Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia. It is characterized by cognitive decline and progressive memory loss. The aim of this review was to update the state of knowledge on the pathophysiological mechanisms, diagnostic methods and therapeutic approach to AD. Currently, the amyloid cascade hypothesis remains the leading theory in the pathophysiology of AD. This hypothesis states that amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition triggers a chemical cascade of events leading to the development of AD dementia. The antemortem diagnosis of AD is still based on clinical parameters. Diagnostic procedures in AD include fluid-based biomarkers such as those present in cerebrospinal fluid and plasma or diagnostic imaging methods. Currently, the therapeutic armory available focuses on symptom control and is based on four pillars: pharmacological treatment where acetylcholinesterase inhibitors stand out; pharmacological treatment under investigation which includes drugs focused on the control of Aβ pathology and tau hyperphosphorylation; treatment focusing on risk factors such as diabetes; or nonpharmacological treatments aimed at preventing development of the disease or treating symptoms through occupational therapy or psychological help. AD remains a largely unknown disease. Further research is needed to identify new biomarkers and therapies that can prevent progression of the pathology.

22q11.2 deletion syndrome (DS 22q11.2) is a rare disease of genetic origin, caused by the loss of the q11.2 region of chromosome 22. It affects one in 4000 live newborns, and among the clinical manifestations that can occur in this syndrome are abnormalities in the parathyroid glands (producing calcium deficits), the palate, the heart and the thymus. It is also known as DiGeorge syndrome or velocardiofacial syndrome, among other names, depending on the clinical presentation of each individual. The main objective of the review was to update information on DS 22q11.2 from publications in the scientific literature. The daily activities of these patients are seriously impaired, due to the impact of the clinical manifestations. Interventions can be performed to improve their social, cognitive and emotional skills, thus increasing their ability to perform different daily activities.

Background: Physical exercise helps to maintain a healthy lifestyle and its practice is recommended for women during pregnancy as a means of limiting the negative effects on the body that may take place and to optimise well-being, mood and sleep patterns, as well as encouraging daily physical activity, enhancing the ability to work and preventing pregnancy-related complications. Aim: To analyse the quality of life in pregnancy for women who complete a programme of moderate physical activity in water, following a designed method that the woman can perform physical exercise safely during pregnancy called the SWEP (study of water exercise during pregnancy) method. Materials and methods: A randomised clinical trial was performed. One hundred and twenty-nine pregnant women were randomly assigned either to an exercise class following the SWEP method (EG, n = 65) or to a control group (CG, n = 64). The trial began in week 20 of pregnancy (May 2016) and ended in week 37 (October 2016). Heath-related quality of life (HRQoL) was evaluated with the SF36v2 health questionnaire at weeks 12 and 35 of pregnancy. Results: The HRQoL score decreased significantly between weeks 12 and 35 of gestation, except for the mental health component, which in the CG fell by −3.28 points and in the EG increased slightly (p > 0.05). Among the CG, the score for the mental health component at week 35 was ≤42, indicating a positive screening risk of depression (39.20 ± 4.16). Conclusions: Physical activity programmes in water, such as SWEP, enhance the HRQoL of pregnant women.

Cerebral palsy is described as a group of permanent neuromotor-type disorders caused by non-progressive injuries in the developmental stages of the central nervous system, and which have serious repercussions on the quality of life of affected children due to the physical and psychological damage it entails for them. Today, it is the leading cause of physical disability in childhood. Since there is no cure for this disorder, treatment is based on the improvement of symptoms, which is not always achieved through conventional therapies. For this reason, the need arises to investigate other alternative therapies, such as hippotherapy, to determine the main effects of hippotherapy as a rehabilitation therapy in children with cerebral palsy. The review was performed in accordance with the criteria of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol and was registered under the number CRD42021233003. The databases used were PubMed, Dialnet and the web browser Google Scholar. After applying the inclusion criteria, we included 11 articles. As a conclusion, we found that hippotherapy provides benefits at physical, psychological, cognitive and social levels in children with cerebral palsy, and thus it should be considered as a complementary rehabilitation therapy to conventional treatments.

Scientific knowledge on depression and anxiety in patients with rare diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic is scarce; however, it is essential to perform comprehensive management of these patients. The aim of this study was to research how the situation caused by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has influenced the lives of patients with rare diseases regarding depression and anxiety. This Spanish study considered a heterogeneous population sample of 86 patients with confirmed diagnosis of different rare diseases. Participants took part in a cross-sectional online study by completing specific questionnaires on the study topic. Depression was measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and the General Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) was used for evaluating anxiety. Data collection through an online questionnaire allowed for a greater population scope and therefore the inclusion patients of other nationalities in the study sample. Finally, as a general result, this study found that, in the face of the pandemic, anxiety and depression remained at a higher level in this group than in the general population, making these patients a vulnerable population group.

Background: Practicing physical exercise is a way of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and it has been demonstrated to provide benefits and improve quality of life after labour. Aim: The objective of this study is to determine if performing a moderate hypopressive exercise program after childbirth improves the HRQoL of women. Materials and Methods: A 12-week randomized clinical trial was carried out. The women in the exercise group followed a training program based on the hypopressive method, which comprises postural and respiratory exercises of moderate intensity. We used the SF-36v2 questionnaire to assess the Health-Related Quality of Life in women. Results: We found statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in general health components, vitality, emotional role, and mental health in the sample group of exercise group of women, who obtained a higher score. We found statistically significant differences in all aspects between the groups. The interaction between time and group affect in general health components, vitality, emotional role and the score of mental components. In all of them, the score was higher at the end of the programme and in the exercise group. Conclusions: The training program with hypopressive physical exercise improves the quality of life after childbirth. According to the guidelines recommended by the ACOG, the hypopressive method is valid for the improvement of HRQoL in women who perform this method at 16 weeks of delivery. Further studies are recommended to start such exercises one week after delivery in postpartum women.