Although age-related memory differences between young and older adults have been well documented, fewer studies have investigated memory changes in middle age. We examined the performance of healthy ...middle-aged adults (40-55 years of age; n = 32) in relation to healthy young (18-25 years of age; n = 57) and older adults (65+ years of age; n = 55) on variations of recognition discriminability (RD) indices derived from the California Verbal Learning Test-Second Edition (CVLT-II). Middle-aged adults performed significantly worse (ps < .05) than young adults on multiple RD indices that incorporate semantically related distractor items, suggesting memory changes in middle age may be associated with increased susceptibility to semantic interference. Moreover, middle-aged adults performed comparably to older adults across all RD indices, indicating the recognition profile of middle-aged adults on RD indices more closely resembles that of older adults than young adults.
To carry out meaningful comparisons on results of different research studies on mild cognitive impairment (MCI), it is critical to select an appropriate objective memory test to examine memory ...deficit. We aim to refine the operational criteria of amnestic MCI (aMCI) on neuropsychological tests that optimally balance the sensitivity and specificity.
We focused on 206 non-demented subjects from memory clinic. We then classified each individual as having MCI or subjective cognitive decline (SCD) according to different neuropsychological criteria. By following them longitudinally, clinical outcomes were compared to evaluate the stability of MCI diagnoses and prediction of progression.
The delayed recall of auditory verbal learning test (AVLT_DR) identified 116 subjects as MCI, resulted in the conversion rate as 44% over the roughly 30-month time interval, missed 7.8% incipient Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients in SCD group who eventually converted to dementia. The delayed recall of complex figure test (CFT_DR) identified fewer MCI patients (n=95) and misdiagnosed more preclinical AD patients (15.3%), in comparison with AVLT criterion. Criterion requiring deficits in both tests produced higher conversion rate (54.3%), but resulted in higher misdiagnosis rate (14.7%) simultaneously. The AVLT criterion had the largest area under the curve (0.7248, p<0.05).
AVLT is superior to CFT in the stability of diagnoses and prediction of progression. In the clinical setting, the "one test" criterion AVLT has similar sensitivity to both-deficits methods, and is optimal in balancing sensitivity and specificity.
Aim
To analyse the development of motor skill and executive function in school‐aged children with and without developmental coordination disorder (DCD).
Method
Using a longitudinal design, 186 ...children (86 males, 100 females) aged 6 to 11 years at Time 1 were tested over a 2‐year period, 52 of whom were diagnosed with DCD at Time 1 (27 males, 25 females; mean age 8y 5mo, SD 1y 6mo) using DSM‐5 criteria. The McCarron Assessment of Neuromuscular Development assessed motor status at Time 1 and at 2‐year follow‐up (Time 2). Executive function was assessed using a well‐validated measure, the Groton Maze Learning Test.
Results
The DCD cohort at Time 1 had moderate incidence of executive function deficit (41%). Most importantly, at a group level, children with persisting DCD (across Times 1 and 2) also showed significantly lower levels of executive function than children with typical motor development at both time points. At an individual level, around 26% of children in this group had persisting executive function deficits relative to normal ranges of performance.
Interpretation
Children with persisting DCD are at significant risk of executive function issues. The combination of motor and cognitive issues as a potential risk factor in the longer‐term development of children is discussed.
What this paper adds
Around half of children initially diagnosed with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) had the same diagnosis at 2‐year follow‐up.
41% of children with DCD have impaired executive function.
Children with persisting DCD show poorer executive function than those with typical motor development or remitting DCD.
What this paper adds
Around half of children initially diagnosed with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) had the same diagnosis at 2‐year follow‐up.
41% of children with DCD have impaired executive function.
Children with persisting DCD show poorer executive function than those with typical motor development or remitting DCD.
This article is commented on by Vaivre‐Douret on page 1235 of this issue.
High intake of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids may protect against age-related cognitive decline. However, results from epidemiologic studies are inconclusive, and results from randomized trials in ...elderly subjects without dementia are lacking.
To investigate the effect of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation on cognitive performance.
Double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 302 cognitively healthy (Mini-Mental State Examination score > 21) individuals aged 65 years or older. Participants were randomly assigned to 1,800 mg/d EPA-DHA, 400 mg/d EPA-DHA, or placebo capsules for 26 weeks. Cognitive performance was assessed using an extensive neuropsychological test battery that included the cognitive domains of attention, sensorimotor speed, memory, and executive function.
The mean age of the participants was 70 years, and 55% were male. Plasma concentrations of EPA-DHA increased by 238% in the high-dose and 51% in the low-dose fish oil group compared with placebo, reflecting excellent compliance. Baseline scores on the cognitive tests were comparable in the three groups. Overall, there were no significant differential changes in any of the cognitive domains for either low-dose or high-dose fish oil supplementation compared with placebo.
In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we observed no overall effect of 26 weeks of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid supplementation on cognitive performance.
This study investigated the neuropsychological profile of college students who engage in binge drinking (BD) using comprehensive neuropsychological tests evaluating verbal/non-verbal memory, ...executive functions, and attention. Groups were determined based on scores on the Korean version of the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT-K) and Alcohol Use Questionnaire (AUQ). There were 79 and 81 participants in the BD and non-BD groups, respectively. We administered the Korean version of the California Verbal Learning Test (K-CVLT) and Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (RCFT) to evaluate verbal and non-verbal memory, respectively, and measured executive functions using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), Trail-Making Test, Controlled Oral Word Association Test and Stroop Color-Word Test. We administered the d2 test to evaluate attention. Neuropsychological performance was analyzed by multivariate analysis of variance. The BD group showed significantly poorer performance in the long-term free recall condition of the K-CVLT and delayed recall condition of the RCFT and completed significantly fewer categories on the WCST than the non-BD group. In addition, there were significant negative associations among the AUDIT-K total score, AUQ binge score, and long-term free recall score of the K-CVLT. There were significant negative associations between the total AUDIT-K score and delayed recall RCFT score, and between the total AUDIT-K total score and numbers of completed categories on the WCST. These results indicate that college students who participate in BD have difficulties with verbal/non-verbal memory and executive functions, and further suggest that excessive alcohol use could have detrimental effects on the hippocampal-prefrontal circuit even with a relatively short period of alcohol use.
•Advances in methods to screen and monitor cognitive function is essential in captive adult rhesus macaques.•Our modified finger maze test can be performed simultaneously in their homecages even with ...a short training period.•The monkey chow-based cognitive assessment may provide a useful methodology to evaluate learning and memory.
In research on cognitive function, the use of experimental animals is essential for the study of human cognitive processes and mechanisms. Furthermore, non-human primates are necessary for understanding higher cognitive functions in humans. However, there are few cognitive function tests available for non-human primates, Thus, we modified a finger maze test for application to non-human primates. In this study, we assessed learning and memory in 12 adult rhesus monkeys using a finger maze test that was developed to assess cognitive functions in captive non-human primates. The monkeys were trained with moving rewards indicating the correct direction, which allowed the monkeys to obtain the reward. Following training, subjects completed a learning trial and a memory trial two months later. Although the time required for training varied among the monkeys, 11 out of 12 monkeys completed the training and achieved a high success rate in the learning trial as well as in the memory trial conducted 2 months later. This is the first study to apply the finger maze test to adult rhesus monkeys. The finger maze test enabled us to assess learning and memory in several adult rhesus monkeys simultaneously.
This study aimed to assess the possible association between cognitive impairment and two important biochemical biomarkers of oxidative stress, thiol‐disulfide homeostasis (TDH), and ischemia‐modified ...albumin (IMA) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). This study included 85 patients with MS (38 treatment‐naïve relapsing–remitting MS (RRMS), 31 RRMS on fingolimod therapy, and 16 secondary progressive MS (SPMS)) and 33 healthy controls. Cognitive evaluation was carried out by applying the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS) test battery and the scores were adjusted for age and years of education. Plasma TDH was assessed using an automated method and plasma IMA levels were determined using the cobalt‐albumin binding assay. Plasma native thiol and total thiol levels were significantly decreased in patients with SPMS when compared with the naïve patients and healthy controls. Cognitive impairment was detected in 47.4% of naïve patients, 64.5% of patients on fingolimod therapy, and 80% of patients with SPMS. Naïve patients or patients on fingolimod therapy who were cognitively impaired had significantly decreased levels of native thiol and total thiol compared to the cognitively normal patients. Logistic regression analysis revealed total thiol and native thiol to be significantly associated with cognitive impairment in naïve patients and patients on fingolimod therapy. Significant correlations were determined between BICAMS scores, TDH, IMA, clinical indices of disease severity (EDSS and MSSS), and magnetic resonance imaging parameters. This study has shown for the first time that plasma TDH parameters are associated with cognitive impairment in MS.
The possible association between cognitive impairment and two important biochemical markers of oxidative stress, thiol‐disulfide homeostasis (TDH), and ischemia‐modified albumin (IMA) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) was evaluated. It has been shown that plasma TDH parameters are associated with cognitive impairment in MS.
The aim of the present study was to assess the validity of a 12-word Czech version of the Philadelphia (repeatable) Verbal Learning Test czP(r)VLT-12. The construction of the czP(r)VLT-12 was modeled ...after the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT) and the nine-word Philadelphia (repeatable) Verbal Learning Test P(r)VLT. The czP(r)VLT-12 was constructed from a large corpus of old (60-74) and very old (75-96) Czech adults (n = 540). Participants met strict inclusion criteria for the absence of any active or past neurodegenerative disorders and performed within normal limits on other neuropsychological measures. Principal component analysis (PCA) and correlations between czP(r)VLT-12 factor structure and other memory tests were conducted. The czP(r)VLT-12 produced a four-factor solution, accounting for 70.90% of variance, with factors related to: (1) recall, (2) extra-list intrusion errors/recognition foils, (3) interference, and (4) acquisition rate; a solution similar to the CVLT and P(r)VLT. Increasing age resulted in a decline in most czP(r)VLT-12 indices, women outperformed men, and higher education led to higher scores. Memory performance in normal aging did not correlate with instrumental activities of daily living. Low, but significant, correlations were seen with other tests of cognitive performance (divergent validity). Appendices are available that provide normed percentile estimates of individual czP(r)VLT-12 performance stratified by age, education, and gender. In accordance with previous studies, these results demonstrate the usefulness of czP(r)VLT-12 in assessing declarative memory in older adults.
Objectives
Existing cochlear implant (CI) outcomes research demonstrates a high degree of variability in device effectiveness among experienced CI users. Increasing evidence suggests that verbal ...learning and memory (VL&M) may have an influence on speech recognition with CIs. This study examined the relations in CI users between visual measures of VL&M and speech recognition in a series of models that also incorporated spectro‐temporal discrimination. Predictions were that (1) speech recognition would be associated with VL&M abilities and (2) VL&M would contribute to speech recognition outcomes above and beyond spectro‐temporal discrimination in multivariable models of speech recognition.
Methods
This cross‐sectional study included 30 adult postlingually deaf experienced CI users who completed a nonauditory visual version of the California Verbal Learning Test‐Second Edition (v‐CVLT‐II) to assess VL&M, and the Spectral‐Temporally Modulated Ripple Test (SMRT), an auditory measure of spectro‐temporal processing. Participants also completed a battery of word and sentence recognition tasks.
Results
CI users showed significant correlations between some v‐CVLT‐II measures (short‐delay free‐ and cued‐recall, retroactive interference, and “subjective” organizational recall strategies) and speech recognition measures. Performance on the SMRT was correlated with all speech recognition measures. Hierarchical multivariable linear regression analyses showed that SMRT performance accounted for a significant degree of speech recognition outcome variance. Moreover, for all speech recognition measures, VL&M scores contributed independently in addition to SMRT.
Conclusion
Measures of spectro‐temporal discrimination and VL&M were associated with speech recognition in CI users. After accounting for spectro‐temporal discrimination, VL&M contributed independently to performance on measures of speech recognition for words and sentences produced by single and multiple talkers.
Level of Evidence
3 Laryngoscope, 133:661–669, 2023
This study examined the relations in cochlear implant users between visual measures of verbal learning and memory and speech recognition in a series of models that also incorporated spectro‐temporal discrimination. Measures of spectro‐temporal discrimination and verbal learning and memory were associated with speech recognition in CI users. After accounting for spectro‐temporal discrimination, verbal learning and memory contributed independently to performance on measures of speech recognition for words and sentences produced by single and multiple talkers.
To determine the association between synaptic functioning as measured via neurogranin in CSF and cognition relative to established Alzheimer disease (AD) biomarkers in neurologically healthy older ...adults.
We analyzed CSF concentrations of neurogranin, β-amyloid (Aβ42), phosphorylated tau (p-tau), and total tau (t-tau) among 132 neurologically normal older adults (mean 64.5, range 55-85), along with bilateral hippocampal volumes and a measure of episodic memory (Auditory Verbal Learning Test, delayed recall). Univariable analyses examined the relationship between neurogranin and the other AD-related biomarkers. Multivariable regression models examined the relationship between neurogranin and delayed recall, adjusting for age and sex, and interaction terms (neurogranin × AD biomarkers).
Higher neurogranin concentrations were associated with older age (ρ = 0.20,
= 0.02), lower levels of p-tau and t-tau, and smaller hippocampal volumes (
< 0.03), but not with CSF Aβ42 (
= 0.18). In addition, CSF neurogranin demonstrated a significant relationship with memory performance independent of the AD-related biomarkers; individuals with the lowest CSF neurogranin concentrations performed better on delayed recall than those with medium or high CSF neurogranin concentrations (
< 0.01). Notably, CSF p-tau, t-tau, and Aβ42 and hippocampal volumes were not significantly associated with delayed recall scores (
> 0.40), and did not interact with neurogranin to predict memory (
> 0.10).
Synaptic dysfunction (assessed via neurogranin) may be an early pathologic process in age-related neurodegeneration, and a sensitive marker of age-related cognitive abilities, potentially preceding or even acting independently from AD pathogenesis. Synaptic functioning may be a useful early marker of cognitive aging and possibly a target for future brain aging interventions.
PDF
