Background: Detecting impaired naming capacity is valuable in diagnosing neurocognitive disorders (ND). A. clinical practice- oriented overview of naming tests validated in ND is not available yet. Here, features of naming tests with validated utility in ND which are open access or available for purchase are succinctly presented and compared. Methods: Searches were carried out across Pubmed, Medline and Google Scholar. Additional studies were identified by searching reference lists. Only peer-reviewed journal articles were eligible. A narrative- and tabullar synthesis was used to summarize different aspects of the naming assessment instruments used in patients with ND such as stimuli type, administration time, assessment parameters and accessibility. Based on computational word frequency calculations, the tests were compared in terms of the average frequency of their linguistic content. Results: Twelve naming tests, relying either on visual or auditory stimuli have been validated in ND. Their content and administration time vary between three and 60 items and one and 20 minutes, respectively. The average frequency of the words of each considered test was two or lower, pointing to low frequency of most items. In all but one test, scoring systems are exclusively based on correctly named items. Seven instruments are open access and four are available in more than one language. Conclusions: Gaining insights into naming tests’ characteristics may catalyze the wide incorporation of those with short administration time but high diagnostic accuracy into the diagnostic workup of ND at primary healthcare and of extensive, visual or auditory ones into the diagnostic endeavors of memory clinics, as well as of secondary and tertiary brain healthcare settings.

Background: Depressive symptoms and cognitive decline are common in older adults. The aims of this study were (i) to assess the frequency of depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment in users of municipal home care services and (ii) to explore factors that may pertain to seeking in-depth neuropsychiatric diagnostic workup, if recommended. Methods: The study was mainly conducted in low-resource areas of south-western Greece. The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Clock Drawing Test (CDT) were employed. The study included the tracking of whether participants sought medical consultation within 12 months after receiving the recommendation for further neuropsychiatric diagnostic workup. Results: The study encompassed 406 individuals. Cognitive deficits were detected in 312 (76.84%) study participants, of whom only 82 (26.28%) had received the diagnosis of a mental or neurological disorder. Depressive symptoms were detected in 236 (58.27%) individuals, of whom only 18 (4%) had received the diagnosis of a mental or neurological disorder. Only just over a third of individuals consulted physicians. Reluctance towards in-depth neuropsychiatric workup mainly derived from a lack of insight and fears related to COVID-19. Previously diagnosed neuropsychiatric disorders slightly correlated with the decision to consult a physician. Conclusions: Developing pragmatic cognitive and mental healthcare services to address the needs of older people with disabling chronic disorders who live in low-resource settings is urgently needed.

This chapter presents a comprehensive situational analysis of global dementia risk, focusing on the distribution of 14 modifiable risk factors across countries by geographical subregions and income levels. Drawing from the Lancet Commission on dementia prevention, intervention, and care, this analysis assigns weights to factors such as education, hearing loss, depression, physical inactivity, diabetes, traumatic brain injury, hypertension, obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, air pollution, and social isolation based on their contributions to dementia risk. Utilizing data from 196 countries, normalized through Min–Max normalization for comparability and weighted according to the Lancet Commission’s guidelines, the study calculates adjusted dementia risk scores. To address missing data, four methods – bypassing missing values, mean, minimum, and maximum imputation – were employed, with their impact on risk scores analysed to ensure robustness. The study’s findings reveal differences in risk scores by geographical subregions and income levels, offering insights into the relationship between dementia risk factors and socio-economic variables. This analysis aims to inform targeted public health strategies for dementia prevention and care, highlighting the need for a balanced approach in handling missing data to accurately assess global dementia risk. <!----> <!----> <!----> <!---->

Background: Depressive symptoms embody a risk factor for developing age‐related cognitive impairment, while they belong to the most common non‐cognitive symptoms of dementia. The conundrum of the prevalence of depressive symptoms in older adults in the Mediterranean region, but also worldwide is vividly reflected in reported prevalence rates ranging from 7.7% in a study from Malaysia and Australia to 81.1% in India. The present study aimed to shed light on the prevalence of mild, moderate and severe depressive symptoms in the entire spectrum of cognitive aging based on a cohort of randomly selected older adults from municipal rosters of two locations in Attica and central Greece.Methods: Based on a thorough neurological and neuropsychological assessment, the diagnoses of mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s dementia (AD) or dementia caused by other diseases (non‐AD) were established in participants of the Hellenic Epidemiological Longitudinal Investigation of Aging and Diet (HELIAD). The presence of depressive symptoms was tapped with the 15‐item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Scores between 0‐4 point to the absence of depression, while scores between 5‐8, 9‐11, 12‐15 are compatible with mild, moderate and severe depressive symptoms, respectively. Statistical analyses were based on Pearson’s Chi‐squared test and pairwise proportions tests.Results: The prevalence of depressive symptoms in the total sample (n = 1937 participants; mean age 73,84 SD: 5,427, females: 1148) was 19.5% (mild 13.1%, moderate 3.8%, severe 2.5%). The prevalence of depressive symptoms in older adults without cognitive impairment was 18%, in patients with MCI 27%, in AD 25% and in non‐AD 23.5%. The differences in the distribution of depressive symptoms of different severity across the four groups reached statistical significance (chi‐squared = 28.957, df = 9, p‐value<0.001). The prevalence of moderate to severe depressive symptoms reached its maximum in AD (11.3%) and its lowest in people without cognitive impairment (5.4%).Conclusions: Almost one out of five older adults suffered from depressive symptoms, with the prevalence and severity increasing significantly in cases of cognitively impaired individuals. These observations highlight the urgent need for raising awareness regarding the presence of depressive symptoms in older adults and improving primary, secondary and tertiary preventive strategies.

Introduction: Brain health is a multidimensional construct encompassing cognitive, mental, motor, and sensory functioning, influenced by multiple determinants across the lifespan. Evidence of children’s perceptions of brain health remain limited, particularly in the Greek context. Objective(s): This study aimed to explore primary school students’ knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions regarding brain health and its determinants. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 346 fifth-grade students from 22 public primary schools in Patras, Greece. Data were collected using a Greek-translated and age-adapted version of the Global Brain Health Questionnaire (GBHSQ-C). Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha, while group comparisons were conducted using Mann–Whitney and Independent Median tests (p < 0.05). Results: Most participants (96.2%) reported general knowledge about the brain, and 21.4% indicated having a family member with a brain disease. The scale assessing determinants of brain health demonstrated acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.693); education and sleeping habits were rated as the most influential factors, whereas smoking was considered the least. Childhood and adolescence were perceived as the most critical stages for maintaining brain health (Cronbach’s α = 0.680). Knowledge of brain diseases was limited and demonstrated poor internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.580). No significant differences were observed across most demographic variables (all p > 0.05); however, family status was significantly associated with knowledge of brain diseases (p = 0.044), with differences identified between one-parent and separated-parent families (p = 0.041). Discussion: These findings highlight critical gaps in foundational brain health literacy among primary school students. Enhancing awareness of modifiable determinants of brain health may promote lifelong healthy behaviors and improve brain health outcomes across the lifespan.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a leading cause of cognitive decline, and the recent European approval of disease‐modifying therapies (DMTs) like Donanemab and Lecanemab offers new hope for slowing its progression. However, healthcare systems across Europe, including Ireland, are unprepared for their real‐world implementation. Challenges include equitable access, infrastructure readiness, and treatment logistics. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of implementing DMTs across public and private healthcare sectors in Ireland, positioning it as a stepping stone toward broader European readiness. Method: This multi‐center observational feasibility study will assess DMT implementation readiness across Irish centers (Dublin, Waterford, Cork, Galway). The study employs patient journey mapping using retrospective and hypothetical data, alongside evaluations of key process measures, including referral timelines, biomarker verification, infusion readiness, and follow‐up protocols. Graph‐theory modeling will visualize patient pathways and highlight system inefficiencies. Results: The study is expected to reveal disparities in DMT access, logistical bottlenecks, and enablers for scalable implementation. Graph‐based modeling will provide actionable insights to optimize patient pathways and healthcare delivery frameworks. Stakeholder feedback will inform patient‐centered approaches and address equity challenges. Conclusion: This feasibility study addresses the critical need for preparedness in integrating DMTs for AD, which were recently approved in Europe but remain underutilized due to systemic barriers. By generating actionable insights and laying the groundwork for national guidelines, this project not only advances Ireland's readiness but also serves as a model for other European countries seeking to adopt transformative therapies for Alzheimer's disease.