Introdução: Perda de memória é um dos sintomas mais comuns em pacientes nos estágios iniciais da doença de Alzheimer; esses déficits são um reflexo do envolvimento da formação do hipocampo. O BDNF tem sido relacionado com a plasticidade do hipocampo. Neste sentido, as combinações de biomarcadores, como, por exemplo, a volumetria do hipocampo, pode apresentar um maior valor preditivo para diferenciar doença de Alzheimer do envelhecimento normal em pacientes com comprometimento cognitivo leve. Objetivo: A presente tese de doutorado teve como objetivo avaliar os níveis séricos do BDNF e o volume do hipocampo em pacientes com demência devido à doença de Alzheimer, Comprometimento Cognitivo Leve (CCL) e idosos saudáveis. Métodos: Para realização do estudo foram selecionados 10 idosos saudáveis, 10 CCL e 13 pacientes com demência devido à doença de Alzheimer pelos critérios NIA-AA. Todos participantes foram submetidos a uma avaliação cognitiva. Para as análises do BDNF, foi utilizado método de ELISA e para as análises de volumetria do hipocampo as imagens foram obtidas por meio de equipamento de ressonância de 1.5T e os volumes obtidos por meio do programa NeuroQuant®. Resultados: Idosos saudáveis apresentaram níveis séricos mais elevados de BDNF do que os CCL e pacientes com demência. O grupo de pacientes com demência apresentou menor volume total do hipocampo do que os idosos saudáveis e os CCL. Não houve correlação significativa do BDNF sérico com volume do hipocampo. Conclusão: Considerando nossos resultados em conjunto (baixos níveis de BDNF nos grupos CCL e demência devido à DA e menor volume do hipocampo na demência devido à AD), podemos supor que a diminuição dos níveis de BDNF ocorre antes da lesão neuronal expressa pela redução do hipocampo. / Introduction: Memory impairment is the most common symptom in patients in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease; this deficit is a reflection of the involvement of the hippocampal formation. BDNF has been linked to the hippocampal plasticity. Combinations of biomarkers, such as the hippocampal volumetry may have higher predictive value for differentiating Alzheimer's disease from normal aging in patients with mild cognitive impairment. Objective: The objective of present thesis was to evaluate serum levels of BDNF and hippocampal volume in patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and dementia due to Alzheimer's disease, and healthy elderly participants. Method: Ten healthy elderly subjects, 10 MCI and 13 patients with dementia due to Alzheimer's Disease (NIA-AA criteria) were selected for the study. All participants were assessed cognitively. The ELISA method was used for BDNF analysis, and the analysis of hippocampal volumetric images were acquired with 1.5T magnetic resonance equipment and volumes obtained with NeuroQuant® program. Results: Healthy elderly had higher BDNF serum levels than MCI and dementia due to AD patients. The group of dementia patients had lower total hippocampal volume than MCI and healthy elderly participants. No significant correlation between serum BDNF and hippocampal volume was observed. Conclusion: Taking our results together (lower BDNF levels in MCI and dementia due to AD and smaller hippocampal volume in dementia due to AD) we can hypothesize that the decrease of BDNF may start before the establishment of neuronal injury expressed by the hippocampal reduction.

Children with intellectual disabilities (ID) in inclusive classrooms differ in ways of processing information and learning speed compared to their peers without disabilities. Therefore teaching methods must be adapted to their individual needs. Peer support is seen as an additional form of improving students’ academic engagement. This systematic review focuses on peer supported interventions which facilitate academic engagement of children and youth with mild to profound ID. It contains six studies, which met pre-determined inclusion criteria focusing specifically on academic engagement. The studies were analysed to examine (a) different types of peer support, (b) peer support characteristics, (c) definition of academic engagement of students with ID and (d) if a change in academic engagement as an outcome can be evaluated after a peer support intervention. In this review, the data of 18 students with mild to profound ID and their peers in the age of 8 to 17 years, were included. Four different types of peer support intervention were identified, which included different characteristics mostly focussing on supporting students’ communication, access to information and active participation in class. The different definitions of academic engagement which were found hindered comparison of results. Nevertheless, all studies had a positive effect on the academic engagement of students with ID. Future research is needed to investigate the long-term impact of different types of peer support on academic engagement of students with ID and their need in relation to specific forms of ID.

Esta dissertação consiste em dois estudos que têm por objetivo investigar a existência de disfunções executivas no envelhecimento. Estudos recentes sugerem a existência de disfunções executivas no Declínio Cognitivo Leve (DCL). O objetivo do Estudo 1 foi verificar a presença de disfunções executivas em pacientes com DCL. Os instrumentos utilizados foram o Teste Wisconsin de Classificação de Cartas (WCST) e a Iowa Gambling Test (IGT). Foram estudados dez pacientes com e 27 sem DCL. Os dados foram analisados através do teste t de Student para amostras independentes e da análise de variância (ANOVA) para medidas repetidas. Os resultados não evidenciaram diferença significativa entre os grupos nos índices de resposta do WCST e no número de cartas retiradas de cada baralho no IGT. O estudo da evolução do desempenho no IGT revelou diferença qualitativa entre os grupos. Idosos sem DCL aprendem ao longo da tarefa, enquanto idosos com DCL não o fazem, sugerindo uma interferência dos sistemas de memória na tomada de decisão. O Iowa Gambling Test tem sido um instrumento utilizado na avaliação da tomada de decisão. O objetivo do Estudo 2 foi investigar se alterações nos procedimentos de aplicação do instrumento interferem no desempenho durante a execução do teste. Foi realizado um estudo transversal comparando dois grupos de idosos saudáveis em duas variações do instrumento. O grupo I contou com 27 participantes, que executaram a tarefa sem pista de reforço visual. O grupo II foi composto por 17 participantes, submetidos à tarefa com pista. Os dados foram analisados através dos testes t de Student para amostras independentes e ANOVA para medidas repetidas. Houve diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os dois grupos na execução do teste em relação à aversão ao risco (F=2,466; p=0,05; df=2). Os resultados indicam que uma pista de reforço visual possibilita maior alocação de recursos atencionais e de memória de trabalho, permitindo que os idosos tomem decisões menos arriscadas. / This dissertation is formed by two works that aim to investigate executive dysfunction on ageing. Recent studies suggest the existence of executive dysfunctions in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). The aim of the first study was to verify the presence of executive dysfunctions in patients with MCI. The instruments used were the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and the Iowa Gambling Test (IGT). Ten patients with and 27 without MCI were assessed. The data were analyzed through Student t test for independent samples and analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures. The results did not show significant difference between groups in the answer rates of WCST and in the number of cards withdrawn from each pack of cards in the IGT. The study of the performance evolution in the IGT revealed a qualitative difference between the groups. Elderly without MCI learn along the task, while elderly with MCI did not, suggesting an interference of memory systems in decision making. The Iowa Gambling Test has been an instrument used in the assessment of decision making. The aim of the second study was to investigate if changes in the application procedures of the instrument interfere in the performance through the test execution. A cross sectional study was carried out comparing two groups of healthy elderly in two variations of the instrument. The group I included 27 participants, which executed the task without clue of visual reinforcement. The group II was composed by 17 participants, submitted to the task with clue. The data were analyzed through the Student t test for independent samples and ANOVA for repeated measures. It was found statistically significant difference between the two groups in the execution of the test in relation to risk aversion (F=2,466; p=0,05; df=2). The results indicate that a clue of visual reinforcement permits greater allocation of attention resources and of working memory, allowing elderly to make least risky decisions.

Purpose: The systematic review summarised the research investigating Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) with older adults. The empirical study explored psychosocial adjustment patterns to a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment, a condition characterised by memory or thinking problems. Method: The review included 14 studies identified through database searches using predefined eligibility criteria. The empirical study employed a cross-sectional design. Thirty-five participants completed a short cognitive assessment and a series of questionnaires measuring perceptions of MCI, cognitive fusion (i.e. how caught up someone is with their thoughts), anxiety, depression and quality of life. Results: The review found initial evidence to suggest that ACT is an acceptable and effective intervention for reducing distress in older adults. The empirical study found that threatening perceptions of MCI were more strongly related to psychosocial adjustment outcomes than objective level of cognitive impairment. The study also found evidence to suggest that cognitive fusion is associated with adjustment outcomes in an MCI population. Conclusions: The systematic review highlights the limited, but promising evidence-base for the application of ACT with older adults. The review emphasises the need for further research with improved methodological rigor. Findings from the empirical study need to be replicated with a larger sample, however the results indicate that psychological interventions such like ACT could have utility for MCI patients with adjustment difficulties.

Introdução: Perda de memória é um dos sintomas mais comuns em pacientes nos estágios iniciais da doença de Alzheimer; esses déficits são um reflexo do envolvimento da formação do hipocampo. O BDNF tem sido relacionado com a plasticidade do hipocampo. Neste sentido, as combinações de biomarcadores, como, por exemplo, a volumetria do hipocampo, pode apresentar um maior valor preditivo para diferenciar doença de Alzheimer do envelhecimento normal em pacientes com comprometimento cognitivo leve. Objetivo: A presente tese de doutorado teve como objetivo avaliar os níveis séricos do BDNF e o volume do hipocampo em pacientes com demência devido à doença de Alzheimer, Comprometimento Cognitivo Leve (CCL) e idosos saudáveis. Métodos: Para realização do estudo foram selecionados 10 idosos saudáveis, 10 CCL e 13 pacientes com demência devido à doença de Alzheimer pelos critérios NIA-AA. Todos participantes foram submetidos a uma avaliação cognitiva. Para as análises do BDNF, foi utilizado método de ELISA e para as análises de volumetria do hipocampo as imagens foram obtidas por meio de equipamento de ressonância de 1.5T e os volumes obtidos por meio do programa NeuroQuant®. Resultados: Idosos saudáveis apresentaram níveis séricos mais elevados de BDNF do que os CCL e pacientes com demência. O grupo de pacientes com demência apresentou menor volume total do hipocampo do que os idosos saudáveis e os CCL. Não houve correlação significativa do BDNF sérico com volume do hipocampo. Conclusão: Considerando nossos resultados em conjunto (baixos níveis de BDNF nos grupos CCL e demência devido à DA e menor volume do hipocampo na demência devido à AD), podemos supor que a diminuição dos níveis de BDNF ocorre antes da lesão neuronal expressa pela redução do hipocampo. / Introduction: Memory impairment is the most common symptom in patients in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease; this deficit is a reflection of the involvement of the hippocampal formation. BDNF has been linked to the hippocampal plasticity. Combinations of biomarkers, such as the hippocampal volumetry may have higher predictive value for differentiating Alzheimer's disease from normal aging in patients with mild cognitive impairment. Objective: The objective of present thesis was to evaluate serum levels of BDNF and hippocampal volume in patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and dementia due to Alzheimer's disease, and healthy elderly participants. Method: Ten healthy elderly subjects, 10 MCI and 13 patients with dementia due to Alzheimer's Disease (NIA-AA criteria) were selected for the study. All participants were assessed cognitively. The ELISA method was used for BDNF analysis, and the analysis of hippocampal volumetric images were acquired with 1.5T magnetic resonance equipment and volumes obtained with NeuroQuant® program. Results: Healthy elderly had higher BDNF serum levels than MCI and dementia due to AD patients. The group of dementia patients had lower total hippocampal volume than MCI and healthy elderly participants. No significant correlation between serum BDNF and hippocampal volume was observed. Conclusion: Taking our results together (lower BDNF levels in MCI and dementia due to AD and smaller hippocampal volume in dementia due to AD) we can hypothesize that the decrease of BDNF may start before the establishment of neuronal injury expressed by the hippocampal reduction.

Base teórica: Apesar de o escore da soma das caixas da escala de avaliação clínica da demência (CDR-SB) ser amplamente utilizado, sua aplicabilidade na avaliação do estadiamento da gravidade da demência e sua acurária para detectar as categorias diagnósticas não foram normatizadas em várias partes do mundo, inclusive no Brasil. Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a validade diagnóstica de CDR-SB na detecção e no estadiamento do comprometimento cognitivo e da demência em uma amostra de pacientes brasileiros com comprometimento cognitivo leve amnéstico (CCL amnéstico), doença de Alzheimer (DA) e demência vascular (DV). Métodos: Os dados foram obtidos a partir do banco de dados do ambulatório de demência do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA) e incluíram 407 participantes com idade superior a 50 anos (115 controles saudáveis, 41 pacientes com CCL amnéstico, 165 pacientes com DA e 86 pacientes com DV ou demência mista). Curvas ROC foram geradas para detectar os melhores pontos de cortes de CDR-SB. A escolaridade média foi 4 anos. Resultados: Um ponto de corte de CDR-SB ≥0,5 permite identificar corretamente indivíduos com CCL amnéstico de controles normais (sensibilidade de 100% e especificidade de 98,3%). Um ponto de corte ≥4,5 identifica corretamente os pacientes com CCL amnéstico dos pacientes com demência, todos juntos ou separadamente (DA e DV) (sensibilidade de 96,4% e especificidade de 100%) em 96,9% dos indivíduos. Os melhores intervalos de CDR-SB correspondentes aos escores globais de CDR foram de 0,5 a 4,0 para um escore global de 0,5; 4,5 a 8,0 para um escore global de 1,0; 8,5 a 14,0 para um escore global de 2,0; e 14,5 a 18,0 para um escore global de 3,0. Quando aplicados à amostra de validação, os escores variaram de 0,87 a 0,97. Conclusão: O escore CDR-SB apresentou boa validade clínica para detectar e classificar a gravidade de prejuízos cognitivos na população brasileira. / Background: The Clinical Dementia Rating Scale sum of the boxes (CDR-SB) score has been widely used its utility in staging dementia severity and accuracy to detect diagnostic categories in sociodemographic and cultural diverse regions of the world remains untested. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the CDR-SB diagnostic validity in detecting and staging cognitive impairment/dementia in a sample of Brazilian patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and vascular dementia (VD). Methods: Data were obtained from the Dementia Clinic of Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA) database and included 407 participants (115 healthy controls, 41 aMCI, 165 AD and, 86 VD). Receiver operating characteristic curves were generated to detect best CDR-SB cutoffs. Average education was 4 years. Results: A CDR-SB cutoff ≥0.5 was obtained to correctly identify aMCI from normal controls (sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 98.3%). The cutoff ≥4.5 correctly identified aMCI from dementia patients altogether or separately (AD and VD) (sensitivity of 96.4% and specificity of 100%) in 96.9% of the individuals. Optimal ranges of CDR-SB scores corresponding to the global CDR scores were 0.5 to 4.0 for a global score of 0.5, 4.5 to 8.0 for a global score of 1.0, 8.5 to 14.0 for a global score of 2.0, and 14.5 to 18.0 for a global score of 3.0. When applied to the validation sample, scores ranged from 0.87 to 0.97. Conclusion: The CDR-SB showed good clinical validity to detect and classify severity of cognitive impairment a Brazilian population.

Esta dissertação consiste em dois estudos que têm por objetivo investigar a existência de disfunções executivas no envelhecimento. Estudos recentes sugerem a existência de disfunções executivas no Declínio Cognitivo Leve (DCL). O objetivo do Estudo 1 foi verificar a presença de disfunções executivas em pacientes com DCL. Os instrumentos utilizados foram o Teste Wisconsin de Classificação de Cartas (WCST) e a Iowa Gambling Test (IGT). Foram estudados dez pacientes com e 27 sem DCL. Os dados foram analisados através do teste t de Student para amostras independentes e da análise de variância (ANOVA) para medidas repetidas. Os resultados não evidenciaram diferença significativa entre os grupos nos índices de resposta do WCST e no número de cartas retiradas de cada baralho no IGT. O estudo da evolução do desempenho no IGT revelou diferença qualitativa entre os grupos. Idosos sem DCL aprendem ao longo da tarefa, enquanto idosos com DCL não o fazem, sugerindo uma interferência dos sistemas de memória na tomada de decisão. O Iowa Gambling Test tem sido um instrumento utilizado na avaliação da tomada de decisão. O objetivo do Estudo 2 foi investigar se alterações nos procedimentos de aplicação do instrumento interferem no desempenho durante a execução do teste. Foi realizado um estudo transversal comparando dois grupos de idosos saudáveis em duas variações do instrumento. O grupo I contou com 27 participantes, que executaram a tarefa sem pista de reforço visual. O grupo II foi composto por 17 participantes, submetidos à tarefa com pista. Os dados foram analisados através dos testes t de Student para amostras independentes e ANOVA para medidas repetidas. Houve diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os dois grupos na execução do teste em relação à aversão ao risco (F=2,466; p=0,05; df=2). Os resultados indicam que uma pista de reforço visual possibilita maior alocação de recursos atencionais e de memória de trabalho, permitindo que os idosos tomem decisões menos arriscadas. / This dissertation is formed by two works that aim to investigate executive dysfunction on ageing. Recent studies suggest the existence of executive dysfunctions in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). The aim of the first study was to verify the presence of executive dysfunctions in patients with MCI. The instruments used were the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and the Iowa Gambling Test (IGT). Ten patients with and 27 without MCI were assessed. The data were analyzed through Student t test for independent samples and analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures. The results did not show significant difference between groups in the answer rates of WCST and in the number of cards withdrawn from each pack of cards in the IGT. The study of the performance evolution in the IGT revealed a qualitative difference between the groups. Elderly without MCI learn along the task, while elderly with MCI did not, suggesting an interference of memory systems in decision making. The Iowa Gambling Test has been an instrument used in the assessment of decision making. The aim of the second study was to investigate if changes in the application procedures of the instrument interfere in the performance through the test execution. A cross sectional study was carried out comparing two groups of healthy elderly in two variations of the instrument. The group I included 27 participants, which executed the task without clue of visual reinforcement. The group II was composed by 17 participants, submitted to the task with clue. The data were analyzed through the Student t test for independent samples and ANOVA for repeated measures. It was found statistically significant difference between the two groups in the execution of the test in relation to risk aversion (F=2,466; p=0,05; df=2). The results indicate that a clue of visual reinforcement permits greater allocation of attention resources and of working memory, allowing elderly to make least risky decisions.

Le diagnostic de la maladie d'« Alzheimer » (MA) repose essentiellement sur des tests neuropsychologiques, démontrant d'importants déficits mnésiques en lien avec l'atrophie de l'hippocampe. Parallèlement à cela, l'existence d'une atteinte précoce de l'amygdale a très récemment été proposée dans une série d'études, suggérant que cette structure pourrait être un marqueur neuro-anatomique de l'entrée dans la maladie. Les études ayant évalué les répercussions émotionnelles de ces atteintes amygdaliennes n'ont néanmoins pas permis d'aboutir à l'identification d'un profil convergent de déficits. L'objectif de cette thèse a donc été de démontrer l'existence d'une atteinte de l'amygdale à un stade précoce de la MA entrainant des modifications des traitements émotionnels. Dans une première étude en neuroimagerie structurelle, nous avons montré des arguments robustes quant à l'existence d'atteintes anatomiques de l'amygdale chez des patients légèrement atteints par la maladie. L'amplitude de cette atrophie s'est avérée être un indicateur particulièrement sensible du niveau général d'atteintes cognitives mesurées chez nos patients. Dans les études suivantes, nous nous sommes intéressés aux répercussions de cette atteinte sur des activités cognitives sous-tendues plus directement par le fonctionnement de cette structure : les traitements émotionnels. Par l'élaboration d'une méta-analyse, nous avons pu identifier un déficit précoce de la reconnaissance des émotions. Nous avons de plus démontré que les troubles cognitifs des patients expliquaient en partie le déficit émotionnel, sans toutefois l'expliquer dans sa totalité. Enfin, une série d'études comportementales et en neuroimagerie fonctionnelle, a permis de confirmer que les atteintes anatomiques s'accompagnaient bien d'un dysfonctionnement de l'amygdale entrainant des déficits émotionnels, en particulier dans les mécanismes à l'origine de l'extraction spontanée de la saillance émotionnelle. L'ensemble de nos données convergent vers l'idée que l'atteinte amygdalienne et les altérations des mécanismes émotionnels seraient une piste prometteuse afin de préciser le diagnostic actuel de la MA. / The diagnosis of “Alzheimer's” disease (AD) relies on neuropsychological tests demonstrating massive memory decline, which is mainly associated with hippocampus lesions. In parallel, several neuroimaging studies have suggested that amygdala volume loss could be a neuroanatomical marker of AD. However, previous works dealing with behavioural indices of amygdala activity in AD have been unable to provide a converging profile of emotional impairments. The goal of this work was to corroborate data provided from various methods to demonstrate that amygdala lesions in relation to emotional disorders could be an interesting track to refine the current diagnosis of AD. In a first structural neuroimaging study, we have demonstrated that the amygdala undergoes massive atrophy in the early stage of the disease, and that volume loss predicts memory decline. In the following studies, we have shown that these lesions lead to impairments in a various set of emotional tests. Based on a meta-analytic approach, we demonstrated that emotional decoding abilities are impaired in AD, beginning in the early stage, and partly explained by the cognitive deficits characterizing the AD population. In a last set of studies we demonstrated that these emotional decoding difficulties rely on specific amygdala dysfunctions, by showing that the mechanisms behind the spontaneous extraction of emotional salience are impaired in AD. All our data converge on the idea that the amygdala damage and alteration of emotional mechanisms from the early phase of AD are a promising approach to clarify the current diagnosis of AD.

Base teórica: Apesar de o escore da soma das caixas da escala de avaliação clínica da demência (CDR-SB) ser amplamente utilizado, sua aplicabilidade na avaliação do estadiamento da gravidade da demência e sua acurária para detectar as categorias diagnósticas não foram normatizadas em várias partes do mundo, inclusive no Brasil. Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a validade diagnóstica de CDR-SB na detecção e no estadiamento do comprometimento cognitivo e da demência em uma amostra de pacientes brasileiros com comprometimento cognitivo leve amnéstico (CCL amnéstico), doença de Alzheimer (DA) e demência vascular (DV). Métodos: Os dados foram obtidos a partir do banco de dados do ambulatório de demência do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA) e incluíram 407 participantes com idade superior a 50 anos (115 controles saudáveis, 41 pacientes com CCL amnéstico, 165 pacientes com DA e 86 pacientes com DV ou demência mista). Curvas ROC foram geradas para detectar os melhores pontos de cortes de CDR-SB. A escolaridade média foi 4 anos. Resultados: Um ponto de corte de CDR-SB ≥0,5 permite identificar corretamente indivíduos com CCL amnéstico de controles normais (sensibilidade de 100% e especificidade de 98,3%). Um ponto de corte ≥4,5 identifica corretamente os pacientes com CCL amnéstico dos pacientes com demência, todos juntos ou separadamente (DA e DV) (sensibilidade de 96,4% e especificidade de 100%) em 96,9% dos indivíduos. Os melhores intervalos de CDR-SB correspondentes aos escores globais de CDR foram de 0,5 a 4,0 para um escore global de 0,5; 4,5 a 8,0 para um escore global de 1,0; 8,5 a 14,0 para um escore global de 2,0; e 14,5 a 18,0 para um escore global de 3,0. Quando aplicados à amostra de validação, os escores variaram de 0,87 a 0,97. Conclusão: O escore CDR-SB apresentou boa validade clínica para detectar e classificar a gravidade de prejuízos cognitivos na população brasileira. / Background: The Clinical Dementia Rating Scale sum of the boxes (CDR-SB) score has been widely used its utility in staging dementia severity and accuracy to detect diagnostic categories in sociodemographic and cultural diverse regions of the world remains untested. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the CDR-SB diagnostic validity in detecting and staging cognitive impairment/dementia in a sample of Brazilian patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and vascular dementia (VD). Methods: Data were obtained from the Dementia Clinic of Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA) database and included 407 participants (115 healthy controls, 41 aMCI, 165 AD and, 86 VD). Receiver operating characteristic curves were generated to detect best CDR-SB cutoffs. Average education was 4 years. Results: A CDR-SB cutoff ≥0.5 was obtained to correctly identify aMCI from normal controls (sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 98.3%). The cutoff ≥4.5 correctly identified aMCI from dementia patients altogether or separately (AD and VD) (sensitivity of 96.4% and specificity of 100%) in 96.9% of the individuals. Optimal ranges of CDR-SB scores corresponding to the global CDR scores were 0.5 to 4.0 for a global score of 0.5, 4.5 to 8.0 for a global score of 1.0, 8.5 to 14.0 for a global score of 2.0, and 14.5 to 18.0 for a global score of 3.0. When applied to the validation sample, scores ranged from 0.87 to 0.97. Conclusion: The CDR-SB showed good clinical validity to detect and classify severity of cognitive impairment a Brazilian population.

Successfull cardiopulmonary resuscitation is an essential life-saving tool; nevertheless, general ischemia during cardiac arrest may trigger different pathways that could turn even into a fatal damage; this condition is called post-cardiac arrest syndrome. It has been repeatedly shown that oxidative stress (OS) plays one of the key roles in the development of ischemia-reperfusion injury. However, current evidence on the possible participation of OS in the pathogenesis of post-cardiac arrest syndrome is insufficient. We tested following hypotheses: (i) ischaemia-reperfusion injury after cardiac arrest is accompanied by OS and (ii) mild therapeutical hypothermia decreases OS cardiac arrest. In the experimental part of our work we studied the effects of hypothermia and normothermia on hemodynamic parameters, markers of organ damage and on the OS burden in porcine model of cardiac arrest. Furthermore, we compared the effects of hypothermia with ischaemic postconditioning and nitric oxide administration in the porcine model of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation. We found protective effects of hypothermia on all major endpoints including OS in comparison with normothermia; moreover, hypothermia improved also selected variables compared to ischemic postconditioning and nitric oxide. In the...