Background: Vitamin D receptors are located in neurons and glial cells of the brain.Vitamin D protects the nervous system by stimulating the synthesis of neurotrophin and neuromodulators, maintaining intracellular calcium homeostasis, and preventing oxidative brain damage. Vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency affects around 50% of the population, with rates varying according to race and ethnic origin. Vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency is a major public health concern because of its association with cognitive impairment and dementia. We aim to do a follow-up review of the literature on the association between vitamin D insufficiency and cognitive impairment, including dementia. Method:We reviewed vitamin D insufficiency and cognitive function studies published between 2010 and 2021. Except for animal models and research on human subjects with dementia, stroke, or brain malignancies, we reviewed clinical trials, case-control, cohort, cross-sectional, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses. Adults worldwide were the target demographic. There were no limits on vitamin D levels or intake. PubMed, Cochrane, Clinicaltrials.gov, and Google Scholar were all accessed databases using keyword combinations such as "Vitamin D AND Alzheimer's," "Vitamin D AND cognitive," "Vitamin D AND Geriatric," and "Vitamin D AND Dementia". All team members reviewed and verified the studies. Result: Nine studies matched our inclusion criteria, involving 69,643 people with an average age of 53.6 years old. Vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency has been linked to impaired executive function, processing speed, visuoperceptual ability, and dementia in five studies. Two investigations established a direct proportional association between the degree of vitamin D insufficiency and the severity of memory and cognitive impairment. Vitamin D supplementation, according to one study, increases cognitive and memory functions. Conclusion: Adults with vitamin D deficiency have reduced cognitive function and an increased risk of dementia. A significant limitation is that Africans, Hispanics, and Asians are underrepresented in the studies. Additionally, larger randomized controlled trials are needed to examine the many effects of vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency, supplementation, and its relationship to cognition in the aging brain.

Background Recent studies examining the impact of music on long‐ and short‐term memory, as well as cognitive function, have emerged with contradictory findings. This study investigates the positive impact of music on memory and the auditory cortex in people of all ages. Method In the PubMed database, we searched for studies that have examined the impact of music on memory and auditory function. From January 2011 to June 2021, we searched for studies on the adult population that were “clinical trials, case control cohort and cross‐sectional studies, systematic reviews and meta analyses” in English. In our search, we used a combination of the keywords “Music, Aging, Memory, Auditory Cortex.” Four reviewers independently extracted and assessed the studies based on predetermined criteria. To eliminate bias, the results were double‐checked by six people (fellows, researchers, etc.). Result We chose eight studies from a total of 108. Two studies linked music exposure to improved executive function in the aging brain, four studies examined the correlation between music exposure and improved auditory memory, one study compared the aging brains of musicians and non‐musicians, and two studies pointed at music in dementia and Alzheimer’s patients. The total number of participants in the study was 409, with an average age of 54 years and a range of 17 to 91 years. The duration of exposure to music varies between less than five and eleven years, with an average of eight and a half years. The primary finding is that music has a positive influence on aging brains' auditory cortex, memory, and executive skills. The impact of music on specific parts of the aging brain is a secondary outcome. Conclusion Music has a positive influence on the auditory cortex, memory, and several brain executive functions, according to our findings. Adults should participate in music‐related activities to promote a healthy auditory cortex and memory aging. The absence of prior research on this topic was one of the study’s limitations. More research is needed to better understand the impact of music on the aging brain.

Background Dementia is a disorder distinguished by progressive and irreversible global cognitive impairment. About 45 million live with dementia globally, with an estimated increase to 75 million by 2030. Early recognition and diagnosis of dementia could enhance the efficiency of health care and quality of life. Hence, Medicare implemented a covered visit for assessing cognitive function for eligible patients as of January 2021. Previous studies described many tests and screening tools that clinicians can use to diagnose dementia. However, choosing a suitable test is solely left for clinicians to decide. We conducted a systematic review to provide an evidence‐based screening tool guide to facilitate dementia diagnosis. Method A systematic review of studies published between 2010 and 2020 in English that targeted older patients. The search included multiple global databases; Cambridge Core, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, PubMed, and Wiley online library. Keywords: “Dementia” “Screening” “Older people” “General Hospital” and “Inpatient''. Seven independent reviewers checked the studies to avoid bias. Result 32 articles met the review criteria. More than ten dementia screening tools and tests were identified in the various clinical settings. However, the Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) is the leading test with three times usage compared to other tests, followed by Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Conclusion The Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) are the commonly used tools in diagnosing dementia. The review revealed other tests with a higher potential for early detection of dementia in various clinical settings. Thus, this is a call for clinicians to benefit and diversify the tools in diagnosing dementia and enrich the evidence‐based research with more confirmatory studies.

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