Objective. Cognitive impairment reduces quality of life and is related to vascular and neurodegenerative disorders. However, there is also a close relationship between these diseases and oxidative stress. Thus, the purpose of this study was to assess whether inflammation and oxidative damage are associated with low cognitive performance in the elderly with different housing conditions. Methods. The study groups consisted of 32 institutionalized and 25 noninstitutionalized Brazilian elderly subjects. Oxidative damage, inflammation markers, and cognitive function were evaluated. Results. The results demonstrated pronounced oxidative stress in the institutionalized elderly group, which also had a lower antioxidant status compared to noninstitutionalized subjects. High levels of proinflammatory cytokines were also observed in the institutionalized elderly. Furthermore, the raised levels of inflammatory markers were correlated with increased oxidative stress, and both were associated with low cognitive performance. However, based on multiple linear regression analysis, oxidative stress appears to be the main factor responsible for the cognitive decline. Conclusions. The findings suggest that individuals with lower antioxidant status are more vulnerable to oxidative stress, which is associated with cognitive function, leading to reduced life quality and expectancy.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), especially the n-3 series, are known for their protective effects. Considering that cardiovascular diseases are risk factors for dementia, which is common at aging, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether fatty acid status in the elderly was associated with cognitive function and cardiovascular risk. Forty-five elderly persons (age ≥60 years) were included and divided into two groups based on their Mini-Mental Status Examination score adjusted for educational level: the case group (n = 12) and the control group (n = 33). Serum fatty acid composition, homocysteine (Hcy), hs-CRP, lipid profile and different cognitive domains were evaluated. The case group, characterized by reduced cognitive performance, showed higher levels of 14:0, 16:0, 16:1n-7 fatty acids and lower levels of 22:0, 24:1n-9, 22:6n-3 (DHA) and total PUFAs compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The n-6/n-3 ratio was elevated in both study groups, whereas alterations in Hcy, hs-CRP and lipid profile were observed in the case group. Cognitive function was positively associated with the 24:1n-9, DHA and total n-3 PUFAs, while 14:0, 16:0 and 16:1n-7 fatty acids, the n-6/n-3 ratio and Hcy were inversely associated. In addition, n-3 PUFAs, particularly DHA, were inversely associated with cardiovascular risk, assessed by Hcy levels in the elderly.

Suggested citation: Bordignon S, Aparício MJ, Bertoletti J, Trentini CM. Personality characteristics and bariatric surgery outcomes: a systematic review. Trends Psychiatry Psychother. 2017;39(2):124-134. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/2237-6089-2016 Abstract Introduction: Numerous studies have focused on psychological assessment of bariatric surgery candidates, aiming to identify which psychological variables, including personality characteristics, are related to successful surgical prognosis. Objective: To analyze, by means of a systematic literature review, longitudinal studies that investigated personality traits and disorders as possible predictors of outcomes in bariatric surgery. Method: PsycInfo, PubMed, and Scopus databases were searched for studies published between 2005 and 2015, using the keywords "bariatric" AND "personality." Quantitative longitudinal studies in English, Portuguese, or Spanish were selected for review if they assessed personality as an outcome predictor of BS in people aged 18 years or older. Results: Sixteen articles were analyzed. The results of this review suggest that externalizing dysfunctions might be associated with less weight reduction, while internalizing dysfunctions appear to be associated with somatic concerns and psychological distress. The persistence dimension (of temperament in Cloninger's model) was positively associated with greater weight loss, while neuroticism (Five Factor Model) and the occurrence of personality disorders were not predictive of weight loss. Furthermore, the results indicate a tendency towards a reduction in personality disorders and neuroticism scores, and an increase in extroversion scores, after BS. Conclusions: Assessment of personality characteristics, whether to identify their predictive power or to detect changes during the BS process, is important since it can provide grounds for estimating surgical prognosis and for development of interventions targeting this population.

The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature to investigate the presence or absence of impairment and mnemonic skills in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS) and Web of Science databases were searched using the following search terms (keywords) between 2003 and 2013: (asd OR asperger OR autism OR pervasive developmental disorders OR pdd) AND (child* OR adol*) AND memory. The results showed that children and adolescents with ASD have impairments in autobiographical memory, memory for faces, and prospective and associative memory for names and people. The ASD and control groups did not differ in recognition. Performance in verbal and visuospatial working memory, verbal and implicit learning, visual memory, narrative memory, and metamemory was not consistent. Better performance was found in children and adolescents with ASD in associative memory of animals and sounds. Although delineating a profile of memory for ASD was not possible, the articles reviewed herein suggest some common deficits in this population.

Aging is often accompanied by cognitive impairments and influenced by oxidative status and chemical imbalances. Thus, this study was conducted to examine whether age-related cognitive deficit is associated with oxidative damage, especially with inhibition of the enzyme delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase (ALA-D), as well as to verify the influence of some metals in the enzyme activity and cognitive performance. Blood ALA-D activity, essential (Fe, Zn, Cu, Se) and non-essential metals (Pb, Cd, Hg, As, Cr, Ni, V) were measured in 50 elderly and 20 healthy young subjects. Cognitive function was assessed by tests from Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease (CERAD) battery and other. The elderly group presented decreased ALA-D activity compared to the young group. The index of ALA-D reactivation was similar to both study groups, but negatively associated with metals. The mean levels of essential metals were within the reference values, while the most toxic metals were above them in both groups. Cognitive function impairments were observed in elderly group and were associated with decreased ALA-D activity, with lower levels of Se and higher levels of toxic metals (Hg and V). Results suggest that the reduced ALA-D activity in elderly can be an additional factor involved in cognitive decline, since its inhibition throughout life could lead to accumulation of the neurotoxic compound ALA. Toxic metals were found to contribute to cognitive decline and also to influence ALA-D reactivation.

ResumoO desenvolvimento de normas para categorias semânticas é necessário para a compreensão do modo como os indivíduos organizam o conhecimento na memória e para a construção de instrumentos de avaliação cognitiva. O objetivo do presente estudo é fornecer normas associativas de 20 categorias semânticas para adultos e idosos brasileiros. Participaram do estudo 236 pessoas, entre 40 e 88 anos, das cinco regiões brasileiras. Os participantes responderam a um questionário de dados sociodemográficos e a um questionário de itens para categorias semânticas, e foram solicitados a produzir os cinco primeiros exemplares de cada categoria apresentada. Os resultados foram agrupados e são apresentadas as normas das categorias (exemplares, tamanho da categoria, respostas corretas, em branco e erros), bem como as respostas de cada categoria que foram comuns a todas as regiões brasileiras. Palavras-chave: semântica; normas; associação; adulto; idoso. Semantic association norms for 20 categories in adults and elderly AbstractThe development of semantic category norms is necessary to assist in the understanding of how individuals organize knowledge in memory, and to the creation of cognitive assessment instruments. The aim of this study is to provide associative norms of 20 semantic categories for Brazilian adults and elderly. The study included 236 participants from 40 to 88 years of age from the five Brazilian regions. They answered a socio-demographic questionnaire and a semantic category questionnaire, in which they were asked to produce the first five items of each category. Results are presented in category norms (items, category set size, correct responses, no responses and errors), as well as the responses that were common to all Brazilian regions belonging to each category.

ResumoO procedimento de Recordação Seletiva Livre e com Pistas (RSLP) é um importante método para avaliação da memória e da aprendizagem. O objetivo do estudo foi explorar a estrutura fatorial e verifi car a aprendizagem através dos ensaios de um instrumento que utiliza este procedimento. Para isso, foram analisadas retrospectivamente as respostas de 83 idosos em uma tarefa que utiliza esse procedimento. Observou-se uma curva ascendente entre os ensaios na evocação livre, e que não há melhora signifi cativa do desempenho após o segundo ensaio no total recordado (evocação livre mais evocação guiada por pistas). A estrutura fatorial observada foi de três fatores, sendo que os Fatores 1 e 2 sustentaram uma divisão entre escores de recuperação e de armazenamento da memória.O terceiro fator sugeriu a presença de um armazenamento temporário de informação. Tem-se como hipótese que o Fator 3 esteja relacionado ao buffer episódico da memória operacional. Esses resultados auxiliam na compreensão da RSLP e fornecem subsídios para o desenvolvimento de um novo teste de memória (Teste MAPS). Palavras-chave:Memória, aprendizagem, recordação seletiva livre e com pistas, Teste de Buschke, Neuropsicologia. Memory and Learning in a Free and Cued SelectiveReminding Procedure AbstractThe objective of the study was to verify, in an exploratory way, the factor structure and differences between each trial on instruments that use the procedure Free and Cued Selective Reminding (FCSR). The responses of 83 elderly people to FCSR were retrospectively analyzed. The results suggest that there is an ascending curve between almost all trials in a free recall and no signifi cant differences after second trial in a total remembered. In addition, a three factor solution was observed. Factors 1 and 2 suggest maintaining a division between recovery and storage scores, while the presence of factor 3 suggests the presence of a score that asses a temporary storage of information. There is a hypothesis that factor 3 was related with episodic buffer in working memory. These results serve to better understanding the FCSR and used to develop a new memory test (MAPS Test).

RESUMO -Os pesquisadores têm à sua disposição uma variedade de métodos que auxiliam a compreensão dos processos de memória e aprendizagem. O presente artigo tem como objetivo revisitar o procedimento de recordação seletiva, apresentando suas características e variações, e realizar um levantamento de estudos brasileiros que fizeram uso do mesmo. São apresentadas as diferenças entre a recordação seletiva e o procedimento padrão em tarefas de aprendizagem por recordação livre. Constatouse que, no Brasil, além de diferentes tarefas, são utilizadas formas de aplicações distintas do procedimento. A utilização da recordação seletiva apresenta relevância no estudo da memória e da aprendizagem, em especial na busca pela diferenciação entre as dificuldades normais de memórias e os déficits patológicos dessa função cognitiva.Palavras-chave: selective reminding, recordação seletiva, FCRT, aprendizagem, memória Assessing Memory and Learning Using the Selective Reminding Procedure: A Survey of Brazilian StudiesABSTRAcT -Researchers have a wide variety of methods that help to understand the processes of memory and learning. This paper aims to revisit the selective reminding procedure by presenting its characteristics and variations, and carry out a survey of Brazilian studies that made use of it. Differences are presented between the selective reminding procedure and the standard procedure in the use of free recall learning tests. The study showed that, in Brazil, the selective reminding procedure uses, not only different tasks, but also different application methods. The use of selective reminding is relevant to the study of memory and learning, especially to differentiate normal memory difficulties from pathological deficits in this cognitive function.