Faculty Bibliography

INTRODUCTION:The aim of this study was to assess the association of peripheral neuropathy (PN) as defined by monofilament insensitivity with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia in older adults with and without diabetes. METHODS:We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 3,362 Black and White participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Neurocognitive Study (ARIC-NCS) who underwent monofilament testing at visit 6 (2016-2017, age 71-94 years). Participants' cognitive status was classified by an adjudication committee as cognitively normal, MCI, or dementia after completing a comprehensive battery of neurocognitive assessments. We used logistic regression to evaluate the association of PN with MCI or dementia overall and stratified by diabetes status after adjusting for traditional dementia risk factors. We also compared age-adjusted brain MRI measures among a subset (N = 1,095) of participants with versus without PN. RESULTS:Overall, the prevalence of MCI (21.9% vs. 16.7%) and dementia (7.8% vs. 3.9%) were higher among participants with versus without PN (both p < 0.05). After adjustment, PN was positively associated with MCI or dementia in the overall study population (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.23, 1.73). Results were similar by diabetes status (diabetes: OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.03-1.87; no diabetes: OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.20-1.83; p-for-interaction = 0.46). Age-adjusted total and lobar brain volumes were significantly lower in participants with versus without PN (both, p < 0.05). DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS:PN as defined by monofilament insensitivity was associated with cognitive status independent of vascular risk factors and regardless of diabetes status. Our findings support a connection between PN and cognitive impairment, even in the absence of diabetes.

Objective/UNASSIGNED:This study aimed at determining the various types of home-based remedies, mode of administration, prevalence of use, and their relevance in reducing the risk of infection, hospital admission, severe disease, and death. Methods/UNASSIGNED:The study design is an open cohort of all participants who presented for testing for COVID-19 at the Infectious Disease Treatment Centre (Tamale) and were followed up for a period of six weeks. A nested case-control study was designed. Numerical data were analysed using STATA version 14, and qualitative data were thematically analysed. Results/UNASSIGNED: = 2)). Participants who practiced any form of home-based therapy were protected from SARS-CoV-2 infection (OR = 0.28 (0.20-0.39)), severe/critical COVID-19 (OR = 0.15 (0.05-0.48)), hospital admission (OR = 0.15 (0.06-0.38)), and death (OR = 0.31 (0.07-1.38)). Analysis of the various subgroups of the home-based therapies, however, demonstrated that not all the home-based remedies were effective. Steam inhalation and herbal baths were associated with 26.6 (95% CI = 6.10-116.24) and 2.7 (95% CI = 0.49-14.78) times increased risk of infection, respectively. However, change in diet (AOR = 0.01 (0.00-0.13)) and physical exercise (AOR = 0.02 (0.00-0.26)) remained significantly associated with a reduced risk of infection. We described results of thematic content analysis regarding the common ingredients in the drinks, diets, and other home-based methods administered. Conclusion/UNASSIGNED:Almost a third of persons presenting for COVID-19 test were involved in some form of home-based remedy to prevent COVID-19. Steam inhalation and herbal baths increased risk of COVID-19 infection, while physical exercise and dietary changes were protective against COVID-19 infection and hospital admission. Future protocols might consider inclusion of physical activity and dietary changes based on demonstrated health gains.

Exposure to arsenic affects millions of people globally. Changes in the epigenome may be involved in pathways linking arsenic to health or serve as biomarkers of exposure. This study investigated associations between prenatal and early-life arsenic exposure and epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) in adults, a biomarker of morbidity and mortality. DNA methylation was measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and buccal cells from 40 adults (median age = 49 years) in Chile with and without high prenatal and early-life arsenic exposure. EAA was calculated using the Horvath, Hannum, PhenoAge, skin and blood, GrimAge, and DNA methylation telomere length clocks. We evaluated associations between arsenic exposure and EAA using robust linear models. Participants classified as with and without arsenic exposure had a median drinking water arsenic concentration at birth of 555 and 2 μg/l, respectively. In PBMCs, adjusting for sex and smoking, exposure was associated with a 6-year PhenoAge acceleration [B (95% CI) = 6.01 (2.60, 9.42)]. After adjusting for cell-type composition, we found positive associations with Hannum EAA [B (95% CI) = 3.11 (0.13, 6.10)], skin and blood EAA [B (95% CI) = 1.77 (0.51, 3.03)], and extrinsic EAA [B (95% CI) = 4.90 (1.22, 8.57)]. The association with PhenoAge acceleration in buccal cells was positive but not statistically significant [B (95% CI) = 4.88 (-1.60, 11.36)]. Arsenic exposure limited to early-life stages may be associated with biological aging in adulthood. Future research may provide information on how EAA programmed in early life is related to health.

Background/UNASSIGNED:Research on the efficacy of ketamine in treating depression and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in treating post-traumatic stress disorder have been widely covered by the media. Given recent widespread coverage of the efficacy of these drugs, it is important to determine whether such coverage influences prevalence of recreational use. While longitudinal studies would be most ideal for assessing this, to acquire preliminary data, we tested survey items assessing this potential phenomenon in a population known for high prevalence of use of these drugs. Method/UNASSIGNED:= 209) were surveyed about drug use. Questions were included to assess their perceived likelihood of recent media coverage about medical benefits associated with use of ketamine and MDMA affecting their own use. Results/UNASSIGNED:Two-thirds (66.8%) of participants had ever used ecstasy/MDMA and 22.6% had ever used ketamine. The plurality of participants reported that media coverage about ketamine (46.1%) and MDMA (39.9%) did not affect their likelihood of using. 10.1% and 21.0% of participants reported increased likelihood of using ketamine and MDMA, respectively. 52.3% of those reporting past-month ketamine use and 6.1% of those reporting no lifetime use reported being more likely to use in response to media coverage about ketamine. 28.6% of those reporting past-month ecstasy use and 5.5% of those reporting no lifetime use reported being more likely to use in response to media coverage about MDMA. Discussion/UNASSIGNED:Media coverage about the medical benefits of ketamine and MDMA might influence specific subsets of people to use.

INTRODUCTION/UNASSIGNED:In order to obtain FDA Marketing Authorization for aid in the diagnosis of concussion, an eye tracking study in an intended use population was conducted. METHODS/UNASSIGNED:Potentially concussed subjects recruited in emergency department and concussion clinic settings prospectively underwent eye tracking and a subset of the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 3 at 6 sites. The results of an eye tracking-based classifier model were then validated against a pre-specified algorithm with a cutoff for concussed vs. non-concussed. The sensitivity and specificity of eye tracking were calculated after plotting of the receiver operating characteristic curve and calculation of the AUC (area under curve). RESULTS/UNASSIGNED:= 282) was 31.6%. CONCLUSION/UNASSIGNED:A pre-specified algorithm and cutoff for diagnosis of concussion vs. non-concussion has a sensitivity and specificity that is useful as a baseline-free aid in diagnosis of concussion. Eye tracking has potential to serve as an objective "gold-standard" for detection of neurophysiologic disruption due to brain injury.

Background: We recently implemented the Age-Friendly Health System's 4Ms (What Matters, Medication, Mentation, and Mobility) framework in New York City Health + Hospitals/Bellevue Hospital Center's Geriatrics clinic to improve care of older adults.
Method(s): We examined the impact of 4Ms assessment on patient care and changes in care processes through specific interventions triggered after assessment. We conducted chart reviews of patient visits during March 2021, the first month of 4Ms implementation and identified interventions made during these visits. To assess "What Matters" providers asked "What Matters the most to you;" potentially inappropriate Medications (PIM) were identified using the Beers list; Mentation was evaluated using the Mini-Cog; and Mobility was determined using timed up and go (TUG) test. We used descriptive statistics to characterize findings.
Result(s): Among the 121 patients who had 4Ms assessment in March 2021, 85% (n=103) were asked "What Matters;" providers reviewed Medications for almost all (n=118; 98%) and conducted a Mini-Cog for 64% (n=78). Most not cognitively assessed were either previously screened (n=11; 9%) or had dementia (n=12; 10%). Providers used the TUG test for 87% (n=105). What Mattered to patients most commonly was "getting better" (n=24; 23%). There were 39 (33%) patients with potentially inappropriate Medications (including proton pump inhibitors, gabapentinoids, and NSAIDS) of which 10 (26%) Medications were either discontinued or reduced. Other interventions included further cognitive evaluation (n=2) and home care referrals (n=2) among 14 (18%) with an abnormal Mini- Cog. Among the 51 (42%) patients with an abnormal TUG, providers intervened for 19 (37%) with devices, referrals or home services.
Conclusion(s): The adoption of 4Ms assessment during routine visits identified issues with Medications, Mentation and Mobility, triggering several interventions for common geriatric conditions. 4Ms assessment is a helpful strategy to organize geriatric care, routinely assess patients for common geriatric syndromes, and improve care. Future directions include prioritizing interventions integrated with "What Matters" to maintain patient-centered care

Background: Neighborhood disadvantage influences health outcomes regardless of personal economic status, illustrating the importance of neighborhood context on health. The Area Deprivation index (ADI) establishes a ranking system of U.S. neighborhoods on state and national levels based on 17 neighborhood factors. Using data from an ongoing study of patients with dual diagnoses of diabetes and dementia, we investigated the relationship between ADI and diabetic outcomes, including glycemic control, blood pressure, and dementia severity.
Method(s): We conducted descriptive and bivariate statistics using 3 years of health record data from patients of NYU Langone Health. We included patients >=65 years, with ADRD and DM, and on DM medication. In addition to demographic measures and NY home addresses, we collected hemoglobin A1c, blood pressure, and assessed dementia severity, surveying proxies with the dementia severity rating scale (DSRS). We used ArcGIS and ADI data to link patient addresses to an ADI score. We stratified the sample into two groups: a low deprivation group with ADI scores 1-5, and a high deprivation group with ADI scores 6-10.
Result(s): Of those meeting inclusion criteria (n=996), most were over 75 years (73.5%), female (60.1%), white (71.2%), and not Hispanic or Latino (72.4%). Mean patient age was 81.3; standard deviation (SD): 7.6. More than 50% of patients had an NY state ADI score of 1, 2 or 3 out of 10, indicating that the majority of the population lived in neighborhoods of less disadvantage. 83.4% (n=831) of the population fell into the low deprivation group. There were no differences in hemoglobin A1c (7.09 vs. 7.01) or dementia severity (25.5 +/- 0.8 vs. 22.4 +/- 2.0) between low and high deprivation groups, respectively. However, systolic blood pressure was greater in high deprivation individuals (132.4 +/- 19.3 mm Hg vs. 128.6 +/- 18.2; p=0.02).
Conclusion(s): The ADI in this study was associated with blood pressure but not diabetic control or dementia severity. Less heterogeneity in disadvantage limited our ability to detect this potential social determinant of health. In a city, where neighborhood disadvantage changes from block to block, the influence of environment on health may be more difficult to detect

Background: Clinical trials are important to improve evidencebased care for persons living with dementia (PLWD) and for their care partners (dyads). Barriers to research recruitment are numerous, including care partners concerns' of ill health, cognitive impairment (CI) severity, and denial of need. The aim of this study is to determine whether a performance- or informant-based screening test for CI is associated with trial enrollment and whether mode of administration influences one's decision to participate.
Method(s): We used cross-sectional data from patients and caregivers who visited the EDs of New York University (NYU) and Indianapolis University (IU) during screening for the Program of Intensive Support in Emergency Departments (ED) for Care Partners of Cognitively Impaired Patients (POISED), which is testing a care management intervention. We offered CI screening to patients >75 years using the Mini-Cog and if unable to do this, we offered their care partners the Short Portable Informant Questionnaire of Cognitive Decline (IQ-CODE). We used chi-square tests and logistic regression to determine whether likelihood of enrollment differed between screening tests and mode of administration: in-person versus telephone.
Result(s): We screened 8860 patients or care partners (dyads) between 3/3/2018-4/1/2021, of which n=2840 at NYU and n=660 at IU had positive screens. Of these 3500 dyads, 2142 had a positive Mini-Cog (<2) and 1358 had a positive IQ-CODE (>3.40). We enrolled 13.9% (n=297) of positive Mini-Cogs and 14.5% (n=309) of positive in-person IQ-CODEs. During the pandemic we conducted all IQCODEs by phone and enrolled 34% (n=196) of those who screened positive. Adjusting for age, sex, and gender, compared to Mini-Cog screening, only those having positive IQCODES by phone were more likely to enroll (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 3.75 (95% CI: 2.76, 5.11).
Conclusion(s): Higher enrollment using informant-based telephone screening after discharge suggests that care partner recognition of a problem and perhaps having less distraction from the ED visit may increase trial enrollment. Whether the pandemic was the predomant factor encouraging enrollment is unknown