Ignacio Brusco

Prof. Dr. Ignacio Brusco


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

12Years (2015-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

View All Publications

1 October 2015 in Neurobiology of Aging
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
CMCarolina Muchnik
Carolina Muchnik
NONatividad Olivar
Natividad Olivar
MDMaría Carolina Dalmasso
María Carolina Dalmasso
PAPablo Javier Azurmendi
Pablo Javier Azurmendi
CLCynthia Liberczuk
Cynthia Liberczuk
IBIgnacio Brusco
Ignacio Brusco

19 June 2025 in JMIR Formative Research
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
Ana L. Vilela-EstradaAna L. Vilela-Estrada
Ana L. Vilela-Estrada
David Villarreal-ZegarraDavid Villarreal-Zegarra
David Villarreal-Zegarra
NMNikol Mayo-Puchoc
Nikol Mayo-Puchoc
NHNicola Holt
Nicola Holt
ÁFÁngela Flórez-Varela
Ángela Flórez-Varela
FDFrancisco Diez-Canseco
Francisco Diez-Canseco
Background: Experience sampling methods (ESMs) have been used in clinical research to collect data on emotional and behavioral states in real-life contexts among different populations. Although the use of ESMs in mental health has increased, it has not been applied to larger samples of young people in disadvantaged urban settings. Objective: This study aimed to determine the extent to which mood status scores (happiness and nervousness) vary during a week, as a function of having or not having symptoms of depression or anxiety, in a sample of adolescents and young adults in the cities of Buenos Aires, Bogotá, and Lima. A secondary objective was to identify factors associated with mood scores, including sociodemographics, quality of life, and daily activities. Methods: This study was part of the Building Resilience and Resources to Reduce Mental Distress in Young People in Latin America research program, which focuses on mental health resources for young people. Participants (n=143) aged 15‐24 years completed daily ESM assessments over a week using the mobile app, resulting in 5246 reports. Data were analyzed using descriptive analyses with 2-tailed t tests and c hi-square tests, and multilevel linear regression was used to examine associations between depressive or anxiety symptoms, mood variability, and factors influencing mean mood. Finally, Spearman correlation assessed the relationship between happiness and nervousness. Results: The analysis revealed that depressive or anxiety symptoms were not significantly associated with increased variability in mood scores (happiness P=.40 and nervousness P=.84). However, males exhibited greater variability in happiness and nervousness scores (P<.001) than females. Additionally, young people showed higher variability in nervousness than adolescents (P=.02). Regarding average happiness scores, young adults reported higher average happiness than adolescents (β=.604; P=.003). Engaging in structured activities (eg, sports, music lessons, and dance classes) was associated with increased happiness (β=.266; P=.01). In contrast, instrumental activities (eg, cleaning, shopping, meal preparation, or taking medication; β=−.144; P=.02) and work-related tasks (β=−.205; P=.01) were linked to lower happiness and higher nervousness (β=.387; P<.001). Quality of life was positively correlated with happiness (β=.486; P<.001) and negatively correlated with nervousness (β=−.273; P=.005). Finally, as for average scores, a strong negative correlation was found between happiness and nervousness (rs=−0.92; P<.001). The simple multilevel analysis showed that for each point of happiness, nervousness decreased by 0.45 points (95% CI −0.48 to −0.42; t3=−41.7; P<.001; SE 0.01). Conclusions: Our study reveals that depressive and anxiety symptoms do not significantly affect the variability in predicted happiness and nervousness scores. However, we observed that demographic factors, such as gender and age, play a role in emotional variability.

2 April 2019 in Journal of Neurology & Stroke
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MSMarcos C Fernández Suarez
Marcos C Fernández Suarez
IBIgnacio Brusco
Ignacio Brusco
CDCarolina Damasso
Carolina Damasso
NONatividad Olivar
Natividad Olivar
LMLaura Morelli
Laura Morelli
GRGriselda Russo
Griselda Russo
1.1. Aim: To report the case of a patient who suffered from cerebral amyloid angiopathy due to an autosomal dominant mutation in the APP gene 1.2. Design/Methods: Medical record and neuroimaging revision. DNA extraction from the saliva sample. Sanger sequencing of the coding regions of the following: APP (NCBI RefSeq NM_000484.3), PSEN1 (NCBI RefSeq NM_000021.3) y PSEN2 (NCBI RefSeq NM_000447.2) 1.3. Clinical case:A male patient of 71-year-old with a past medical history of recurrent lobar hemorrhagic strokes leading to major cognitive decline since the age of 65, prominent cerebral microangiopathy was present and worsened progressively. Patient´s mother had presenile Alzheimer`s disease. The patient developed partial non-convulsive status epilepticus, no evidence of new strokes (ischemic or hemorrhagic) was found. Two weeks after seizures a new MRI unveiled right frontal meningeal enhancement. Lumbar puncture and cultures were normal. Inflammatory amyloid angiopathy was suspected. A course of IV methylprednisolone was administered followed by oral steroids with a slight improvement. The patient died four months after due to clinical complications. Post-mortem analysis confirmed a heterozygous mutation: c.2137G>A; p.Arg713Thr at exon 17 of the APP gene. Conclusion: The A713T mutation has been reported by groups of European researchers (British, Spanish and Italian) with variable phenotypes. This would be the first case detected in Argentina to our knowledge. It is notable the main manifestation in our case was the presence of recurrent hemorrhagic stroke, however, the antecedent of a pre-senile AD in a first-degree relative suggested the presence of genetic etiology. This mutation may be underdiagnosed. It would be advisable that a complete genogram must be performed in patients with cerebral amyloid angiopathy. The detection of these cases has implications for genetic counselling

17 April 2025 in Research Involvement and Engagement
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
LHLiliana Hidalgo-Padilla
Liliana Hidalgo-Padilla
DRDaniela Ramirez-Meneses
Daniela Ramirez-Meneses
KAKaren Ariza-Salazar
Karen Ariza-Salazar
SLSantiago Cesar Lucchetti
Santiago Cesar Lucchetti
NONatividad Olivar
Natividad Olivar
FDFrancisco Diez-Canseco
Francisco Diez-Canseco
Background: Involving people with lived experience in research has been increasingly recognised as a priority. This article details the development and implementation of three Lived Experience Advisory Panels (LEAP) and reports their evaluation of the experience. The LEAPs involved young people from Latin America with experiences of emotional distress, aimed at advising a youth mental health research programme. Methods: Online meetings were conducted within each LEAP in Bogotá, Lima and Buenos Aires to gather feedback at different stages of the programme. Additional activities included a Joint LEAP meeting and a focus group to explore the members’ experiences of LEAP participation. Results: During the LEAP meetings, 25 members (Bogotá n = 9, Lima n = 10, Buenos Aires n = 6) provided feedback on study data collection tools and materials, recruitment and dissemination strategies, and discussed preliminary results, which were significant in shaping study materials and processes. They valued the comfort and connection with researchers and peers during discussions about mental health topics, as well as the opportunity to inform a large-scale project with their lived experiences. However, challenges in the recruitment and engagement led to fluctuating participation, while socioeconomic and cultural barriers may have influenced access. Conclusions: The implementation of the LEAPs is an example of involving young Latin Americans with experiences of emotional distress in research. Future efforts should focus on overcoming structural limitations and fostering equitable collaboration, emphasising the need for youth perspectives in mental health research, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

20 February 2025 in Discover Mental Health
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
IJIsabela Osorio Jaramillo
Isabela Osorio Jaramillo
CGCarlos Gomez-Restrepo
Carlos Gomez-Restrepo
IBIgnacio Brusco
Ignacio Brusco
FDFrancisco Diez-Canseco
Francisco Diez-Canseco
CFCatherine Fung
Catherine Fung
SPStefan Priebe
Stefan Priebe
Background: Many young people achieve recovery from mental health problems by using strategies to manage emotional distress and enhance well-being. Given that little is known about the functions of these strategies, especially in Latin American countries, this study aims to describe the usefulness of the resources used by youth from deprived urban neighborhoods in Bogotá (Colombia), Buenos Aires (Argentina), and Lima (Perú) in managing emotional distress. Methods: 112 in-depth interviews about strategies for dealing with emotional distress and their perceived function were conducted with young people from three Latin American cities. The sample included young adults and adolescents in a longitudinal cohort study. A thematic content analysis was carried out. Results: Participants identify different functions linked to their strategies to cope with emotional distress or increase their well-being. However, "coping with distress," "perceived support," and "distraction" are the three main functions of the strategies used by them in situations of emotional distress. Each of these functions comprises several aspects, some of which overlap between functions, such as motivation, emotional expression, companionship, and regulation. Conclusion: The variety of functions linked to the strategies used by young people to cope with emotional distress or enhance their well-being could guide the facilitation of a favorable social and interpersonal context through public policies and a community approach that promotes young people's access to strategies to cope with emotional distress.