling frames. Individuals attending AGELESS health checks were invited to download a smartphone application digital protocol developed as part of a collaboration established through the Davos Alzheimer's Collaborative. Participants were assisted in registration and assessment completion (Figure 1). Result: Recruitment commenced in October 2022 through four mass screening activities each involving 100 participants. 141 were recruited into a pilot to test feasibility. Twenty‐three of the 141 (16.3%) completed all 10 tasks delivered in‐person (5 tasks) and remotely (5 tasks). The protocol was modified so two tasks were completed in‐person and an additional eleven tasks were completed remotely. The fourth screening recruited 53 participants of whom 22 (41.5%) completed all assessments. The basic characteristics of the participants recruited are summarized in Table 1. Issues identified were shared with the Boston University team following each session. Initially, registering or issues with starting tasks occurred with Android smartphones. Other difficulties included environmental noise and difficulties with instructions provided. Conclusion: The recruitment and initial cognitive assessment using a smartphone application of older Malaysians appear feasible, but adaptions are required to facilitate this process. Changes in the apps Android software and protocol adjustments enhanced completion rates by 150%. Future developments will focus on processes to ensure completion of the assessment not just at baseline but also at regular follow‐up intervals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: With new drug treatments emerging, the need for early Alzheimer's disease (AD) detection methods that can be done in a primary care setting has become urgent. Significant advances have been made in validating blood‐based AD biomarkers, but the absence of a validated, non‐invasive clinical indicator remains a barrier for determining those who might be optimal candidates for treatment. The digital clock drawing test (dCDT) has been previously shown to be related to AD PET biomarkers. However, it is unknown whether and the extent to which dCDT would predict AD as compared to blood‐based AD biomarkers. The current study used an interpretable machine learning approach to determine whether the dCDT, independently and in combination with blood‐based AD biomarkers (e.g., amyloid‐β 42 (Aβ42); total tau (T‐tau)), was predictive of incident AD. Method: This study included participants from the Framingham Heart Study Generation 2 cohort (Gen 2; n = 527) who had dCDT measures, plasma Aβ42, and T‐tau. The fast interpretable greedy‐tree sums method was used to identify clinical decision rules for AD prediction. Synthetic minority oversampling technique was employed to handle the class imbalance. The predictive ability of plasma Aβ42, T‐tau and dCDT measures was evaluated by both area under the curve (AUC) and standardized partial AUC. The permutation feature importance method was used to show the importance of each measure. Result: Interpretable clinical decision rules were generated as multivariate biomarker signatures for AD prediction (Figure 1). The dCDT (AUC 0.859) was better at incident AD prediction than AD blood‐based biomarkers (AUC 0.839). The combination of dCDT, Aβ42, and T‐tau best predicted incident AD (AUC 0.884) (Figure 2). The combination of dCDT and blood‐based biomarkers also has higher partial AUC than individual ones (Table 1). The total score and information processing scores were the most important contributing dCDT measures. Conclusion: These results highlight the efficiency of detecting early AD through the integration of digital measures as a clinical indicator combined with AD specific biomarkers. The interpretable decision rules have the potential to provide automated results that can be used in practical clinical settings, although external validation is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: It is unknown whether vascular and metabolic diseases assessed in early adulthood are associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) later in life. Methods: Association of AD with lipid fractions, glucose, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), and smoking obtained prospectively from 4932 Framingham Heart Study (FHS) participants across nine quadrennial examinations was evaluated using Cox proportional hazard and Kaplan‐Meier models. Age‐, sex‐, and education‐adjusted models were tested for each factor measured at each exam and within three adult age groups (early = 35‐50, middle = 51‐60, and late = 61‐70). Results: A 15 mg/dL increase in high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol was associated with decreased AD risk during early (15.4%, P = 0.041) and middle (17.9%, P = 0.014) adulthood. A 15 mg/dL increase in glucose measured during middle adulthood was associated with 14.5% increased AD risk (P = 0.00029). These findings remained significant after adjusting for treatment. Discussion: Our findings suggest that careful management of cholesterol and glucose beginning in early adulthood can lower AD risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maximum densities of juvenile river herring (Alewife Alosa pseudoharengus and Blueback Herring A. aestivalis) vary among freshwater lakes, likely due to densities of adult spawners. Differences in habitat availability and lake water quality may also contribute to variation in juvenile river herring productivity between populations, yet these relationships have not been tested across a large geographic scope. In this study we investigated relationships between juvenile river herring densities and (1) spawning adult river herring densities, (2) lake habitat availability, and (3) lake water quality in 29 freshwater lakes in the northeastern USA. Purse seines were used at night to sample juvenile river herring monthly in June–August 2014 and 2015, with concurrent collection of lake‐specific physical (e.g., lake surface area, mean depth, depth to thermocline), chemical (e.g., nitrogen, phosphorus, dissolved organic carbon [DOC]), and biological (chlorophyll a, adult spawning density) data. Spawning adult density (number of adults per surface area of lake) explained 66.6% of the variation in juvenile densities using a generalized additive model. Juvenile densities increased with increasing adult density, peaking at roughly 1,000 adults/ha, and then declined at higher adult densities, suggesting a limit to carrying capacity in juvenile production. Linear mixed‐effects models revealed that differences in water quality and habitat across lakes explained additional variation in juvenile densities. Specifically, DOC was negatively related to juvenile densities, suggesting that DOC limits the amount of suitable, well‐oxygenated epilimnion habitat available to juvenile river herring in late summer. Our results can be used to help understand expected juvenile production based on adult density within a lake, to inform expectations about juvenile growth and survival, and to understand the mechanisms for how changes in habitat availability and water quality affect river herring populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Paddlefish Polyodon spathula is an ancient species that is native to the Mississippi River and its larger tributaries. This species exhibits a unique combination of morphology and life history characteristics that leaves it vulnerable to river modifications and potential overexploitation, which has led to population declines in portions of the historic range. Concern regarding unknown exploitation rates from recreational and commercial fisheries has increased in recent decades, and the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species is now requesting information from state agencies regarding the sustainability of commercially harvested Paddlefish populations. The Missouri Department of Conservation addressed this, in part, through the implementation of a 5‐year mark–recapture study to estimate exploitation and nonreporting rates, evaluate movement patterns, and provide a baseline estimate of abundance for Paddlefish in the Mississippi River basin. A total of 2,224 Paddlefish were jaw‐banded, and 102 were also implanted with transmitters in the Mississippi River basin within the borders of Missouri. Of those, 139 Paddlefish were caught by commercial or recreational anglers and 92 were harvested, resulting in an average annual exploitation estimate of 2.5% (SE = 0.6). Jaw band returns and telemetry information demonstrated that Paddlefish moved great distances (maximum 2,359 km) and crossed many regulatory boundaries (14 states). Despite relatively low exploitation rate estimates, a precautionary adjustment of regulations is advised to protect Paddlefish through maturation and ensure sustainability. In addition, regulations for this species should be assessed across the entire Mississippi River basin, as they differ within and between regulatory authorities. A combination of population monitoring (e.g., exploitation and population dynamics) and telemetry efforts have potential to help inform future basin‐wide management approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Research on the relationship between traumatic brain injury (TBI), Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related dementias is inconsistent. Population based studies have been limited by their characterization of TBI, dementia or both. Design/Methods: The Framingham Heart Study (FHS) is a population‐based cohort study which recruited its original cohort between 1948‐1950, and its offspring cohort between 1971‐1975. Information on TBIs was collected across the lifespan by comprehensive review of medical records, FHS health history updates and exams and self‐report. TBI occurrence and severity were operationalized using modified American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and Veterans Affairs/Department of Defense criteria respectively. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI), dementia, and AD dementia consensus diagnoses were operationalized using modified Petersen criteria, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition, and National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Diseases and Stroke/AD and Related Disorders Association criteria respectively. Participants with history of TBI were matched to those without TBI for age and sex, with a 1:3 ratio. Participants with prevalent MCI or dementia were excluded. Results: 1,676 participants with TBI (cognitively normal at time of TBI) and 5,260 age‐ and sex‐matched participants without TBI were followed for 357,483 person‐years. 336 (20.05%), 267 (15.93%) and 177 (10.56%) of those with TBI developed MCI, all‐cause dementia and AD dementia respectively compared with 728 (13.84%), 536 (10.19%) and 440 (8.37%) participants without TBI. For mild TBI, hazard ratios (HRs) for MCI, all‐cause dementia and AD dementia were 1.56 (95%CI 1.16–2.11), 1.30 (95%CI 0.91–1.87), and 0.99 (95%CI 0.64–1.54) respectively. For moderate‐to‐severe TBI, HRs for MCI, all‐cause dementia and AD dementia were 3.95 (95%CI 1.25–12.45), 5.13 (95%CI 1.09‐24.19), and 7.42 (95%CI 0.87–63.55) respectively. Conclusion: In these cohorts comprehensively assessed for TBI and dementia‐related outcomes and followed for more than a decade after TBI, there were small to moderate sized associations of mild TBI and large associations of moderate‐severe TBI with MCI and all‐cause dementia. Association between mild TBI and dementia may be driven by non‐AD etiologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Digital is the new blood, where collection, use, and storage of raw digital data streams enabled by technology‐embedded sensors are replacing analog methods. Analyses of digital data extend beyond current applications, analogous to previously stored blood currently be used for omics/biomarker research. Today digital technologies are used to measure Alzheimer's disease (AD)‐related clinical symptoms (e.g., cognition, function, and behavior), but future possibilities remain to be determined. Importantly, digital data collection can go beyond current intermittent sampling by employing internet‐connected applications and devices that allow real‐time monitoring and accurate detection of changes, even within a widely heterogeneous spectrum. Method: Beginning in 2005, the Framingham Heart Study (FHS) began digitally recording participants' spoken responses to neuropsychological (NP) test questions, and in 2011 extended to a digital pen to record written responses. The emergence of wearable devices and smartphone applications has led to an expanded use of digital technologies beyond recordings during NP assessments. The Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (BU ADRC) leverages digital sensors in multiple internet‐connected devices that longitudinally collect digital data, in both in‐person and remote settings. Result: The first publication involving FHS digital data was in 2016; the remaining (n> 17) have been from 2020‐current. Digital data measuring cognition, function and behavior are being collected through the BU ADRC, where results to date indicate nearly 100% and 75% uptake of active and passive engagement applications, respectively, and 95% uptake for wearable devices (n = 60). Longitudinal assessments include > 3 months for ∼50 participants; > 1 year for n∼21 participants. Conclusion: Opportunities for improved trial outcome measurement are evident in the broad range of outcomes digital sensors capture beyond traditional research methodologies. Digital tools are being deployed for rapid screening for clinical trial inclusion, but more transformative opportunities are still to come. Replacing the sporadic and highly heterogeneous measures of cognition and related behaviors with more accurate measures that track treatment impact in real‐time at the individual level will shift the concept of clinically meaningful outcomes from group indicators to personalized ones. Digital is central to the realization of virtual clinical trial monitoring for precision treatment effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Early detection of brain‐related disorders is key to prevention of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and research on Hispanic populations is severely lacking. Obstacles to recruitment include the lack of trust in research and researchers and requirements for English proficiency, which excludes many potential Hispanic participants. Methods: Researchers from El Faro Health and Therapeutics in Starr County, Texas and the Framingham Heart Study are teaming up on a digital phenotyping study and incorporating "trust" as a central theme for recruitment/retention of Hispanic participants. Study materials are in both English and Spanish. The smartphone tasks are presented in two formats: "in‐clinic" using an iPad and "remote" utilizing participants' smartphones. Activities include voice tasks, gait and balance, and game‐like cognitive tasks. Longitudinal data will be collected every three months for one year. Participants: Recruitment is for anyone aged 18+ in Starr County, which is approximately 98% Hispanic. To maximize inclusivity, there are no other inclusion/exclusion criteria. Study procedures are customized to accommodate individuals. Recruitment goal is 500 participants within one year, with planned expansion to 5,000+ over 5 years. Results: Recruitment approach includes several components: (1) El Faro investigators have been providing clinical services to community members for decades, and are respected and trusted members of the community. (2) All participant‐facing study materials are available in both English and Spanish, with most translated into the specific local dialect. (3) Community fliers include text in both English and Spanish. (4) Social media outreach has sparked a great deal of interest for participating in research, and the team attends community events to further spread the word. (5) Multi‐generational families are encouraged given family decision‐making culture; (6) Word‐of‐mouth within the Starr County community is expected to be an important contributor to recruitment. Conclusions: Although data collection will begin in February 2023, already more than 150 participants have expressed interest in being involved. Leveraging resources to enable highly respected and trusted local researchers to conduct the research, and using participant‐centric design approaches will result in greater success in recruitment and retention of this underrepresented population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Early detection of cognitive decline is critical to identify effective treatments for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. The inherent heterogeneity of behaviors associated with brain health may obscure the signals derived from a typical neuropsychological evaluation, partly because of the limited frequency of assessment with which it can be conducted. This may lead to inaccurate or poor detection sensitivity. Digital health technology using smartphone applications enables frequent assessment and, thereby, more precise monitoring of brain health. The current study sought to examine the feasibility of using smartphone application‐based tasks in community‐based participants from the Framingham Heart Study (FHS). Method: The smartphone application consists of three blocks of assessments, lasting approximately 15‐20 minutes (Figure 1). Block 1: Participants answer questions to ensure that they can see the stimuli and hear the instructions adequately. Block 2: Participants complete a series of cognitive tasks and respond to open‐ended questions which are voice recorded. Block 3: To ensure that performance is not influenced by external factors, participants respond to questions, for example, about their experiences with using the smartphone application. Result: To date, 318 FHS participants have been enrolled into the study. Of these, as of 12/09/2022, 168 participants' first assessment period has been completed within the two week period after being enrolled in the study. Of the 168 participants, a large majority (81%; n = 136) completed all the tasks, while the remaining 32 completed partial assessment. Table 1 reveals that the overall percentage of participants who have been enrolled in the study and the percentage of those who completed their first assessment are highly similar. Conclusion: Findings reveal that older adults from a large, community‐based study are able to successfully download and complete the first set of tasks using their smartphone application. As data collection is ongoing, the number of older adults recruited into the study is expected to increase exponentially. These results indicate that it is feasible to monitor brain health on an on‐going basis using self‐administered smartphone applications, potentially creating an effective, lower cost, and scalable approach to detect significant changes in cognitive functions earlier and more accurately in the preclinical neurodegenerative process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: More than 75 common variant loci account for only a portion of the heritability for Alzheimer's disease (AD). A more complete understanding of the genetic basis of AD can be deduced by exploring associations with AD‐related endophenotypes. Method: We conducted genome‐wide scans for cognitive domain performance using harmonized and co‐calibrated scores derived by confirmatory factor analyses for executive function, language, and memory. We analyzed 103,796 longitudinal observations from 23,066 members of community‐based (FHS, ACT, ROSMAP) and clinic‐based (ADRCs, ADNI) cohorts using generalized linear mixed models including terms for SNP, age, SNP×age interaction, sex, education, and five ancestry principal components. Significance was determined based on a joint test of the SNP's main effect and interaction with age. Results across datasets were combined using inverse‐variance meta‐analysis. Genome‐wide tests of pleiotropy for each domain pair as the outcome were performed using PLACO software. Result: Individual domain and pleiotropy analyses revealed genome‐wide significant (GWS) associations with five established loci for AD and AD‐related disorders (BIN1, CR1, GRN, MS4A6A, APOE) and eight novel loci. ULK2 was associated with executive function in the community‐based cohorts (rs157405, P = 2.19×10−9). GWS associations for language were identified with CDK14 in the clinic‐based cohorts (rs705353, P = 1.73×10−8) and LINC02712 in the total sample (rs145012974, P = 3.66×10−8). GRN (rs5848, P = 4.21×10−8) and PURG (rs117523305, P = 1.73×10−8) were associated with memory in the total and community‐based cohorts, respectively. GWS pleiotropy was observed for language and memory with LOC107984373 (rs73005629, P = 3.12×10−8) in the clinic‐based cohorts, and with NCALD (rs56162098, P = 1.23×10−9) and PTPRD (rs145989094, P = 8.34×10−9) in the community‐based cohorts. GWS pleiotropy was also found for executive function and memory with OSGIN1 (rs12447050, P = 4.09×10−8) and PTPRD (rs145989094, P = 3.85×10−8) in the community‐based cohorts. Functional studies have previously linked AD to ULK2, NCALD, and PTPRD. Conclusion: Our results provide some insight into genes associated with domain‐specific cognitive impairment and AD, as well as a conduit toward a syndrome‐specific precision medicine approach to AD. Increasing the size of datasets by applying the confirmatory factor analysis approach to derive harmonized measures of cognitive performance would likely enhance the discovery of additional genetic factors of cognitive decline leading to AD and related dementias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Stock assessments for anadromous river herring, collectively Alewife Alosa pseudoharengus and Blueback Herring A. aestivalis, lack adequate demographic information, particularly with respect to early life stages. Although sampling adult river herring is increasingly common throughout their range, currently no standardized, field‐based, analytical methods exist for estimating juvenile abundance in freshwater lakes. The objective of this research was to evaluate the relative effectiveness and sampling precision of a purse seine for estimating densities of age‐0 river herring in freshwater lakes. We used a purse seine to sample age‐0 river herring in June–September 2015 and June–July 2016 in 16 coastal freshwater lakes in the northeastern USA. Sampling effort varied from two seine hauls to more than 50 seine hauls per lake. Catch rates were highest in June and July, and sampling precision was maximized in July. Sampling at night (versus day) in open water (versus littoral areas) was most effective for capturing newly hatched larvae and juveniles up to ca. 100 mm TL. Bootstrap simulation results indicated that sampling precision of CPUE estimates increased with sampling effort, and there was a clear threshold beyond which increased effort resulted in negligible increases in precision. The effort required to produce precise CPUE estimates, as determined by the CV, was dependent on lake size; river herring densities could be estimated with up to 10 purse‐seine hauls (one‐two nights) in a small lake (<50 ha) and 15–20 hauls (two‐three nights) in a large lake (>50 ha). Fish collection techniques using a purse seine as described in this paper are likely to be effective for estimating recruit abundance of river herring in freshwater lakes across their range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aim: Engagement by medical professionals with social media (SM) is increasing. Variation is noted in engagement between SM platforms and between surgical specialities and geographical regions. We aimed to study SM engagement by colorectal surgeons attending an international conference. Method: Surgeons were identified from the delegate list of the 2017 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS) and Tripartite Meeting (Seattle, Washington, USA). Delegates were searched on Twitter and LinkedIn for the presence of a matching profile. SM presence, activity, gender and geographical region were analysed. Results: Two hundred and seventy (13.2%) surgeons had Twitter accounts and 994 (44.3%) had LinkedIn profiles. UK surgeons were more likely to be on Twitter than surgeons from elsewhere (23.4% vs 12.7%, P = 0.0072). Significant variation in SM membership between each geographical region was noted, with usage rates for Twitter of 18.1% in Europe, 14.4% in North America, 12.9% in South America, 4.3% in Oceania, 3.7% in Asia and 0% in Africa. A similar picture for LinkedIn is seen. The #ASCRS17 meeting saw the highest participation of users to date (979 participants, over 7000 individual tweets and nearly 14 million impressions). Conclusion: SM engagement by colorectal surgeons continues to increase. Significant geographical variation is noted, suggesting that SM's unique potential for education and networking may not yet be widely appreciated globally. Future work should include further analysis into tweet contents to gain insights and optimize the use of SM as an educational adjunct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Modifiable risk factors of dementia identified by the 2020 Lancet Commission, including less education, high alcohol intake, smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, social isolation, diabetes, and hypertension, measured at early adult life, midlife, and late‐life were analyzed for their associations with risk of incident dementia. Method: Participants from the Framingham Heart Study Offspring cohort who attended the fourth examination cycle (1987‐1991) and were free of prevalent dementia were included in the study sample (n = 4,015). They were stratified into three age epochs: early adult life (<45 years, n = 1,079); midlife (45‐65 years, n = 2,476); and late‐life (>65 years, n = 460). Information on alcohol intake, smoking, body mass index, physical activity, and social network, as well as diabetes and hypertension status, were ascertained at the fourth examination cycle, while information on education was ascertained from the second examination cycle. Dementia diagnoses, including all‐cause dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia, were adjudicated by a multi‐disciplinary consensus committee through 2019. Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine associations between each risk factor and incident all‐cause dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia, stratified by age epoch. Result: Over an average of 21 years of follow‐up (early adult life = 24.0 years; midlife = 20.9 years; late‐life = 13.9 years), increased risk of all‐cause dementia was significantly associated with diabetes (HR = 1.62; 95% CI = 1.07‐2.46; p = 0.023) and physical inactivity (HR = 1.57; 95% CI = 1.12‐2.20; p = 0.009) in midlife, and with obesity (HR = 1.76; 95% CI = 1.08‐2.87; p = 0.024) in late‐life. Obesity in late‐life was associated with increased risk of AD dementia (HR = 2.19; 95% CI = 1.27‐3.77; p = 0.005). All other risk factors examined in early adult life, midlife, and late‐life were not significantly associated with risk of all‐cause dementia (Figure 1) or AD dementia (Figure 2). Conclusion: Results suggest that modifiable risk factors individually may have modest to no impact across the adult life course on dementia risk. Additional studies are needed to determine if these risk factors in combination may have a more synergistic effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Genome‐wide association studies (GWASs) have identified loci for Alzheimer's disease (AD)‐related cognitive traits, and genetic correlations among these traits suggest that a single gene may affect them jointly, i.e., pleiotropy. Method: We conducted GWASs for scores previously generated by factor analyses for cognitive domains—executive function, language, and memory—using longitudinal data from 7,503 Framingham Heart Study (FHS) and 6,758 National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC) subjects who had an average of five and three exams, respectively. We averaged domain scores for each participant by weighting down scores at the visit without normal cognition and used the sum of weights to account for heterogeneous residual variances. The association of each domain score with 8.9 million genetic variants (MAF>0.01), imputed using the TOPMed reference panel (GRCh38), was tested separately in each dataset using linear models including age, sex, education level, and five principal components of ancestry as covariates. Results from FHS and NACC datasets were combined by meta‐analyses using the inverse‐variance method. Pleiotropy for each pair of cognitive domains was evaluated using PLACO (pleiotropic analysis under the composite null hypothesis). Result: Scores for paired cognitive domains were moderately genetically correlated—executive function and language (ρP=0.46, ρG=0.69), executive function and memory (ρP=0.39, ρG=0.43), language and memory (ρP=0.44, ρG=0.46). Pleiotropy analyses revealed genome‐wide significant associations for all paired domain scores with many variants in the APOE region (p<3.91×10‐9 for each). For pleiotropy of executive function and language, we identified genome‐wide significant associations with DOK5 (rs28663252, p=4.51×10‐8) and suggestive associations with SOX14 (rs55829884, p=8.03×10‐8), IL20RB (rs11925531, p=9.26×10‐8), and RIMS2 (rs140291972, p=8.76×10‐7). We also found suggestive associations for pleiotropy of language and memory with LHFPL4 (rs2936482, p=5.08×10‐8) and for pleiotropy of executive function and memory with MC4R (rs1943220, p=7.54×10‐8) and CDH20 (rs78756286, p=1.50×10‐7). Conclusion: We identified significant evidence of pleiotropy for multiple cognitive domains, and these findings may improve the interpretation of the genetic basis of cognition and AD‐related traits. These results highlight the benefits of factor scores derived from groups of subjects assessed with various cognitive tests and pleiotropy analysis as a tool for identifying genes that contribute to performance in multiple cognitive domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: With a rapidly aging population, general practitioners are confronting the challenge of how to determine those who are at greatest risk for dementia and potentially need more specialized follow‐up to mitigate symptoms early in its course. We created a practical dementia risk score and provided individualized estimates of future dementia risk. Methods: Using the Framingham Heart Study data, we built our prediction model using Cox proportional hazard models and developed a point system for the risk score and risk estimates. Results: The score system used total points ranging from −1 to 31 and stratifies individuals into different levels of risk. We estimated 5‐, 10‐, and 20‐year dementia risk prediction and incorporated these into the points system. Discussion: This risk score system provides a practical tool because all included predictors are easy to assess by practitioners. It can be used to estimate future probabilities of dementia for individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Measures of cardiovascular and metabolic disease are well‐established risk factors for late‐onset Alzheimer disease (AD). However, it is poorly understood whether exposure to these risk factors in early adulthood is associated with AD in late‐life. Method: Association of incident AD occurring after age 60 with measures of lipid fractions, hypertension, diabetes, blood glucose, BMI and smoking obtained prospectively across nine quadrennial examinations was evaluated in the Framingham Heart Study (FHS) Offspring cohort (n=5,124) using Cox proportional hazard models. Age‐ and sex‐adjusted models were tested for each risk factor measured at each exam and within three age groups (early adulthood=35‐50, middle adulthood=51‐60, late adulthood=61‐70). Additional models included covariates for risk factor‐specific treatment and APOE ε4 carrier status. Result: During a mean follow‐up period of 31.7±6.7 years, a diagnosis of incident AD was established for 271 participants. A 15 mg/dL increase in high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C) measured during early adulthood and middle adulthood was associated with a 19.1% decreased risk of AD in each group (HR=0.81 [95%CI 0.70, 0.96], P=0.011 and HR=0.81 [0.67, 0.97], P=0.019, respectively). An increased risk of AD was also associated with 15 mg/dL increases of triglyceride (TG) (HR=1.05 [1.002, 1.10], P=0.023) and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) (HR=1.06 [1.003, 1.12], P=0.041) measured in early adulthood. A 15 mg/dL increase in fasting blood glucose (FBG) measured during middle adulthood was associated with a 11.0% increased risk of AD (HR=1.11 [1.03, 1.20], P=0.0039). These findings remained significant after adjusting for treatment. Survival analysis showed that AD risk was significantly higher and occurred earlier among individuals with FBG in the pre‐diabetic (100‐126 mg/dL) and diabetic (>126 mg/dL) ranges compared to those with normal FBG (<100 mg/dL) in middle adulthood (P=0.038), but not in late adulthood. Conclusion: HDL‐C, LDL‐C, TG and FBG levels measured in cognitively normal individuals between ages 35 and 60 years are significantly associated with incident AD several decades later. Our findings suggest that careful management of cholesterol and glucose levels beginning in early adulthood can lower AD risk in later life including among APOE ε4 carriers, in addition to the benefits of promoting cardiovascular and metabolic health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Research shows that women have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD) than men. This study seeks to identify sex‐specific risk profiles linked to the development of AD. Method: We analyzed multiple blood biomarkers for risk of development of AD as well as with cognitive decline in the community‐based longitudinal Framingham Heart Study Offspring Cohort. A total of 2962 participants (mean age 60 year, 55% women) without any type of dementia were followed up to a median of 12 years with cognitive testing, blood sampling and dementia assessments. This study analyzed participants 60 years and older. Proportional hazards models were performed to investigate associations between biomarkers and the time to incident AD. Linear models were used to quantify the associations between biomarkers and annualized, domain‐specific cognitive decline. Covariates included age, sex, education, and baseline cognitive measurement. Result: During the follow‐up, 7.3% (119/1631) women and 4.7% (63/1331) men developed AD; 8.6% (141/1631) women and 7.1% (94/1331) men developed all‐cause dementia. We found that women were 41% more likely than men to be diagnosed with AD (P = 0.029) while found no gender differences in the time to develop all‐cause dementia (P = 0.16). We found that lower plasma amyloid‐beta42 level was significantly predictive for the future risk of AD in women (P = 0.0018) and not in men (P = 0.069), while the hazards ratio were not significantly different between men and women (Pdiff = 0.92). Further, lower plasma amyloid‐beta42 was significantly associated with annualized memory decline in women (P = 0.00023) but not in men (P = 0.55) (Pdiff = 0.026 between men and women for regression estimates). Several vascular risk factors, such as fasting glucose levels, were predictive of AD/dementia in both men and women. Conclusion: Our study may offer new insights into how blood tests can be better personalized for predicting future AD risk in women versus men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To equip undergraduates with needed background, instruction in geospatial science was integrated across curricula and courses in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources at North Carolina State University. The effectiveness of the integration was unknown; therefore, we developed a framework to assess learning outcomes related to geospatial science. Faculty and program administrators in the department participated in structured interviews designed to identify learning conditions they perceived as successful. Content analysis of interview data revealed faculty's intended learning outcomes, where they believed evidence of learning could be observed or measured, and their criteria for success. These data provided a basis for development of assessment methods, which included rubrics, tracking questions, pre- and post-tests, and longitudinal surveys. Herein, we describe how we used taxonomies of educational objectives and students' deliverables to assess learning outcomes related to geospatial science. We believe the assessment of students' deliverables revealed differences in outcomes attainment among degree programs. For example, assessments show forestry seniors met skills-based, information literacy, and conceptual knowledge learning outcomes in their understanding of capstone management plans, whereas natural resources seniors demonstrated affective outcomes by voluntarily adopting to use the tools in their capstone management plans. We believe assessments based on students' deliverables allowed us to draw inferences about our students and their learning styles. However, due to the changing nature of assignments and deliverables, and concern for the consistent application of the rubrics over time, we intend to rely on pre- and post-test assessments and longitudinal surveys moving forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the frequency, goals and outcomes of second-opinion consultations for cancer diseases at the Sydney Cancer Centre in Sydney, New South Wales. Proportion and demographic characteristics of patients who were seeking second-opinion are identified. Information related to treatment and reassurance about recommended treatment are the major reasons for seeking second-opinions. Patients are observed to be more educated due to their preference to acquire more detailed information.

Objective: Physical exercise has been shown to play an ever-broadening role in the maintenance of overall health and has been implicated in the preservation of cognitive function in both healthy elderly and demented populations. Animal and human studies of acquired brain injury (ABI) from trauma or vascular causes also suggest a possible role for physical exercise in enhancing cognitive recovery. Data Sources: A review of the literature was conducted to explore the current understanding of how physical exercise impacts the molecular, functional, and neuroanatomic status of both intact and brain-injured animals and humans. Study Selection: Searches of the MEDLINE, CINHAL, and PsychInfo databases yielded an extensive collection of animal studies of physical exercise in ABI. Animal studies strongly tie physical exercise to the upregulation of multiple neural growth factor pathways in brain-injured animals, resulting in both hippocampal neurogenesis and functional improvements in memory. Data Extraction: A search of the same databases for publications involving physical exercise in human subjects with ABI yielded 24 prospective and retrospective studies. Data Synthesis: Four of these evaluated cognitive outcomes in persons with ABI who were involved in physical exercise. Three studies cited a positive association between exercise and improvements in cognitive function, whereas one observed no effect. Human exercise interventions varied greatly in duration, intensity, and level of subject supervision, and tools for assessing neurocognitive changes were inconsistent. Conclusions: There is strong evidence in animal ABI models that physical exercise facilitates neurocognitive recovery. Physical exercise interventions are safe in the subacute and rehabilitative phases of recovery for humans with ABI. In light of strong evidence of positive effects in animal studies, more controlled, prospective human interventions are warranted to better explore the neurocognitive effects of physical exercise on persons with ABI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a position statement related to calcium and bone health, prepared by the working group of the Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society, Osteoporosis Australia, and the Endocrine Society of Australia. Trials have showed that increasing the calcium intake by 500-1000 mg/day has a beneficial effect on bone mineral density. The statement revealed that calcium intake above the recommended level has no additional benefit for bone health.

Background: Measures of cardiovascular and metabolic disease are well‐established risk factors for late‐onset Alzheimer disease (AD). However, it is poorly understood whether exposure to these risk factors in early adulthood is associated with AD incidence in late‐life. Method: Association of incident AD occurring after age 60 with measures of lipid fractions, hypertension, diabetes, blood glucose, BMI and smoking obtained prospectively across multiple exams starting in early adulthood was evaluated in the Framingham Heart Study (FHS) Offspring cohort (n = 5,100) using Cox proportional hazard models. Three models were tested for each risk factor measured at each exam with progressive adjustment for the following covariates: Model 1 ‐ age and sex; Model 2 – age, sex, and risk factor‐specific treatment; and Model 3 – age, sex, and other vascular risk factors. Hazard ratio (HR) was calculated for a 10 mg/dL unit increase of risk factor. Result: During a mean follow‐up period of 31.7 ± 6.7 years, a consensus diagnosis of incident AD was established for 261 participants. Higher high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) measured at early (mean age =36) and midlife (mean age = 59) were associated with a decreased risk of AD (HR=0.90 [95%CI 0.83, 0.98], p=0.020 and HR=0.90 [0.79, 0.98], p=0.020, respectively). These associations remained significant after adjusting for lipid treatment. Higher triglyceride (TG) measured at these exams were associated with an increased risk of AD (HR=1.015 [1.003, 1.03], p=0.0013 and HR=1.02 [1.004, 1.04], p=0.0035, respectively). Of note, higher fasting blood glucose (FBG) measured at early, midlife and late life were associated with an increased risk of AD (HR=1.06 [1.01, 1.11], p=0.03; HR=1.08 [1.03, 1.13], p=0.0006; and HR=1.24 [1.02, 1.52], p=0.03, respectively), with attenuated associations after adjusting for diabetes treatment. In the model adjusting for other vascular risk factors, FBG at early, middle and late life remained significant. Conclusion: HDL, TG and Blood Glucose levels measured at approximately age 36 years are significantly associated with incident AD several decades later. To our knowledge this is the first evidence of the association of AD with decreased HDL level and increased TG and fasting glucose levels measured in cognitively normal individuals during early to middle adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecology has emerged as a global science, and there is a pressing need to identify ecological rules - general principles that will improve its predictive capability for scientists and its usefulness for managers and policy makers. Ideally, the generality and limits of these ecological rules should be assessed using extensive, coordinated experiments that ensure consistency in design and comparability of data. To improve the design of these large-scale efforts, existing data should be used to test prospective ecological rules and to identify their limits and contingencies. As an example of this approach, we describe prospective rules for grassland responses to fire and rainfall gradients, identified from long-term studies of North American grasslands and tested with existing data from long-term experiments in South African savanna grasslands. Analyses indicated consistent effects of fire on the abundance of the dominant (grasses) and subdominant (forbs) flora on both continents, but no common response of grass or forb abundance across a rainfall gradient. Such analyses can inform future research designs to refine and more explicitly test ecological rules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cognitive resistance to Alzheimer's disease (AD) refers to an individual's capacity to avoid the appearance of Alzheimer's dementia syndrome in the context of risk factors on pathologic processes. We sought to identify associations between potential modifiable risk factors for AD and cognitive resistance. Method: 2,318 participants from the Offspring and Omni cohorts in Framingham Heart Study without prevalent dementia and at high risk for AD were selected. High risk for AD was defined as having ≥2 of the following risk factors measured at baseline: (1) age >80 years; (2) diagnosis of cardiovascular disease or coronary heart failure; (3) carrier of ≥1 APOE ε4 allele; (4) plasma Aβ42/40 ≤0.1049 (Perez‐Grijalba et al.; 2019); (5) C‐reactive protein level ≥10 mg/L (Morley and Kushner; 1982); and (6) female sex. Cognitively resistant individuals were defined as those at high risk for AD that did not progress to a clinical diagnosis of dementia/AD. Standardized research criteria were used to ascertain all‐cause dementia and AD. Potential modifiable risk factors for AD measured at baseline included diabetes, hypertension, obesity, depression, smoking, and education. Logistic regression was used to examine associations between these factors and cognitive resistance to AD. Result: Over an average period of 36 years, absence of diabetes (OR = 3.63; 95% CI = 2.37 – 5.55; p <0.001) and absence of hypertension (OR = 1.60; 95% CI = 1.02 – 2.51; p = 0.038), as well as not smoking (OR = 2.10; 95% CI = 1.41 – 3.13; p <0.001), at baseline were significantly associated with cognitive resistance. Absence of depression, absence of obesity, or high education were not associated with cognitive resistance. Conclusion: Individuals at high risk for AD who do not have diabetes or hypertension, or do not smoke may be cognitively resistant to AD. These findings support the heart‐brain connection for dementia prevention and healthy cognitive aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Over the past decade, a number of digital health devices and mobile apps have been developed to monitor cognitive health. These digital technologies provide the potential as a convenient and cost‐effective solution for cognitive health. However, many of them were tested only in a controlled environment with limited samples, whereas their validity for longitudinal cognitive health monitoring is largely unknown. Method: The study included participants from the Framingham Heart Study (FHS) who previously completed traditional neuropsychological (NP) tests in the FHS research center. Participants were asked to complete additional cognitive tests using Defense Automated Neurobehavioral Assessment (DANA), which is the first FDA cleared mobile app with 9 different cognitive tests, including Code Substitution, Go No Go, Insomnia Severity Index, Match to Sample, Memory Search, Patient Health Questionnaire, Procedural Reaction Time, Simple Reaction Time, and Spatial Processing. Participants were asked to complete at least three tests at the baseline, and every three months. The correlation between DANA tests and 18 traditional NP tests were assessed by the Pearson correlation coefficient test. Result: One hundred and twenty one participants were included in the current study (mean age 71±8, 64.5% women). These participants completed an average of 2.9 repetitive tests during a median of seven month follow‐up period. All DANA tests were correlated with at least one NP test with nominal significance (P<0.05). Three NP tests were correlated with Procedural Reaction Time and two NP tests were correlated with Code Substitution after Bonferroni correction for multiple testing (P<3.1x10‐4). The most significant correlation was observed between Procedural Reaction Time from DANA and the Trails B test that was conducted in the FHS research center, with correlation coefficient of 0.44 (P=6.8x10‐7). The correlation remained significant during follow‐up DANA tests (correlation coefficient=0.44, 0.34, and 0.41 for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th DANA exams, respectively). Conclusion: Our study suggests that traditional NP tests were highly correlated with some DANA tests, which might be used as an alternative approach for habitual cognitive health monitoring in a person's natural environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the article "The effectiveness of MRI in the prenatal diagnosis of placenta accreta," by S. Pri-Paz and colleagues is presented.

Multiple genes coding for human mucins have been identified (MUC 1-5) and here monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) to a gastrointestinal mucin-MUC2 are examined. The antibodies were made to a synthetic peptide representing a single repeat in the core protein of the variable number of tandem repeat region. Using the six-mer overlapping peptides synthesized on polyethylene pins, different binding sites were detected by five anti-MUC 2 MoAbs. These contained amino acids: STTT, PTT, GTQTP, TPTP and PTTT (one antibody), and TPTPT. The repeat region of M UC2 essentially is hydrophobic, but contain useful immunogenic sites. This information will be useful for studying the structure and function of MUC2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the voluntary partnership program that was launched by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The program called WaterSense aims to fill a much-needed information gap by associating water efficient products and services directly to the nation's consumers. It is said that products and services meeting USEPA's efficiency criteria will save water without compromising performance. Independent testing will ensure that products carrying the WaterSense label are efficient and that they perform as intended.