Ioulietta Lazarou

EEG-Based Brain–Computer Interfaces for Communication and Rehabilitation of People with Motor Impairment: A Novel Approach of the 21st Century

People with severe neurological impairments face many challenges in sensorimotor functions and communication with the environment; therefore they have increased demand for advanced, adaptive and personalized rehabilitation. During the last several decades, numerous studies have developed brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) with the goals ranging from providing means of communication to functional rehabilitation. Here we review the research on non-invasive, electroencephalography (EEG)-based BCI systems for communication and rehabilitation. We focus on the approaches intended to help severely paralyzed and locked-in patients regain communication using three different BCI modalities: slow cortical potentials, sensorimotor rhythms and P300 potentials, as operational mechanisms. We also review BCI systems for restoration of motor function in patients with spinal cord injury and chronic stroke. We discuss the advantages and limitations of these approaches and the challenges that need to be addressed in the future.

Efficacy and Safety of Crocus sativus L. in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment: One Year Single-Blind Randomized, with Parallel Groups, Clinical Trial

There is evidence to suggest the efficacy of Crocus (saffron) in the management of cognitive decline. This study examined the efficacy of Crocus in patients with amnesic and multi domain MCI (aMCImd). The participants included 17 patients on Crocus and 18 on a waiting list, who were examined with a short neuropsychological battery, MRI 3T, while some patients were examined via 256-channel electroencephalogram (HD-EEG) at baseline and after 12 months. The results showed that patients on Crocus had improved Mini-Mental State Examination scores (p = 0.015), while the control group deteriorated. Also, MRI, EEG, and ERP showed improvement in specific domains. This led us to conclude that Crocus is a good choice for management of aMCImd.

Neuronal pentraxin receptor-1 is a new cerebrospinal fluid biomarker of Alzheimer’s disease progression

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia, with progressive onset of clinical symptoms. The main pathological hallmarks are brain deposits of extracellular amyloid beta plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFT). Cerebrospinal fluid reflects pathological changes in the brain; amyloid beta 1-42 is a marker of amyloid plaques, while total and phosphorylated tau are markers of NFT formation. Additional biomarkers associated with disease pathogenesis are needed, for better prognosis, more specific diagnosis, prediction of disease severity and progression and for improved patient classification in clinical trials. The aim of the present study was to evaluate brain-specific proteins as potential biomarkers of progression of AD. Methods: Overall, 30 candidate proteins were quantified in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild, moderate and severe AD dementia (n=101) using mass spectrometry-based selected reaction monitoring assays. ELISA was used for neuronal pentraxin receptor-1 (NPTXR) confirmation. Results: The best discrimination between MCI and more advanced AD stages (moderate and severe dementia) was observed for protein NPTXR (area under the curve, AUC=0.799). A statistically different abundance of this protein was observed between the two groups, with severe AD patients having progressively lower levels (p<0.05). ELISA confirmed lower levels in AD, in a separate cohort that included controls, MCI and AD patients. Conclusions: We conclude that NPTXR protein in CSF is a novel potential biomarker of AD progression and could have important utility in assessing treatment success in clinical trials.

A computerized test for the assessment of mild cognitive impairment subtypes in sentence processing

ABSTRACT This study examines thesentence processing ability of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) subtypes. In addition to standard MCI neuropsychological tests, an experimental approach was applied to assess language. 133 people (93 MCI/40 controls) participated in novel computerized sentence processing tasks. Results presented statistically significant differences between MCI/controls andMCI subtypes (ANOVA):(a) duration F(2,92) = 19.259,p < .001) in sentence construction; (b) correct answers (F(2, 89) = 8.560,p < .001) and duration (F2,89) = 15.525,p < .001)in text comprehension; (c) correct answers (F(2, 92) = 8.975,p < .001) andduration (F(2, 92) = 4.360,p = .016) in metaphoric sentences comprehension; (d) correct answers (F(2, 92) = 12.836,p < .001) andduration (F(2, 92) = 10.974,p < .001) in verb form generation. Subtle changes in MCIsubtypes could affect sentence processing and provide useful information for cognitive decline risk estimation and screening purposes.

A multimodal dataset for authoring and editing multimedia content: The MAMEM project

We present a dataset that combines multimodal biosignals and eye tracking information gathered under a human-computer interaction framework. The dataset was developed in the vein of the MAMEM project that aims to endow people with motor disabilities with the ability to edit and author multimedia content through mental commands and gaze activity. The dataset includes EEG, eye-tracking, and physiological (GSR and Heart rate) signals collected from 34 individuals (18 able-bodied and 16 motor-impaired). Data were collected during the interaction with specifically designed interface for web browsing and multimedia content manipulation and during imaginary movement tasks. The presented dataset will contribute towards the development and evaluation of modern human-computer interaction systems that would foster the integration of people with severe motor impairments back into society.

International Ballroom Dancing Against Neurodegeneration: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Greek Community-Dwelling Elders With Mild Cognitive impairment:

Background: Many studies have highlighted the positive effects of dance in people with neurodegenerative diseases. Objectives: To explore the effects of International Ballroom Dancing on cognitive function in elders with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). Methods: One-hundred twenty-nine elderly patients with aMCI diagnosis (mean age 66.8 ± 10.1 years) were randomly assigned into 2 groups: intervention group (IG, n = 66) and control group (CG, n = 63). The IG exercised systematically for 10 months, and both groups were submitted to extensive neuropsychological assessment prior and after the 10-month period. Results: According to the independent sample t test at the follow-up, significant differences between groups were found in benefit of the IG while the CG showed worse performance in the majority of neuropsychological tests. According to the Student t test, better performance is detected in IG in contrast with CG, which had worse performance almost in all scales. Conclusion: Dance may be an important nonpharmacological approach that can benefit cognitive functions.

COMPUTER VISION ANALYSIS FOR BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS OF PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA

enhance dementias data science and experimental research by facilitating access to high quality data and explore the possibility of recruiting well-characterised, data-rich participants to further research. DPUK has the potential to affect existing cohorts and their participants’ experience of dementias research, in particular around governance, data use and extended research participation. A dedicated ELSI workgroup conducted a study of ethical and social implications of the DPUK, with attention to the experiences, views and expectations of participants within cohort studies. Methods: Participant work was developed using a grounded theory approach as part of a four-phase cross-cohort qualitative study on the ethical and social implications of the development of DPUK. Six focus groups were conducted with members of three DPUK participating cohorts in England and Scotland. Participants discussed six research scenarios: three based on data science, and three based on experimental research. Group sessions were followed by face to face in-depth interviews on experiences and expectations of research. Results: Participants reacted positively to projects on data sharing and re-contact for further research involvement. However, there were specific concerns around the involvement of commercial research partners and study intensity. Willingness to be re-contacted for research did not correspond directly with willingness to take part in studies, where therewas a more diverse range of responses. The freedom to refuse involvement was central to the acceptability of re-contact, however, participants self-identified as highly willing to consider participating. Their motivation to participate in further research related to themes such as social responsibility, cohort trust and commitment, altruism, health anxiety, and improved personal and familial access to health care. Conclusions: Participant’s views on participating in future dementia research are diverse and situated within wider social contexts. Participants value attempts to enhance UK dementia research, and the opportunity to express their views on these developments. Incorporating participant perspectives into research policy and practice can contribute to ensuring social acceptability and accountability.

Sensor-based in-home monitoring of people with dementia using remote web technologies

The goal of ambient assisted living (AAL) is to help and support elderly persons to manage everyday activities using intelligent and pervasive computing technologies. One of the main issues regarding the support of people with dementia is designing and integrating user-centered AAL environments to assist these people in their daily life activities. These systems should enable people with cognitive impairments to optimize their cognitive functioning in the everyday context, in order to prevent or reduce excess disability, and thus improve quality of life and well-being. This paper presents the main elements of a sensor-based system to support the daily life of people suffering from Alzheimer disease (AD) and dementia. The system monitors the patients at their homes during the performance of daily activities. Different types of sensors are used for monitoring the patients, while a graphical user interface a) enables the clinicians to access and visualize the results and b) supports the patients through specific interventions. The sensor data is semantically integrated and analyzed using knowledge-driven interpretation techniques based on Semantic Web technologies. Overall, this paper presents the system, a 3-month pilot study with one participant and positive preliminary results.

Intelligent User Interfaces to Support Diagnosis and Assessment of People with Dementia: An Expert Evaluation

This paper presents the main user/clinician interface and the mechanisms of a sensors-based system to support clinicians’ diagnosis for people suffering from Alzheimer disease and dementia. The system monitors the patient at a lab or a home environment when he/she tries to accomplish specific tasks or ordinary daily activities. The main goal of the system is to support both the clinical assessment and therapy. The system can be divided into two main parts: (a) the sensors, which monitor the patients and (b) the clinician user interface, which includes the main system operation as well as the results of the monitoring. The data between these two parts is transferred and interpreted by using knowledge-driven interpretation techniques based on Semantic Web technologies. In order to evaluate the interface satisfaction, the usefulness and the ease of use of the clinician interface both for the lab and home environments, an expert evaluation was conducted with 2 groups of professionally active psychologists with dementia expertise (14 psychologists for the lab and 10 for the home environment). The results of the questionnaire-based evaluation showed that the clinicians are quite positive about the use of the system as a supporting method to dementia assessment and therapy.