scholarly journals The Relation between Inflammation and Neuropsychological Test Performance

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valerie H. Balldin ◽  
James R. Hall ◽  
Robert C. Barber ◽  
Linda Hynan ◽  
Ramon Diaz-Arrastia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Test Performance ◽  
Inflammatory Markers ◽  
Visual Memory ◽  
Longitudinal Research ◽  
Neuropsychological Functioning ◽  
Neuropsychological Test ◽  
Differential Relation ◽  
Markers Of Inflammation ◽  
Anti Inflammatory

Background. Considerable research documents an association between pro- and anti-inflammatory markers and Alzheimer's disease (AD), yet the differential relation between these markers and neuropsychological functioning in AD and nondemented controls has received less attention. The current study sought to evaluate the relationship between peripheral markers of inflammation (both pro- and anti-inflammatory) and neuropsychological functioning through the Texas Alzheimer's Research and Care Consortium (TARCC) cohort.Methods. There were 320 participants (Probable ADn=124, Controlsn=196) in the TARCC Longitudinal Research Cohort available for analysis. Regression analyses were utilized to examine the relation between proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory markers and neuropsychological functioning. Follow-up analyses were conducted separately by case versus control status.Results. Proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory markers were found to be associated with neuropsychological testing. Third tertile proinflammatory markers were negatively associated with measures of attention and language, and anti-inflammatory markers were positively associated with measures of immediate verbal memory and delayed verbal and visual memory.Conclusions. These findings support the link between peripheral inflammatory markers and neuropsychological functioning and suggest the utility of examining profiles of inflammatory markers in the future.

Does Antiretroviral Therapy Improve HIV-Associated Cognitive Impairment? A Quantitative Review of the Literature

2011 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 956-969 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timour Al-Khindi ◽  
Konstantine K. Zakzanis ◽  
Wilfred G. van Gorp
Keyword(s):  
Antiretroviral Therapy ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Test Performance ◽  
Visual Memory ◽  
Neuropsychological Test ◽  
Cognitive Outcome ◽  
Quantitative Review ◽  
Cd4 Cell Count ◽  
System Integrity ◽  
Cd4 Cell

AbstractThe development of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has dramatically improved survival for those living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), but whether ART improves cognitive functioning remains unclear. The aim of the present review was to examine systematically the extent to which ART improves cognition among individuals with HIV using meta-analytic methods. Twenty-three studies were included in the quantitative review. ART was associated with modest improvements in attention (mean d = .17; p < .001; 95% confidence interval [CI], .09/.25), executive function (mean d = .18; p < .001; 95% CI, .10/.26), and motor function (mean d = .24; p < .001; 95% CI, .16/.32). ART did not improve language, verbal memory, visual memory or visuospatial function. The extent to which cognition improved was correlated with the change in CD4 cell count following ART, suggesting a link between cognitive outcome and immune system integrity. Together, the present findings indicate that the neuropsychological test performance of most HIV patients taking ART is comparable to those not taking ART. Development of pharmaceutical treatments and rehabilitation strategies that target the cognitive effects of HIV infection is needed. (JINS, 2011, 17, 956–969)

scholarly journals Flipping the Script: Measuring Both Performance Validity and Cognitive Ability with the Forced Choice Recognition Trial of the RCFT

2021 ◽  
pp. 003151252110197
Author(s):  
Kaitlyn Abeare ◽  
Kristoffer Romero ◽  
Laura Cutler ◽  
Christina D. Sirianni ◽  
Laszlo A. Erdodi
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Visual Memory ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Clinical Sample ◽  
Neuropsychological Test ◽  
Forced Choice ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Performance Validity ◽  
Two Samples

In this study we attempted to replicate the classification accuracy of the newly introduced Forced Choice Recognition trial (FCR) of the Rey Complex Figure Test (RCFT) in a clinical sample. We administered the RCFT FCR and the earlier Yes/No Recognition trial from the RCFT to 52 clinically referred patients as part of a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery and incentivized a separate control group of 83 university students to perform well on these measures. We then computed the classification accuracies of both measures against criterion performance validity tests (PVTs) and compared results between the two samples. At previously published validity cutoffs (≤16 & ≤17), the RCFT FCR remained specific (.84–1.00) to psychometrically defined non-credible responding. Simultaneously, the RCFT FCR was more sensitive to examinees’ natural variability in visual-perceptual and verbal memory skills than the Yes/No Recognition trial. Even after being reduced to a seven-point scale (18-24) by the validity cutoffs, both RCFT recognition scores continued to provide clinically useful information on visual memory. This is the first study to validate the RCFT FCR as a PVT in a clinical sample. Our data also support its use for measuring cognitive ability. Replication studies with more diverse samples and different criterion measures are still needed before large-scale clinical application of this scale.

scholarly journals Cognitive functioning and predictors thereof in patients with 1–10 brain metastases selected for stereotactic radiosurgery

2019 ◽  
Vol 145 (2) ◽  
pp. 265-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wietske C. M. Schimmel ◽  
Karin Gehring ◽  
Patrick E. J. Hanssens ◽  
Margriet M. Sitskoorn
Keyword(s):  
Information Processing ◽  
Brain Metastases ◽  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Cognitive Flexibility ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Test Performance ◽  
Neuropsychological Test ◽  
Cognitive Outcome ◽  
Individual Level

Abstract Purpose Information on predictive factors of cognitive functioning in patients with (multiple) brain metastases (BM) selected for radiosurgery may allow for more individual care and may play a role in predicting cognitive outcome after radiosurgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate cognitive performance, and predictors thereof, in patients with 1–10 BM before radiosurgery. Methods Cognition was measured before radiosurgery using a standardized neuropsychological test battery in patients with 1–10 BM (expected survival > 3 months; KPS ≥ 70; no prior BM treatment). Regression formulae were constructed to calculate sociodemographically corrected z scores. Group and individual cognitive functioning was analyzed. Multivariable regression was used to explore potential predictors. Results Patients (N = 92) performed significantly worse than controls (N = 104) on all 11 test variables (medium-large effect sizes for 8 variables). Percentages of impairment were highest for information processing (55.3%), dexterity (43.2%) and cognitive flexibility (28.7%). 62% and 46% of patients had impairments in at least two, or three test variables, respectively. Models including combinations of clinical and psychological variables were predictive of verbal memory, psychomotor speed, information processing and dexterity. Neither number nor volume of metastases predicted patients’ test performance. Conclusions Already before radiosurgery, almost half of the patients suffered from severe cognitive deficits in at least three test variables. At group and individual level, information processing, cognitive flexibility, and dexterity were most affected. These cognitive impairments may impair daily functioning and patients’ ability to make (shared) treatment decisions. Both clinical (symptomatic BM; timing of BM diagnosis) and psychological (mental fatigue) characteristics influenced cognitive performance. Clinical trial information Cognition and Radiation Study A (CAR-Study A; ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02953756; Medical Ethics Committee file number: NL53472.028.15/P1515).

scholarly journals Adolescent Heavy Episodic Drinking: Neurocognitive Functioning during Early Abstinence

2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 218-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Winward ◽  
Karen L. Hanson ◽  
Nicole M. Bekman ◽  
Susan F. Tapert ◽  
Sandra A. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Test Performance ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Neuropsychological Test ◽  
Heavy Episodic Drinking ◽  
Significant Group ◽  
Performance Deficits ◽  
Time Interaction ◽  
5Th Grade ◽  
Cognitive Switching

AbstractThe present study investigated the rate and pattern of neuropsychological recovery in heavy episodic drinking teens during the initial days to weeks of abstinence from alcohol. Adolescents (ages, 16–18 years) with histories of heavy episodic drinking (HED; N = 39) and socio-demographically similar control teens (CON; N = 26) were recruited from San Diego area schools. HED and CON were comparable on 5th grade standardized math and language arts test performance to ensure similar functioning before onset of substance use. Participants were administered three neuropsychological test batteries with 2-week intervals during a 4-week monitored abstinence period. HED teens performed worse overall than CON on tests of prospective memory (p = .005), cognitive switching (p = .039), inhibition task accuracy (p = .001), verbal memory (p's < .045), visuospatial construction (p's < .043), and language and achievement (p's < .008). The statistically significant group × time interaction for block design demonstrated normalization within the 4 weeks of abstinence for the HED (p = .009). This study identified cognitive performance deficits associated with heavy episodic drinking in adolescence during early abstinence and with sustained 4-week abstention. These findings suggest alcohol-related influences on several underlying brain systems that may predate the onset of alcohol abuse or dependence or take longer than 4 weeks to recover. (JINS, 2014, 20, 218–229)

scholarly journals Comparing Self to Peers in Percentile Equivalents during Cognitive Testing: More Accurate Self-Appraisal Estimates are Associated with Greater Ability and Less Reliance on the Representativeness Heuristic

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 690-699
Author(s):  
Johannes Rothlind ◽  
Matthew Kraybill ◽  
Paul Dukarm
Keyword(s):  
Test Performance ◽  
Neuropsychological Functioning ◽  
Neuropsychological Test ◽  
Cognitive Testing ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Self Awareness ◽  
Representativeness Heuristic ◽  
Neurologic Disorders ◽  
Lower Accuracy ◽  
Mixed Pattern

Abstract Objective For individuals with neurologic disorders, self-awareness of cognitive impairment is associated with indicators of better treatment course and clinical outcomes. Lower self-appraisal accuracy has been found to be associated with impairments in neuropsychological test performance, but individuals who perform unusually well may be equally vulnerable to inaccurate self-ratings. The mixed pattern of cognitive strengths and deficits in individuals with neurologic disorders complicates development of formal metrics for assessment of self-awareness. It remains unclear to what extent distortions in self-appraisal represent a deficit associated with impaired cognitive functioning, or a normal reliance on the “representativeness-heuristic” that results in greater bias in self-ratings in both strong and poor performers. Method The present study investigated these hypotheses using a common-metric approach (Rothlind, Dukarm, and Kraybill, 2016). Participants included 199 adults, recruited from community sources, including healthy adult volunteers and individuals at-risk for neuropsychological impairment secondary to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive status or active heavy alcohol consumption or both. Immediately following completion of standardized neuropsychological tests, participants estimated their own performance percentile ranking. Results Both high and low-scoring examinees displayed a conservative bias in ranking their own neuropsychological performance. However, lower scores were associated with least accurate self-appraisals overall. Conclusion Findings suggest that cognitive impairments are associated with lower accuracy in self-rating of cognitive ability, but also that normal biases complicate interpretation of self-appraisal ratings across the spectrum of neuropsychological functioning. The importance of recognizing these biases in clinical research and practice is emphasized, and directions for future research are discussed.

scholarly journals Allium sativumL. Improves Visual Memory and Attention in Healthy Human Volunteers

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Tasnim ◽  
Parsa Sanjana Haque ◽  
Md. Sazzadul Bari ◽  
Md. Monir Hossain ◽  
Sardar Mohd. Ashraful Islam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Executive Function ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Visual Memory ◽  
Neuropsychological Test ◽  
Healthy Human ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Memory And Attention ◽  
Human Volunteers ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Significant Difference

Studies have shown thatAllium sativumL. (AS) protects amyloid-beta peptide-induced apoptosis, prevents oxidative insults to neurons and synapses, and thus prevent Alzheimer’s disease progression in experimental animals. However, there is no experimental evidence in human regarding its putative role in memory and cognition. We have studied the effect of AS consumption by healthy human volunteers on visual memory, verbal memory, attention, and executive function in comparison to control subjects taking placebo. The study was conducted over five weeks and twenty volunteers of both genders were recruited and divided randomly into two groups: A (AS) and B (placebo). Both groups participated in the 6 computerized neuropsychological tests of the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) twice: at the beginning and after five weeks of the study. We found statistically significant difference (p<0.05) in several parameters of visual memory and attention due to AS ingestion. We also found statistically nonsignificant (p>0.05) beneficial effects on verbal memory and executive function within a short period of time among the volunteers. Study for a longer period of time with patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases might yield more relevant results regarding the potential therapeutic role of AS.

scholarly journals Reaction Time and Visual Memory in Connection with Alcohol Use in Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 688
Author(s):  
Atiqul Haq Mazumder ◽  
Jennifer Barnett ◽  
Nina Lindberg ◽  
Minna Torniainen-Holm ◽  
Markku Lähteenvuo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Time ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Schizoaffective Disorder ◽  
Test Performance ◽  
Visual Memory ◽  
Alcohol Use Disorder ◽  
Neuropsychological Test ◽  
Reaction Time Task ◽  
Hazardous Drinking ◽  
Housing Status

The purpose of this study was to explore the association between cognition and hazardous drinking and alcohol use disorder in schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. Cognition is more or less compromised in schizophrenia, and schizoaffective disorder and alcohol use might aggravate this phenomenon. The study population included 3362 individuals from Finland with diagnoses of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Hazardous drinking was screened with the AUDIT-C (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test for Consumption) screening tool. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) diagnoses were obtained from national registrar data. Participants performed two computerized tasks from the Cambridge Automated Neuropsychological Test Battery (CANTAB) on a tablet computer: The Five-Choice Serial Reaction Time Task (5-CSRTT) or the reaction time (RT) test and the Paired Associative Learning (PAL) test. The association between alcohol use and the RT and PAL tests was analyzed with log-linear regression and logistic regression, respectively. After adjustment for age, education, housing status, and the age at which the respondents had their first psychotic episodes, hazardous drinking was associated with a lower median RT in females and less variable RT in males, while AUD was associated with a poorer PAL test performance in terms of the total errors adjusted scores (TEASs) in females. Our findings of positive associations between alcohol and cognition in schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder are unique.

scholarly journals An Examination of Adolescent Athletes and Nonathletes on Baseline Neuropsychological Test Scores

2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 404-409 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher P. Tomczyk ◽  
Megan Mormile ◽  
Megan S. Wittenberg; ◽  
Jody L. Langdon ◽  
Tamerah N. Hunt
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
High School Students ◽  
High Schools ◽  
Reaction Time ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Visual Memory ◽  
Neuropsychological Test ◽  
Test Battery ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
High School Athletes

Context:  An estimated 15.3 million adolescent students are enrolled in US high schools, with approximately 7.8 million participating in athletics. Researchers have examined various demographics in high school athletes; however, athletic participation may play a larger role in test performance than previously thought. Currently, investigations of concussion assessment may rely on uninjured athletes as controls. However, due to the intense nature of athletics, this may not be an appropriate practice. Objective:  To examine differences between athletes and nonathletes using a common computerized neuropsychological test. Design:  Retrospective cross-sectional study. Setting:  High schools from a school district in Columbus, Ohio. Patients or Other Participants:  A total of 662 adolescent high school students (athletes: n = 383, female n = 18; nonathletes: n = 279, female n = 193). Main Outcome Measure(s):  Participants were administered a computerized neuropsychological test battery (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Test [ImPACT]) during baseline concussion assessment. Differences between groups were established for output composite scores. Results:  Differences were found between athletes and nonathletes in composite reaction time (F1,522 = 14.855, P &lt; .001) and total symptom score (F1,427 = 33.770, P &lt; .001). Nonathletes reported more symptoms, whereas athletes had faster reaction times. No differences were present in composite verbal memory, composite visual memory, composite visual motor speed, or composite impulse control (P &gt; .05). Conclusions:  Symptom reporting and reaction time differed between high school athletes and nonathletes. Participation in extracurricular activities may lead to cognitive differences in adolescents that can influence performance on the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Test battery. Researchers should account for these differences in baseline performance when making concussion diagnostic and management decisions.

scholarly journals A 2-YEAR PRELIMINARY LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTIONING IN HASHIMOTO’S THYROIDITIS UNDER LEVOTHYROXINE TREATMENT: ONLY TRAIL MAKING TEST IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-21
Author(s):  
Vaitsa Giannouli ◽  
Nikolaos Syrmos
Keyword(s):  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Hashimoto’S Thyroiditis ◽  
Visual Memory ◽  
Neuropsychological Functioning ◽  
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis ◽  
Neuropsychological Battery ◽  
Impaired Performance ◽  
Making A Difference ◽  
Healthy Control ◽  
Effects Of Aging

Few studies have examined longitudinally depression, stress and cognition in Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis (HT) under levothyroxine (LT4) treatment. Although HT is claimed to cause several mood changes and cognitive deficits in patients who are left untreated, we still know little about the longitudinal profile of these patients when they are under stable treatment. Sixteen middle-aged euthyroid HT women and sixteen healthy control women were examined with a detailed neuropsychological battery covering different cognitive functions (attention, visual and verbal memory, executive functions and mood), and with thyroid functions tests at three time points at one and two years post-baseline. Depression and perceived stress, along with verbal and visual memory were found to be stable at a two-year retesting in euthyroid HT women. Only TMT-Parts A and B deteriorated at one and two years in euthyroid HT. Although impaired performance in attention and executive deficits are linked with heighted levels of depression and stress, here they were not accompanied by changes in mood. The present study failed to detect any noticeable changes longitudinally in the cognitive and emotional function in euthyroid HT women under stable and continuous LT4 treatment. Patients’ restricted deficits may indicate that the decline in attention and executive functioning performance might be related to the effects of a specific progressive degenerative process associated with the disorder, rather than the effects of aging. Keywords: Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, depression, stress, longitudinal neuropsychological assessment, LT4 treatment.

Neuropsychological changes following electrical injury

2006 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
NEIL H. PLISKIN ◽  
ALIA N. AMMAR ◽  
JOSEPH W. FINK ◽  
S. KRISTIAN HILL ◽  
AARON C. MALINA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Motor Skills ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Visual Memory ◽  
Case Reports ◽  
Neuropsychological Test ◽  
Intellectual Ability ◽  
Electrical Injury ◽  
Cognitive Changes ◽  
Neuropsychological Changes ◽  
Neuropsychological Functions

The clinical presentation of electrical injury commonly involves physical, cognitive, and emotional complaints. Neuropsychological studies, including case reports, have indicated that electrical injury (EI) survivors may experience a broad range of impaired neuropsychological functions, although this has not been clarified through controlled investigation. In this study, we describe the neuropsychological test findings in a series of 29 EI patients carefully screened and matched to a group of 29 demographically similar healthy electricians. Participants were matched by their estimated premorbid intellectual ability. Multivariate analysis of variance was used to assess group differences in the following neuropsychological domains: attention and mental speed, working memory, verbal memory, visual memory, and motor skills. EI patients performed significantly worse on composite measures of attention/mental speed and motor skills, which could not be explained by demographic differences, injury parameters, litigation status, or mood disturbance. Results suggest that cognitive changes do occur in patients suffering from electrical injury. (JINS, 2006, 12, 17–23.)

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