Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) develops in response to a traumatic experience, whether real or threatening, which produces emotions of intense fear and memory problems, significantly damaging the quality of life of those who manifest it. In recent years, anatomical-functional changes in the amygdala-hippocampus-prefrontal cortex circuit have begun to be studied as a key factor in the prevention, vulnerability, and treatment of PTSD, with neuroplasticity being one of the factors of greatest interest. Therefore, this review will address the latest published data regarding PTSD and neuroplasticity.
Data from preclinical and clinical models support that a traumatic experience modifies both synaptic plasticity through electrophysiological and chemical variables, as well as myelin plasticity which enables short and long-distance connections. This remodelling of circuitry is crucial for the development of PTSD. However, it is also closely associated with prevention and positive treatment outcomes. Variables such as social support or the use of psychotherapy following a traumatic experience are linked to a good prognosis.
Therefore, there is an interesting connection between neuroplasticity and PTSD, although many questions remain open today, along with promising lines of prevention and intervention, including psychedelic substances.
As Parkinson’s disease progresses, symptoms develop that make it more difficult to control, either because of the presence of fluctuations despite adequate oral treatment, or because of the adverse effects caused by the continued use of levodopa, considered the gold standard. At this point in the course of the disease, there are different therapeutic alternatives that provide more continuous dopaminergic stimulation and help to improve this symptomatology: deep brain stimulation (Medtronic®: Percept™ Primary Cell (PC), Percept™ ReChargable (RC)), intestinal gel Levodopa/Carbidopa (Duodopa®) o Levodopa/Carbidopa/Entacapona (Lecigon®), as well as subcutaneous infusion of foslevodopa/foscarbidopa (Foslevodopa®) and continuous infusion of apomorphine (Dacepton®, Apo-Go®).
Pharmacoeconomic study of the different therapies for treating advanced Parkinson’s disease in Spain.
Based on a Markov model, the efficacy and costs of these therapies were compared, measuring life years gained (LYG) and quality-adjusted life years (QALY).
Dacepton® (apomorphine) is the most cost-effective option with a cost of 20,782€/QALY (1€ = 1.0815 USD, 2025), compared to three times or more for the other therapies with Lecigon® (levodopa/carbidopa/entacapone) being the least cost-effective with a cost of 104,000€/QALY. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) and Duodopa® also proved to be effective options, but more costly than Dacepton®.
These results provide additional information on the efficiency of treatments that should inform decision-making in the management of advanced Parkinson’s disease, thus enabling better resource management.
Dementia is a major global health challenge, with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) being the most common cause.In China, due to its large and aging population, AD poses a significant threat. Although systematic reviews on the prevalence of dementia in the Chinese population exist, relatively few have specifically targeted AD. This study aimed to analyze the prevalence of AD among the population aged 60 years and older in China from 2014 to 2024.
A literature search on the prevalence of AD in China was conducted. A meta-analysis was performed using Stata version 16.0. The I2 was used to assess heterogeneity. The random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled effect size. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on different characteristics. Meta-regression was used to explore the sources of heterogeneity and identify the factors that significantly affect the effect size. Funnel plots and Egger’s test were utilized to evaluate publication bias.
A total of 23 studies were included, with a total sample size of 307,415, including 13,662 patients with AD. The results of the meta-analysis showed that the prevalence of AD among the elderly Chinese population was 5.4% (95% CI: 4.7%–6.2%). The results of the meta-regression indicated that factors such as female sex, advanced age, low educational level, rural residence, and geographical region are the main factors influencing the prevalence of AD.
In the past decade, the prevalence of AD among people over 60 years of age in China was approximately 5.4%, which is a major public health problem for China.
Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), may present with behavioral disturbances, difficulties dealing with change, restricted interests and/or sensory disturbances. Among their characteristic behaviors are self-injurious behaviors that tend to be compulsive, unplanned, rhythmic and repetitive. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between self-injurious behaviors in hospitalized adolescents with ASD, depression and anxiety.
The sample included 50 patients with ASD, aged between 14 and 27 years. These patients were assessed using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale (ADOS-2), the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R), the Trait-State Anxiety Questionnaire, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (AASP) and the Inventory of Statements About Self-injury (ISAS).
The results revealed significant and positive correlations between the level of self-injury and its dimensions: self-regulation (ρ = 0.861), sensation seeking and strength (ρ = 0.767), suicide avoidance (ρ = 0.732), revenge (ρ = 0.643), self-control (ρ = 0.700), manifestation of distress (ρ = 0.828) and blunting (ρ = 0.702).
There is evidence of a positive relationship between levels of self-harm and sensory defensiveness, specifically in the emotion avoidance profile.