María Fernanda Serna Rodriguez

Loneliness is an epidemic affecting mental health across all demographics. It is linked to mental disorders, such as anxiety and depression, and despair, highlighting a significant public health issue as persons feel more disconnected in a connected world. This study aims to investigate the relationship between loneliness, Alzheimer's disease and suicidal behaviour. This review was systematised in a dichotomous manner. Therefore, two systematic reviews were initially carried out following the PRISMA statement. The loneliness was understood as feeling lonely. One group searched for associations between loneliness and Alzheimer's disease and the other between loneliness and suicidal behaviour, with a consecutive meta‐analysis. After that, it was searched for between the two groups to seek loneliness, such as an interface in meta‐analytic factor analysis. Depression is the most studied and cited factor associated with loneliness as a link between Alzheimer's disease and suicide. Loneliness demonstrated association with Alzheimer's disease (OR = 1.89, 95% CI 1.57–2.28; p < 0.001); suicidal ideation (OR = 2.17, 95% CI 1.88–2.51; p < 0.001); suicidal planning (OR = 2.36, 95% CI 1.91–2.92; p < 0.001); suicide attempt (OR = 2.54, 95% CI 2.13–3.04; p < 0.001); and suicide (OR = 4.9, 95% CI 4.4–5.5; p < 0.001). Entrapment, hopelessness, insomnia and stress demonstrated significative correlation ( r > 0.40; p < 0.001) with loneliness in the interface between AD and suicidal behaviour. Loneliness has been identified as a comorbid factor between AD and suicide. To prevent both AD and suicide, it is essential to monitor levels of stress, insomnia, feelings of entrapment and hopelessness. The triad of loneliness, hopelessness and insomnia seems to represent the greatest risk profile.

Introduction: Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3) has been associated with a lot of diseases, such as Alzheimer’s Disease and diabetes. Its role in depression is connected to stress and neuroinflammation. Lithium is an essential inhibitor of GSK-3. Some studies have suggested that the use of this psychiatric medication may lower suicide rates. Here, we outline the current understanding and discoveries regarding the link between GSK-3 and suicide. Method: We used the PRISMA statement and defined the PECOS strategy, such as Population (P) = individuals; exposure (E) = GSK-3 alteration function; comparison (C) = without GSK-3 alteration function; outcome (O) = suicide; and study design(S) = all kinds of studies with an association between GSK-3 and suicide. Results: Twelve studies were included in this review. GSK-3 appears to be related to suicidal behavior by activating inflammatory pathways, activating genes, altering neurotransmission, and increasing impulsivity. Clinical studies do not present robust results that allow defining an epidemiological profile of greater risk for suicidal behavior in association with changes in the functioning of GSK-3. Conclusion: The interference of GSK-3 functioning in suicidal behavior seems inevitable, with solid evidence from laboratory animal studies. However, there is a need for further clinical studies on this crucial topic to answer better some questions about the association between GSK-3 and suicide.

Background: Suicidal behavior presents a significant dilemma in the context of Alzheimer’s disease. Numerous ethical discussions have emerged regarding euthanasia for patients suffering from neurodegenerative conditions, and research indicates an elevated incidence of suicide in the early stages of dementia. However, there remains a gap in knowledge concerning the historical prevalence of suicidal ideations or attempts among individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. This study aims to investigate the historical patterns of suicidal behavior and the associated factors across the lifespan in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Methods: This study is an excerpt from a case–control research study, where the sample size was calculated at 150 participants, with 75 in the case group and 75 in the control group. Here, the descriptive statistics for the first third of the sample, 50 participants, are discussed. Results: Among the participants in the case group, 12.5% reported having suicidal ideation throughout life, compared to 24% in the control group (OR for suicidal ideation = 0.432 [0.095–1.966]). Additionally, among the participants in the case group, 4% reported having attempted suicide at some point in their life, compared to 8% in the control group (OR for suicide attempts = 0.479 [0.41–5.652]). People with Alzheimer’s disease tended to have a worse quality of life but less suicidality. Conclusions: It appears that suicidal behavior is inversely related to the risk of developing suicidal intentions. The odds ratio data demonstrate the need for a larger sample size to determine whether there is a difference in the history of suicide throughout the lives of people with Alzheimer’s disease and among the general population.

Background: Suicidal behavior presents a significant dilemma in the context of Alzheimer's disease. Numerous ethical discussions have emerged regarding euthanasia for patients suffering from neurodegenerative conditions, and research indicates an elevated incidence of suicide in the early stages of dementia. However, there remains a gap in knowledge concerning the historical prevalence of suicidal ideations or attempts among individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. This study aims to investigate the historical patterns of suicidal behavior and the associated factors across the lifespan in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Methods: This study is an excerpt from case-control research, where the sample was calculated at 150 participants, 75 for the case group and 75 for the control group. Here, the descriptive statistics of the first third of the sample, 50 participants, were made. Results: 12,5% of cases participants had suicidal ideation throughout life and 24% of the control group (OR for suicidal ideation = 0.432 [0.095-1.966]). 4% of cases participants attempted suicide throughout life and 8% of the control group (OR for suicide attempts = 0.479 [0.41-5.652]). Persons with Alzheimer's disease were associated with a worse quality of life and tended to have less suicidality. Conclusions: It appears that suicidal behavior is inversely related to the risk of developing suicide. The odds ratio data demonstrate the need for a larger sample size to determine whether there is a difference in the history of suicide throughout the lives of people with Alzheimer's disease and the general population.

Background: Suicidal behavior has been a dilemma in Alzheimer's disease. Many ethical debates have been raised about euthanasia in patients with neurodegenerative diseases, and there is a finding of increased suicide rates in the early stages of dementia. However, little is known about the history of suicide ideations or attempts in people with Alzheimer's disease. We aim to measure questionnaire adequacy and acceptability in this specific study to investigate the history of behaviors and factors associated with suicidal behavior across the lifespan in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Methods: This study is an excerpt from case-control research, where the sample was calculated at 150 participants, 75 for the case group and 75 for the control group. Here, the descriptive statistics of the first third of the case group sample, 25 participants, were made. Adequacy was observed by comprehension of questionnaires, and acceptability was measured by participants' understanding of the study object.Results: The prevalence of suicidal ideation throughout life was 8%, and 4% attempted suicide at some point in their lives. The total score of QLoS had a median of 71, which demonstrated the consideration of a moderate quality of life. The total score of the SAF-quest had a median of 12, which showed a low suicidal behavior history. All patients were included in understanding the questionnaires.Conclusions: This study demonstrated the adequacy, acceptability, and scarcity of suicidality histories throughout life in Alzheimer’s disease patients.

IntroductionGlycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3) has been associated with a lot of diseases, such as Alzheimer’s Disease and diabetes. Its role in depression is connected to stress and neuroinflammation. Lithium is an essential inhibitor of GSK-3. Some studies have suggested that the use of this psychiatric medication may lower suicide rates. Here, we outline the current understanding and discoveries regarding the link between GSK-3 and suicide. MethodWe used the PRISMA statement and defined the PECOS strategy, such as Population (P) = individuals; exposure (E) = GSK-3 alteration function; comparison (C) = without GSK-3 alteration function; outcome (O) = suicide; and study design(S) = all kinds of studies with an association between GSK-3 and suicide.ResultsTwelve studies were included in this review. GSK-3 appears to be related to suicidal behavior by activating inflammatory pathways, activating genes, altering neurotransmission, and increasing impulsivity. Clinical studies do not present robust results that allow defining an epidemiological profile of greater risk for suicidal behavior in association with changes in the functioning of GSK-3.ConclusionThe interference of GSK-3 functioning in suicidal behavior seems inevitable, with solid evidence from laboratory animal studies. However, there is a need for further clinical studies on this crucial topic to answer better some questions about the association between GSK-3 and suicide.

Objectives: The tau protein is essential for stabilizing microtubules. Changes in its phosphorylation are identified in many neurodegenerative diseases, such as frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer's disease. The hyperphosphorylation of the tau protein is linked to various factors, including stress, which has a substantial impact on depressive illness. The present study aimed to systematically review studies that describe the association between tau protein and depression.Design: The present study used the PRISMA statement 2020 as the inclusion criterion for articles describing tau protein in individuals with depression. The exclusion criterion was the lack of comparison of tau protein levels with individuals without depression.Results: A total of 138 papers were identified, of which 21 were ultimately included. One out of every three articles included demonstrated the statistical significance of the tau protein values between the depression group and controls. Only one had an adequate sample but demonstrated results without any major significance.Conclusions: The association between tau protein and depression remains unclear. Studies with adequate sampling are necessary to answer this question.

Suicide is defined as the action of harming oneself with the intention of dying. It is estimated that worldwide, one person dies by suicide every 40 s, making it a major health problem. Studies in families have suggested that suicide has a genetic component, so the search for genetic variants associated with suicidal behavior could be useful as potential biomarkers to identify people at risk of suicide. In Mexico, some studies of gene variants related to neurotransmission and other important pathways have been carried out and potential association of variants located in the following genes has been suggested: SLC6A4, SAT-1, TPH-2, ANKK1, GSHR, SCARA50, RGS10, STK33, COMT, and FKBP5. This systematic review shows the genetic studies conducted on the Mexican population. This article contributes by compiling the existing information on genetic variants and genes associated with suicidal behavior, in the future could be used as potential biomarkers to identify people at risk of suicide.