In subjective cognitive decline (SCD), older adults present with concerns about self-perceived cognitive decline but are found to have clinically normal function. However, a significant proportion of those adults are subsequently found to develop mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's dementia or other neurocognitive disorder. In other cases, SCD may be associated with mood, personality, and physical health concerns. Regardless of etiology, adults with SCD may benefit from interventions that could enhance current function or slow incipient cognitive decline. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis, conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines, is to examine the benefits of non-pharmacologic intervention (NPI) in persons with SCD. Inclusion criteria were studies of adults aged 55 + with SCD defined using published criteria, receiving NPI or any control condition, with cognitive, behavioural, or psychological outcomes in controlled trails. Published empirical studies were obtained through a standardized search of CINAHL Complete, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE with Full Text, PsycINFO, and PsycARTICLES, supplemented by a manual retrieval of relevant articles. Study quality and bias was determined using PEDro. Nine studies were included in the review and meta-analysis. A wide range of study quality was observed. Overall, a small effect size was found on cognitive outcomes, greater for cognitive versus other intervention types. The available evidence suggests that NPI may benefit current cognitive function in persons with SCD. Recommendations are provided to improve future trials of NPI in SCD.

Individuals with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) report self-perceived declines in cognitive function but perform within normal limits on standardized tests. However, for some, these self-perceived changes may herald eventual decline to Alzheimer's disease (AD). In light of this, the relationship between SCD and APOE ɛ4, a known genetic risk factor for AD, has garnered interest; however, no systematic review of this literature exists. The current review (n = 36 articles) examined the prevalence of APOE ɛ4 in SCD samples relative to healthy and objectively impaired samples, and summarized APOE ɛ4-related risk of conversion from SCD to AD. Univariate ANOVA indicated that APOE ɛ4 frequency was comparable between healthy control and SCD samples, yet significantly higher in objectively impaired samples (i.e., MCI, AD) relative to either of these groups. Narrative review provided mixed evidence linking coincident APOE ɛ4-positive genotype and SCD to structural neuropathology. Though there was little evidence to suggest that APOE ɛ4 predisposes individuals to developing SCD, both APOE ɛ4 and SCD were found to confer individual and multiplicative risk of conversion to objective cognitive impairment. Combined, it is likely that a relationship between APOE ɛ4, SCD, and AD exists, though its exact nature remains undetermined. A clearer understanding of these relationships is hindered by a lack of standardization in SCD classification and a dearth of longitudinal outcome research. Wide-scale adoption of genetic screening for dementia risk in persons with SCD is considered premature at this time. Ethical considerations and clinical implications of genetic testing for dementia risk are discussed.

Objectives:Interest in neurofeedback therapies (NFTs) has grown exponentially in recent years, encouraged both by escalating public interest and the financial support of health care funding agencies. Given NFTs’ growing prevalence and anecdotally reported success in treating common effects of acquired brain injury (ABI), a systematic review of the efficacy of NFTs for the rehabilitation of ABI-related cognitive impairment is warranted.Methods:Eligible studies included adult samples (18+ years) with ABI, the use of neurofeedback technology for therapeutic purposes (as opposed to assessment), the inclusion of a meaningful control group/condition, and clear cognitive–neuropsychological outcomes. Initial automated search identified n = 86 candidate articles, however, only n = 4 studies met the stated eligibility criteria.Results:Results were inconsistent across studies and cognitive domains. Methodological and theoretical limitations precluded robust and coherent conclusions with respect to the cognitive rehabilitative properties of NFTs. We take the results of these systematic analyses as a reflection of the state of the literature at this time. These results offer a constructive platform to further discuss a number of methodological, theoretical, and ethical considerations relating to current and future NFT–ABI research and clinical intervention.Conclusions:Given the limited quantity and quality of the available research, there appears to be insufficient evidence to comment on the efficacy of NFTs within an ABI rehabilitation context at this time. It is imperative that future work increase the level of theoretical and methodological rigour if meaningful advancements are to be made understanding and evaluating NFT–ABI applications.

ObjectivesThe current study presents a systematic review of the evidence for mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) as a form of neuropsychological rehabilitation, a holistic approach to treatment that may be particularly well suited to persons with neurological illness and injury. Methods Following the PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews, we included controlled trials of MBIs conducted in a neurological population, specifically employing the practice of mindfulness meditation. A search protocol for CINAHL Complete, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE with Full Text, PsycINFO, and PubMed was executed by three of the authors in September 2019 to promote reliability and obtain the initial list of abstracts (n = 32). Two authors independently reviewed and extracted data from each of the final 32 articles. ResultsThe most frequent diagnoses of interest were various forms of late-life cognitive decline and ADHD, followed by acquired brain injury, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and epilepsy. Most trials assessing psychological variables found significant benefits of MBIs across various symptoms, including fatigue, self-reported cognitive function, and specific neurological symptoms. Most studies investigating cognitive and/or neural outcomes found significant benefits as well. Positive findings were evident across different patient populations. Conclusions There is promising evidence to support the application of MBIs for the amelioration of clinical-neuropsychological symptoms in the neurorehabilitation context, particularly for persons with ADHD and late-life cognitive decline. Further work is needed to clarify the importance of tailoring, as well as whether taking a transdiagnostic approach to symptoms would enhance the capacity to measure significant effects.

Connecting Minds (CM) is a North American undergraduate research conference in psychology, hosted annually by Kwantlen Polytechnic University in British Columbia, Canada. However, CM is a conference with a twist: it is both student-focused and student-led. The organizing committee is comprised of both faculty and students working collaboratively. While prone to some unique challenges, this approach to conference organization has been exceedingly successful, both for the event and the individuals involved. The organization of CM provides an opportunity for faculty to take teaching out of the classroom, and for students to develop skills essential for success at the graduate level of their education or in employment settings. This article presents the challenges and benefits intrinsic to such a model from both a faculty and student perspective.Connecting Minds (CM) is perhaps the only psychology conference that attracts attendees from across North America, while maintaining a platform that is specifically designed to meet the needs of undergraduates. CM is not a typical conference: Not only is it a student-focused event, allowing undergraduate students to showcase their research, it is also a student-led event. CM employs a novel organizational approach, combining the ideas and energy of both faculty [2] and students in equal parts. While an organizing body comprised of both faculty and students is prone to some challenges, we maintain that there are significant benefits to such an approach. What is Connecting Minds?Since its inauguration in 2008, CM has been an annual event. Hosted by the psychology department at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in British Columbia, Canada, CM adheres to the traditional format of a two-day convention, showcasing both poster and paper (oral) presentations. What sets CM apart from other conferences, however, is its exclusive undergraduate focus. CM accepts only projects primarily authored by undergraduate students, spotlighting a demographic which is often overlooked in the research arena. Moreover, in order to remain accessible to the majority of students, CM accepts a wider range of papers than many conferences (e.g., mental health outreach projects, human factors analyses). CM additionally offers a number of events specifically suited for our undergraduate attendees, including a graduate school information panel and a grant application seminar. Especially appealing to its youthful attendees, CM also hosts a number of social events ---an evening reception complete with live entertainment, as well as a pub night. As suggested by Anderson and Rosenfeld (1983), these 'peripheral activities' make the undergraduate research experience more memorable and enjoyable. Indeed, survey data collected from conference attendees since Connecting Minds 2009 reveal overwhelmingly positive responses with respect to both logistics and overall conference experience. Using Likert-type scale ratings,