Personality traits, behavioral and psychological symptoms and cognitive decline in patients at an early stage of Alzheimer's disease

The aim of this doctoral thesis was to study personality characteristics of patients at an early stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and more specifically to describe personality and its changes over time, and to explore its possible links with psychological and symptoms (BPS) and cognitive level. The results were compared to those of a group of participants without cognitive disorder through three empirical studies. In the first study, the findings showed significant personality changes that follow a specific trend in the clinical group. The profil of personality changes showed an increase in Neuroticism and a decrease in Extraversion, Openess to experiences, and Conscientiousness over time. The second study highlighted that personality and BPS occur early in the cours of AD. Recognizing them as possible precoce signs of neurodegeneration may prove to be a key factor for early detection and intervention. In the third study, a significant association between personality changes and cognitive status was observed in the patients with incipient AD. Thus, changes in Neuroticism and Conscientiousness were linked with cognitive deterioration, whereas decreased Openness to experiences and Conscientiousness over time predicted loss of independence in daily functioning. Other well-known factors such as age, education level or civil status were taken into account to predict cognitive decline. The three studies suggested five important implications: (1) cost-effective screening should take into account premorbid and specific personality changes; (2) psycho-educative interventions should provide information on the possible personality changes and BPS that may occur at the beginning of the disease; (3) using personality traits alongside other variables in the future studies on prevention might help to better understand AD's etiology; (4) individual treatment plans (psychotherapeutic, social, and pharmacological) might be adapted to the specific changes in personality profiles; (5) more researches are needed to study the impact of social-cultural and lifestyle variables on the development of AD.

Du principe de continuité de l'exploitation en comptabilité : contribution à la formalisation de la démarche cognitive du réviseur aux comptes dans la validation de ce principe à l'aide d'un système abductif de modélisation de croyance basé sur un processus stochastique

Résumé : J'ai souvent vu des experts être d'avis contraires. Je n'en ai jamais vu aucun avoir tort. Auguste Detoeuf Propos d'O.L. Brenton, confiseur, Editions du Tambourinaire, 1948. En choisissant volontairement une problématique comptable typiquement empirique, ce travail s'est attelé à tenter de démontrer la possibilité de produire des enseignements purement comptables (ie à l'intérieur du schème de représentation de la Comptabilité) en s'interdisant l'emprunt systématique de theories clé-en-main à l'Économie -sauf quant cela s'avère réellement nécessaire et légitime, comme dans l'utilisation du CAPM au chapitre précédent. Encore une fois, rappelons que cette thèse n'est pas un réquisitoire contre l'approche économique en tant que telle, mais un plaidoyer visant à mitiger une telle approche en Comptabilité. En relation avec le positionnement épistémologique effectué au premier chapitre, il a été cherché à mettre en valeur l'apport et la place de la Comptabilité dans l'Économie par le positionnement de la Comptabilité en tant que discipline pourvoyeuse de mesures de représentation de l'activité économique. Il nous paraît clair que si l'activité économique, en tant que sémiosphère comptable directe, dicte les observations comptables, la mesure de ces dernières doit, tant que faire se peut, tenter de s'affranchir de toute dépendance à la discipline économique et aux théories-méthodes qui lui sont liées, en adoptant un mode opératoire orthogonal, rationnel et systématique dans le cadre d'axiomes lui appartenant en propre. Cette prise de position entraîne la définition d'un nouveau cadre épistémologique par rapport à l'approche positive de la Comptabilité. Cette dernière peut se décrire comme l'expression philosophique de l'investissement de la recherche comptable par une réflexion méthodique propre à la recherche économique. Afin d'être au moins partiellement validé, ce nouveau cadre -que nous voyons dérivé du constructivisme -devrait faire montre de sa capacité à traiter de manière satisfaisante une problématique classique de comptabilité empirico-positive. Cette problématique spécifique a été choisie sous la forme de traitement-validation du principe de continuité de l'exploitation. Le principe de continuité de l'exploitation postule (énonciation d'une hypothèse) et établit (vérification de l'hypothèse) que l'entreprise produit ses états financiers dans la perspective d'une poursuite normale de ses activités. Il y a rupture du principe de continuité de l'exploitation (qui devra alors être écartée au profit du principe de liquidation ou de cession) dans le cas de cessation d'activité, totale ou partielle, volontaire ou involontaire, ou la constatation de faits de nature à compromettre la continuité de l'exploitation. Ces faits concernent la situation financière, économique et sociale de l'entreprise et représentent l'ensemble des événements objectifs 33, survenus ou pouvant survenir, susceptibles d'affecter la poursuite de l'activité dans un avenir prévisible. A l'instar de tous les principes comptables, le principe de continuité de l'exploitation procède d'une considération purement théorique. Sa vérification requiert toutefois une analyse concrète, portant réellement et de manière mesurable à conséquence, raison pour laquelle il représente un thème de recherche fort apprécié en comptabilité positive, tant il peut (faussement) se confondre avec les études relatives à la banqueroute et la faillite des entreprises. Dans la pratique, certaines de ces études, basées sur des analyses multivariées discriminantes (VIDA), sont devenues pour l'auditeur de véritables outils de travail de par leur simplicité d'utilisation et d'interprétation. À travers la problématique de ce travail de thèse, il a été tenté de s'acquitter de nombreux objectifs pouvant être regroupés en deux ensembles : celui des objectifs liés à la démarche méthodologique et celui relevant de la mesure-calibration. Ces deux groupes-objectifs ont permis dans une dernière étape la construction d'un modèle se voulant une conséquence logique des choix et hypothèses retenus.

Conduite automobile et troubles cognitifs: comment anticiper [Driving and cognitive impairment: how best to anticipate?].

Driving requires integrating multiple motor, sensory, and cognitive skills. As people age, cognition becomes increasingly vulnerable due to impairment and dementia. Older drivers suffering from dementia, even at an early stage, have been shown to be significantly more likely to develop unsafe driving. Primary care physicians have the difficult task to assess these persons' driving capacity. This paper briefly describes the consequences of altered cognition on driving capacity and proposes an algorithm to address this challenge.

Rapid improvement of canine cognitive dysfunction with immunotherapy designed for Alzheimer's disease

Immunotherapy against amyloid-β(Aβ) may improve rodent cognitive function by reducing amyloid neuropathology and is being validated in clinical trials with positive preliminary results. However, for a complete understanding of the direct and long-term immunization responses in the aged patient, and also to avoid significant side effects, several key aspects remain to be clarified. Thus, to investigate brain Aβ clearance and Th2 responses in the elderly, and the reverse inflammatory events not found in the immunized rodent, better Alzheimer"s disease (AD) models are required. In the aged familiar canine with a Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS) we describe the rapid effectiveness and the full safety profile of a new active vaccine candidate for human AD prevention and treatment. In these aged animals, besidesa weak immune system, the antibody response activated a coordinated central and peripheral Aβ clearance, that rapidly improved their cognitive function in absence of any side effects. Our results also confirm the interest to use familiar dogs to develop innovative and reliable therapies for AD.

Exploration of the social dimension of corporate responsibility in a welfare state

This study focuses on corporate social responsibility (or CSR)as the latest dimension to emerge in the corporate responsibility and sustainability agenda, which in the recent past has rapidly risen to the top of the list of concerns for civil societies worldwide. Despite the continuing debates and discussions about the scope, benefits, and impacts of CSR to business and community in various sectors, levels, and types of society, many companies have moved forward to confront the opportunities and challenges of CSR. Thus, this study is about those proactive companies with a focus on the importance of CSR and its management inside and outside the company. It is an exploration and learning from the experience of Finnish companies, as well as other actors interested or involved in shaping the course of CSR, locally and globally. It also looks closely at how national culture affects the views, thinking, and management of CSR in a welfare state. This dissertation primarily draws on the analyses of information collected from a series of qualitative interviews and the existing literature in the area. This is complemented by an analysis of written and published documents on CSR from various sources. The results of the study give insightful information and detailed descriptions of a roadmap useful in learning and understanding CSR in Finnish companies. Despite the varying conceptual connotations, essential roadmap indicators point to the importance of framing CSR within the corporate responsibility concept, Finnish development and the welfare state system, globalization, stakeholders, and the pursuit of sustainable development as the main drivers of CSR, the remarkable progress of CSR in companies, and identification of key management areas and practices relevant to CSR. Similarly,the study reveals the importance of culture as essential in understanding and learning CSR. Finnish culture has a positive influence on the views, thinking, and management practices of CSR issues. Such a positive influence of culture, therefore, makes it easy for business people to discuss and understand CSR, because those CSR issues are already considered common and taken-for-granted by Finns and are implicit in the welfare state provisions. The experience of Finnish companies in implementing CSR policies in the supply chain is a concrete proactive step in advancing the message of CSR, that is, to bring companies and suppliers together to work on improving and strengthening relationships towards socially responsible practices worldwide. Such a forward step to deal with CSR issues in the supply chain reflects the companies' commitments and belief that CSR can be managed with the suppliers and gain positive benefits. Despite the problems and complexities, particularly in the global supply chain, managing CSR for Finnish companies presents new opportunities and challenges that are expected to intensify in the near future. The focus on CSR policy implementation inthe supply chain points to the importance of companies taking initiatives and forging cooperation with suppliers with the aim of addressing and improving CSR questions in the supply chains. The proactive stance of Finnish companies toward CSR is complemented by the active supporting role of important societalactors such as the government and NGOs. These actors carry out various promotional efforts and campaigns, thus bringing CSR into the mainstream of Finnish companies and strengthening the synergistic learning about CSR within the Finnish business and civil circles. The efforts of the government and NGOs to promote CSR are indicative of the importance of multipartite involvement and the emergence of better civil regulations. Likewise, their drive to learn from each other, exchange experiences, and contribute in CSR debates facilitated the evolution of CSRnetworks in the country. The results of this study add to the mounting evidence that CSR, in general, has created a new dimension in managing corporate sustainability. This study provides compelling empirical evidence and some direct quotations about CSR in the Finnish context. This information can be used to learn and gain new useful insights, approaches, and concepts for managing CSR.