Background: Gliomas are the most aggressive and prevalent primary malignant tumors of the central nervous system. For better mapping, they are subclassified into degrees in proportion to their malignancy. Although low-grade patients have a better prognosis, they are extremely heterogeneous. Since the high variability in the outcomes of the condition, it is essential to investigate the current therapeutic strategies available. Objective: Analyze the management of low-grade gliomas. Methods: In April 2021, a literature review was conducted on MEDLINE using the descriptors: “Glioma”, “Low Grade”; “Treatment”; as well as their variations obtained in MeSH. Controlled and randomized clinical trials carried out on humans in the last five years were included. Results: 63 articles were found and 10 of them were analyzed in this review. The research has shown that total tumor resection is the therapeutic modality that causes the greatest drop in the mortality rates. Furthermore, the greater the extraction, the greater the progression-free survival. In this way, for greater safety of large-scale surgeries, several intraoperative techniques have been developed. An example is the waking approach, which presents favorable long-term functional results and low failure rates. However, the isolated surgery is often not sufficiently curative. Therefore, it is necessary to complement radiotherapy and chemotherapy with temozolomide, associated with a 5 to 10 year survival rate when combined. Conclusions: Studies have shown that total resection of the tumor is the best way to manage low-grade gliomas, but it is often combined with temozolamide chemotherapy and radiotherapy for a better prognosis.

Introduction: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, which has no cure and, also, effective therapies to prevent or slow the progression of AD remain elusive. Thus, it is necessary to find another way to treat this disease Objective: Investigate the impact of meditation on the cognitive function of patients with AD. Methods: In April 2021, a systematic review was carried out on MEDLINE using the descriptors: “Meditation” and “Alzheimer Disease” and their variations. Studies published in the last 10 years and in English were included. Results: Of the 40 articles found, four are part of this review. It was showed that meditation generates improvements in memory as it increases cerebral blood flow, stabilizes synapses and elevates important neurotransmitters. Aligned, it can improve sleep quality and retrospective memory function. Furthermore, daily practices help in neuropsychological conditions and generate beneficial changes in brain structure and function. Finally, it provokes changes in the brain network, such as the increased power of the theta band, involved in memory processes. Conclusion: The results imply a positive effect of meditation on patients with AD. However, further research is needed to confirm the validity of the results.

Background: Insomnia is a disorder characterized by difficulty in initiating and maintaining sleep, affecting about 20% of the world population. As a consequence, this disorder brings a significant loss of quality of life for the affected individuals, triggering the questioning about its influence on cognitive performance. Objectives: To investigate the interference of insomnia on cognition. Methods: During April of 2021, a literature review was carried out in the PubMed database, using the descriptors “Insomnia” and “Cognition”, in addition to their respective variations in MeSH. We selected studies carried out in humans and published in the last five years. Results: A total of 317 articles were found, of which four were selected to produce this abstract. The studies showed a significant relationship between sleep restriction caused by insomnia and worsening cognitive activity. In this sense, the fragmentation of rest and the difficulty of reaching deeper stages of sleep altered the cognitive efficiency of the affected patients, causing impaired performance in aspects such as attention, memory, learning capacity, perception and ability to solve problems. Performance was assessed through subjective and objective tests - composed of patient reports and practical tests, respectively. Despite the negative relationship established, one of the studies reports that certain domains of cognition were preserved, such as psychomotor and verbal functions. Conclusions: Insomnia adversely affects individuals’ cognitive performance, resulting in losses in the patient’s life.

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Background: Theanine is an amino acid present in green tea capable of acting on certain neurological parameters. In this perspective, the literature points to possible effects of this amino acid on cognitive function. Objectives: To investigate the effects of theanine on cognition. Methods: A literature review was conducted on PubMed using the descriptors “Theanine” and “Cognition”, as well as their variations obtained in MeSH. In addition, we selected studies carried out on humans in the last five years. In this process, 25 articles were found, of which three were chosen to compose the scope of this abstract. Results: Evidences suggested that the administration of theanine sharply reduced the reaction time to visual stimuli - one of the main components tested in the attentional assessment. In addition, another study pointed out that, since the chemical structure of theanine is similar to glutamate, it is able to act decisively as a neurotransmitter linked to memory, potentiating it in healthy adults and in elderly people with cognitive decline. Finally, the third article correlated the use of theanine with greater accuracy in tasks of rapid information processing and the reduction of mental fatigue - factors that can reinforce the ability to concentrate. Conclusions: Studies have shown that theanine acts positively on the parameters of attention, memory and concentration, contributing significantly to the improvement of cognitive function.