Introduction: With increasing life expectancy and the rising incidence of stroke in young adults, it is important to know the long-term prognosis of this condition. Post-stroke delirium and post-stroke dementia are common complications of stroke that negatively affect prognosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate five-year mortality from stroke and to assess the influence of post-stroke delirium and post-stroke dementia on mortality and disability over the five-year period. Methods: Consecutive patients admitted to the stroke unit for acute stroke or transient ischemic attacks were screened for in-hospital delirium. At the three- and twelve-month follow-up, the same patients underwent neurocognitive testing. Diagnoses of in-hospital delirium and dementia after three and twelve months based on DSM-5 criteria. Five years after stroke surviving patients were reevaluated. Outcome assessment included place of stay, current functional status assessed by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS), or death. Results: At the five-years of follow-up, data were collected from 575 of 750 patients originally included in the study (76.67%). The mortality rate was 51.65%. In-hospital post-stroke delirium and post-stroke dementia diagnosed three and twelve months after stroke were independent risk factors for death and an increase in mRS score of ≥ 1 or ≥ 2 points. There was no significant association with institutionalization rate. Conclusions: More than half of post-stroke patients die within five years of follow-up. Post-stroke delirium and post-stroke dementia are associated with an increased risk of death and disability.

The article presents selected approaches to cognitive training for people with Alzheimer’s disease. Based on research findings, the combination of training and pharmacological treatment may delay the disease processes in dementia, ensuring that both patients and their caregivers enjoy longer lives and improved well-being. The Montessori Senior Method, recently gaining popularity in Poland, focuses on developing independence through adapted interactions, which can be particularly effective for elderly people. Instrumental Enrichment, on the other hand, uses learning mediation and prioritizes the creation of coping strategies that may be helpful in maintaining cognitive functions. Occupational therapy focuses on improving daily activities, which can be important for the quality of life of patients and their caregivers. This type of impact is usually holistic, encompassing both the patient and the caregiver. Errorless Learning and reality orientation training are other techniques that can be effective in maintaining cognitive functions, with easy adaptability to patients’ difficulties. These techniques allow working on a specific skill that is important to the patient. Computerised training and the use of virtual reality (Virtual Reality and Immersive Virtual Reality) also bring positive effects in terms of improving cognitive, sensory, motor, and emotional functions, but the costs and availability of equipment may pose a challenge for families, caregivers, and care facilities. A variety of training approaches may benefit patients with Alzheimer’s disease, both in terms of improvement of cognitive function and quality of life. It is important to continue research on the effectiveness of these methods and adapt them to the individual needs of patients.

Background/Objectives: Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and oxidative stress increase with aging and are implicated in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We developed an anti-glycation blend using LC-MS-based screening and assessed its effects on oxidative and glycation-related biomarkers in humans. Methods: Twelve candidate compounds were screened in a BSA–glucose model using LC-MS peptide mapping to quantify lysine glycation and rank inhibitory activity. The top candidates were combined into a three-compound blend (quercetin, rutin, genistein). In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 3-month trial, older healthy adults (n = 30) and individuals with AD (n = 30) received anti-AGE blend (n = 15 in older group and n = 15 in AD group) or placebo (n = 15 in older group and n = 15 in AD group). Serum malondialdehyde and urinary Nε-(carboxymethyl)lysine were measured pre–post intervention. Pre/post and between-arm comparisons within each population were performed using REML ANOVA with Tukey post hoc tests. Serum MDA (malondialdehyde) and urinary CML (Nε-(carboxymethyl)lysine) were prespecified biomarker outcomes and are reported here as co-primary biomarker endpoints. No formal a priori sample size calculation was performed; the study size was feasibility-based. Results: LC-MS screening identified genistein, quercetin, and rutin as the most consistent inhibitors of glucose-driven BSA glycation. In older healthy adults, serum MDA decreased after anti-AGE supplementation (p < 0.001) and differed from the placebo (p < 0.01), while no change was observed within the placebo group (ns). In the AD cohort, MDA did not change significantly from baseline within either arm (ns), but post-intervention MDA was lower in anti-AGE than in the placebo (p < 0.05). Urinary CML was unchanged in older healthy adults (ns in both arms), whereas in AD, it decreased after anti-AGE supplementation (p < 0.01) and differed from the placebo (p < 0.05). Conclusions: A screening-guided anti-glycation blend supplementation was associated with changes in selected biomarkers in humans: MDA decreased across cohorts, while CML decreased selectively in AD. Larger trials with extended biomarker panels and LC–MS/MS confirmation are warranted.

High school graduates usually suffer from stress one month before the final exams. The research’s aim was to compare the depression and burnout symptoms measured in April 2019 (before the pandemic) and in April 2020 (during the pandemic) in the Polish high school students. The results showed that the COVID-19 pandemic affected adolescent girls more than boys, leading to higher rates of depression, student burnout, and imbalanced time perspective. Females perceived lower family acceptance than boys. Males were less depressed and more burned out during the pandemic than before, while girls not only were more burned out but were also more depressed, were imbalanced in their time perspective, and perceived lower family acceptance during the COVID-19 pandemic than before the outbreak.

Introduction: For many students worldwide, school achievements and final exams results are a significant challenge and are understood as determinates of their future college and university education, as well as their professional career. The COVID-19 pandemic not only forced schools to close and a ban on gatherings, but also introduced many new solutions and measures regarding the conduct of final exams, for which students had been preparing for years. In Poland, the government shut schools in 2020, two months before the usual time for final exams. This significant factor required modification in the manner and course of the final stage of preparation for the ‘maturity’ exam, which resulted in limited contact with teachers and peers, leading to intense emotions and personal challenges. Method: The study aim was to point out the specific COVID-19 stress experience of high school students who were on the verge of graduating. 120 high school students from South Poland [40 men (33%) and 80 women (66%), aged 18-19 years], who were preparing for the final high school exam in Poland in 2020, participated in the online survey. Phenomenological content analysis of the structured open-ended questionnaire was used. Results: It was found that the subjective experiences of students were mostly negative to Covid-19 restrictions and remote learning, expressed not only as negative emotions to the new, surprising, and hence fearful situation, but also as negative attitude s towards routine changes. The strong need to develop new adaptation mechanisms necessary to cope with the isolating circumstances was also explored. Conclussions: The study provides new supplements on mental health prevention (not only during pandemic) in students who were on the verge of graduating.

Background: The type and effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions varies, and there is a great need to develop structured interventions that can be replicated. Objective: This pilot study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured cognitive intervention. Methods: Six participants with a diagnosis of late-onset Alzheimer's disease were recruited, cognitively screened and underwent twelve weeks of paper-pencil based cognitive or computer-based training. Results: Participant's cognitive functioning improved immediately after the intervention and remained better even after another three months without targeted intervention. Conclusions: Preliminary observations indicating a positive effect are encouraging, but require confirmation on a larger number of subjects.