Impact of simulated visual impairment on the cognitive test performance of young adults

Aims: This study investigated the effect of simulated visual impairment on the speed and accuracy of performance on a series of commonly used cognitive tests. ----- Methods: Cognitive performance was assessed for 30 young, visually normal subjects (M=22.0yrs ± 3.1 yrs) using the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), Trail Making Test (TMT) A and B and the Stroop Colour Word Test under three visual conditions: normal vision and two levels of visually degrading filters (VistechTM) administered in a random order. Distance visual acuity and contrast sensitivity were also assessed for each filter condition. ----- Results: The visual filters, which degraded contrast sensitivity to a greater extent than visual acuity, significantly increased the time to complete (p<0.05), but not the number of errors made, on the DSST and the TMT A and B and affected only some components of the Stroop test.----- Conclusions: Reduced contrast sensitivity had a marked effect on the speed but not the accuracy of performance on commonly used cognitive tests, even in young individuals; the implications of these findings are discussed.

Development of a valid and reliable video-based decision-making test for Australian football umpires

To develop a valid and reliable video-based decision-making test to examine and monitor the decision-making performance of Australian football umpires.

Cognitive assessment in closed head injury : stability, validity and parallel forms for two neuropsychological measures of recovery

Investigated the psychometric properties of the original and alternate sets of the Trail Making Test (TMT) and the Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT; A. L. Benton and D. Hamsher, 1978) in 50 orthopedic and 15 closed head injured (1 yr after trauma) patients (aged 15–59 yrs). Although the alternate forms of both measures proved to be stable and consistent with each other in both groups, only the parallel sets of TMT reliably discriminated the clinical group from controls. Practice effects in the head injured were significant only for Trail B of TMT. Factor analysis of the control group's results identified Verbal Knowledge as a major contributor to performance on COWAT, whereas TMT was more dependent on Rapid Visual Search and Visuomotor Sequencing.

Executive control of working memory in schizophrenia

There is considerable evidence that working memory impairment is a common feature of schizophrenia. The present study assessed working memory and executive function in 54 participants with schizophrenia, and a group of 54 normal controls matched to the patients on age, gender and estimated premorbid IQ, using traditional and newer measures of executive function and two dual tasks—Telephone Search with Counting and the Memory Span and Tracking Task. Results indicated that participants with schizophrenia were significantly impaired on all standardised measures of executive function with the exception of a composite measure of the Trail Making Test. Results for the dual task measures demonstrated that while the participants with schizophrenia were unimpaired on immediate digit span recall over a 2-min period, they recalled fewer digit strings and performed more poorly on a tracking task (box-crossing task) compared with controls. In addition, participants with schizophrenia performed more poorly on the tracking task when they were required to simultaneously recall digits strings than when they performed this task alone. Contrary to expectation, results of the telephone search task under dual conditions were not significantly different between groups. These results may reflect the insufficient complexity of the tone-counting task as an interference task. Overall, the present study showed that participants with schizophrenia appear to have a restricted impairment of their working memory system that is evident in tasks in which the visuospatial sketchpad slave system requires central executive control.

Desempenho cognitivo em idosos hipertensos e normotensos

A população de idosos cresce rapidamente no Brasil. A prevalência de hipertensão arterial sistêmica (HAS) e distúrbios cognitivos é elevada nesta população. Testamos a hipótese de que a HAS reduz o desempenho cognitivos em idosos. Foram selecionamos idosos hipertensos e normotensos com idade ≥ 60 < 80. O desempenho cognitivo foi avaliado pelo Cambridge Cognitive Examination Revised (CAMCOG-R), por subtestes do Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale v.3 (WAIS III), além do Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), e o dos Trail Making Tests A/B (TMT-A/B). O desempenho cognitivo avaliado pelo escore global do CAMCOG-R e do QI estimado do WAIS III está reduzido nos idosos hipertensos mesmo quando controlado pela escolaridade, depressão, estado geral de saúde e qualidade de vida. O desempenho cognitivo em diversos domínios específicos controlados para a escolaridade, depressão, estado geral de saúde e qualidade de vida, e avaliados pelo CAMCOG-R, WAIS III, TMT-A e RAVLT também está reduzido nos idosos hipertensos. O presente estudo sugere que a HAS está associada ao declínio do desempenho cognitivo global em idosos. Notadamente, o desempenho das funções executivas está reduzido nos idosos hipertensos. Especula-se que a HAS seja um fator de risco para o declínio progressivo do desempenho cognitivo e, portanto, para o desenvolvimento de demência.

维持性血液透析患者认知功能特点研究

Objective: To study the episodic memory, semantic memory, cognitive planning ability and inhibition ability in MHD patients. Method: Neuropsychological research methods such as Action memory of verb-object phrase, Trail Making Test (A and B), Verbal Fluency Test, Go-No/Go test and Stroop Color Naming Task were used to investigate Episodic Memory 、Semantic Memory、Executive Function of 40 MHD and 40 NC. Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-Rating Depression Scale(SDS), Social Support Scale, Life Satisfaction Scale, and biochemical examination were applied and their relationships with cognitive function were analized. The mean age and education level of MHD group and NC group have no significant difference. Result: 1.Action memory of verb-object phrase differed significantly between MHD group and NC group. 2.Two tests of Verbal Fluency differed significantly between MHD group and NC group. 3.Trail Making Test A, Trail Making Test B, the baseline condition of Go-No/Go Test and Stroop Color Naming Test differed significantly between MHD group and NC group. 4.There is no significant difference between MHD group and NC group on the correct rate of No/Go Test and the baseline condition. Both groups showed Stroop Effect in Go-No/Go test, but MHD group performed significantly worse. 5.In Stroop Color Naming Task Test, NC group showed Stroop Effect, significant Repeated Distraction Promotion Effect and significant Negative Priming Effect,while MHD group showed only Stroop Effect and no Repeated Distraction Promotion Effect and no Negative Priming Effect. There is significant difference in Stroop Effect between MHD group and NC group. Conclusion: 1.Comparing with NC group, episodic memory, semantic memory, cognitive planning ability, and inhibition ability of MHD group were impaired significantly. 2.The pathological aging of Executive Function in MHD group showed: executive Function should be a unitary system. 3.Cognitive impairment is negatively correlated with serum creatinine, blood pressure and anxiety score in MHD patients; and is related with hemoglobin, hematocrit, social support and life satisfaction. Keyword: maintenance hemodialysis, episodic memory, semantic memory, cognitive planning, inhibition ability.

2型糖尿病患者认知功能特点及相关影响因素研究

Objective: Type 2 diabetes patients’ performances of action memory , semantic memory and working memory and the related factors were explored. Methods: 60 Type 2 diabetes patients were compared with 60 age and gender and level of education matched non-diabetes controls. Mood were tested by SAS and SDS, MMSE was used to test the basic cognitive function, Trail Making Test A and B, Verbal fluency test, Go-No/Go test, and Stroop color-word test were used to investigate the executive function of Type 2 diabetes patients and normal controls (NC). Patients’ GLU, TG, TCH, HbA1c, insulin and Cp were tested and correlated with their action memory and working memory. Results: There was no difference between NC group and Type 2 diabetes patients in MMSE scores. There is depression and anxiety mood in Type 2 diabetes patients. Type 2 diabetes patients get lower score in action memory test. Comparing to NC group, Type 2 diabetes patients performed significantly worse in Trail Making Test A and B and verbal fluency test. In Stroop Test, NC group showed significant Stroop Effect and Repeated Distraction Promotion Effect and Negative Priming Effect. However, In Type 2 diabetes group, only the Stroop Effect appeared, but no Repeated Distraction Promotion Effect and Negative Priming Effect. There is no difference between Type 2 diabetes and NC in Stroop Effect. In Go-No/Go test, both of two groups showed significant Stroop Effect, however, there was no difference between them. And also there is no difference on error rate of all levels between them. The course of disease, GL, HbA1c, TG, TCH, INS and Cp affected action memory and working memory. Conclusion: Type 2 diabetes patients’ action memory, semantic memory and working memory were partially impaired. Controlling the levels of GLU, TG and TCH can delay these kinds of impairment.

Abnormal integrity of association fiber tracts in amnestic mild cognitive impairment.

The association fiber tracts integrity of the inter-hemispheric and within-hemispheric communication was poor understood in amnestic type mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) patients by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). A region of interest-based DTI approach was applied to explore fiber tract differences between 22 aMCI patients and 22 well-matched normal aging. Correlations were also sought between fractional anisotropy (FA) values and the cognitive performance scores in the aMCI patients. Extensive impairment of association fiber tracts integrity was observed in aMCI patients, including bilateral inferior fronto-occipital fascicles, the genu of corpus callosum, bilateral cingulate bundles and bilateral superior longitudinal fascicles II (SLE II) subcomponent. In addition, the FA value of right SLE II was significantly negatively correlated to the performance of Trail Making Test A and B, whilst the values of right posterior cingulate bundle was significantly positive correlation with MMSE score. As aMCI is a putative prodromal syndrome to Alzheimer's disease (AD), this study suggested that investigation of association fiber tracts between remote cortexes may yield important new data to predict whether a patient will eventually develop AD.

Feasibility and acceptability of an exergame intervention for schizophrenia

Objectives To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of an exergame intervention as a tool to promote physical activity in outpatients with schizophrenia. Design Feasibility/Acceptability Study and Quasi-Experimental Trial. Method Sixteen outpatients with schizophrenia received treatment as usual and they all completed an 8-week exergame intervention using Microsoft Kinect® (20 min sessions, biweekly). Participants completed pre and post treatment assessments regarding functional mobility (Timed Up and Go Test), functional fitness performance (Senior Fitness Test), motor neurological soft signs (Brief Motor Scale), hand grip strength (digital dynamometer), static balance (force plate), speed of processing (Trail Making Test), schizophrenia-related symptoms (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale) and functioning (Personal and Social Performance Scale). The EG group completed an acceptability questionnaire after the intervention. Results Attrition rate was 18.75% and 69.23% of the participants completed the intervention within the proposed schedule. Baseline clinical traits were not related to game performance indicators. Over 90% of the participants rated the intervention as satisfactory and interactive. Most participants (76.9%) agreed that this intervention promotes healthier lifestyles and is an acceptable alternative to perform physical activity. Repeated-measures MANOVA analyses found no significant multivariate effects for combined outcomes. Conclusion This study established the feasibility and acceptability of an exergame intervention for outpatients with schizophrenia. The intervention proved to be an appealing alternative to physical activity. Future trials should include larger sample sizes, explore patients' adherence to home-based exergames and consider greater intervention dosage (length, session duration, and/or frequency) in order to achieve potential effects.

O Papel da Memória de Trabalho na Perturbação do Desenvolvimento da Coordenação, em Crianças Com Diagnóstico de Perturbação de Hiperatividade e Défice de Atenção

Este estudo pretende (1) encontrar a prevalência da Perturbação do Desenvolvimento da Coordenação (PDC) em crianças com Perturbação de Hiperatividades e Défice de Atenção (PHDA); (2) analisar qual a prevalência de défices de memória de trabalho verbal e não-verbal, em crianças com PHDA e comparar o desempenho entre as crianças que só apresentam PHDA e aquelas que apresentam também PDC; (3) verificar se a ocorrência de PDC é agravada, de acordo com a presença ou ausência de alterações de memória de trabalho e se estas podem ser consideradas fatores de risco ou de proteção para a manifestação de PDC, enquanto comorbilidade de PHDA. Foram selecionadas 37 crianças com diagnóstico de PHDA, com idades compreendidas entre os 7 e os 14 anos. A componente motora foi avaliado com a versão curta do Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOTMP) e o Questionário de Perturbação do Desenvolvimento da Coordenação 2007 (DCDQ’07); a memória de trabalho foi avaliada através da Figura Complexa de Rey, Trail Making Test - parte B e Memória de Dígitos – sentido inverso. Para determinar o impacto da memória de trabalho na componente motora, recorreu-se a uma regressão logística. Encontrou-se uma prevalência de PDC de 51% e de défices ao nível da memória de trabalho verbal e não-verbal de 60% e 80%, respetivamente, para a amostra total de crianças com PHDA. A terapêutica farmacológica para a PHDA revelou-se fator protetor para a manifestação de PDC, principalmente quando a primeira se encontra associada com o nascimento de termo. Um mau desempenho no teste Memória de Dígitos – sentido inverso é fator de risco para a manifestação de PDC, em crianças com PHDA. Este estudo permitiu verificar que crianças com PHDA+PDC apresentam défices motores genuínos, característicos de manifestação de PDC. Parecem também existir relações bastante complexas entre a memória de trabalho e os mecanismos de controlo motor na PHDA, sendo que estes podem ser distintos quando está presente uma comorbilidade de PDC.

Cozinha Virtual : uma prova de avaliação Neuropsicológica em Realidade Virtual

Esta dissertação surgiu com o intuito de criar uma prova neuropsicológica com todas as características das tradicionais provas de papel e lápis, com o acréscimo de vantagens que as novas tecnologias lhe podem trazer. Desta forma, desenvolveu-se um ambiente virtual com um propósito avaliativo, semelhante ao da prova em papel Trail Making Test e posteriormente ao seu desenvolvimento elaborou-se uma aplicação que foi testada em dois grupos. Compostas por um total de 47 elementos, estas amostras abrangeram população com e sem diagnóstico de problemas de alcoolismo (Síndrome de Dependência Alcoólica), que foram submetidas à execução das provas Cozinha Virtual e Trail Making Test. Os dados daí resultantes comprovam a capacidade desta prova avaliar os défices cognitivos ao nível da flexibilidade cognitiva, da capacidade de sequenciação, de procura visual, velocidade motora e capacidades atencionais e confirmam também a sua correlação com a prova que lhe deu origem.

Neuropsychological Assessment of Current and Past Crack Cocaine Users

Background: Cognitive changes due to crack cocaine consumption remain unclear Methods: For clarification, 55 subjects were assigned to three groups: control group, crack cocaine current users, and ex-users. Participants were submitted to Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and tasks evaluating executive functioning and verbal memory Mood state was also measured. Intergroup comparisons were carried out. Results: Control group performance on the MMSE was better than that of users and ex-users. Verbal memory performance for logical memory of users was impaired. Ex-users scored lower on DSST and Trail Making Test (Part B). Conclusion: Chronic crack cocaine use seems to disrupt general cognitive functioning (MMSE), verbal memory, and attentional resources, but findings suggest that some of these effects could be reversed by abstinence.

Influence of education and depressive symptoms on cognitive function in the elderly

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the influence that education and depression have on the performance of elderly people in neuropsychological tests. Methods: The study was conducted at the Institute of Psychiatry, University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine, Hospital das Clinicas. All of the individuals evaluated were aged 60 or older. The study sample consisted of 59 outpatients with depressive disorders and 51 healthy controls. We stratified the sample by level of education: low = 1-4 years of schooling; high = 5 or more years of schooling. Evaluations consisted of psychiatric assessment, cognitive assessment, laboratory tests and cerebral magnetic resonance imaging. Results: We found that level of education influenced all the measures of cognitive domains investigated (intellectual efficiency, processing speed, attention, executive function and memory) except the Digit Span Forward and Fuld Object Memory Evaluation (immediate and delayed recall), whereas depressive symptoms influenced some measures of memory, attention, executive function and processing speed. Although the combination of a low level of education and depression had a significant negative influence on Stroop Test part B, Trail Making Test part B and Logical Memory (immediate recall), we found no other significant effects of the interaction between level of education and depression. Conclusion: The results of this study underscore the importance of considering the level of education in the analysis of cognitive performance in depressed elderly patients, as well as the relevance of developing new cognitive function tests in which level of education has a reduced impact on the results.

Malondialdehyde plasma concentration correlates with declarative and working memory in patients with recurrent depressive disorder

Oxidative stress has been implicated in the cognitive decline, especially in memory impairment. The purpose of this study was to determine the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) in patients with recurrent depressive disorders (rDD) and to define relationship between plasma levels of MDA and the cognitive performance. The study comprised 46 patients meeting criteria for rDD. Cognitive function assessment was based on: The Trail Making Test , The Stroop Test, Verbal Fluency Test and Auditory-Verbal Learning Test. The severity of depression symptoms was assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). Statistically significant differences were found in the intensity of depression symptoms, measured by the HDRS on therapy onset versus the examination results after 8 weeks of treatment (P < 0.001). Considering the 8-week pharmacotherapy period, rDD patients presented better outcomes in cognitive function tests. There was no statistically significant correlation between plasma MDA levels, and the age, disease duration, number of previous depressive episodes and the results in HDRS applied on admission and on discharge. Elevated levels of MDA adversely affected the efficiency of visual-spatial and auditory-verbal working memory, short-term declarative memory and the delayed recall declarative memory. 1. Higher concentration of plasma MDA in rDD patients is associated with the severity of depressive symptoms, both at the beginning of antidepressants pharmacotherapy, and after 8 weeks of its duration. 2. Elevated levels of plasma MDA are related to the impairment of visual-spatial and auditory-verbal working memory and short-term and delayed declarative memory.

Total antioxidant status correlates with cognitive impairment in patients with recurrent depressive disorder

Depressive disorder is a multifactorial diseases, that one of the typical feature are cognitive impairments. The aim of this study was to determine the total antioxidant status (TAS) in patients with recurrent depressive disorder (rDD) and to define relationship between plasma levels of TAS and the cognitive performance. Design and methods: the study comprised 74 subjects: patients with rDD (n = 45) and healthy subjects (n = 29). Cognitive function assessment was based on: Trail Making Test, The Stroop Test, Verbal Fluency Test and Auditory Verbal Learning Test. Statistically significant differences were found in the intensity of depression symptoms, measured by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) on therapy onset versus the examination results after 8 weeks of treatment (p < 0.001). The level of TAS was substantially higher in patients with rDD (p = 0.01). For rDD patients, elevated TAS levels were associated with worse cognitive test performance. The higher was the concentration of plasma TAS, the greater was the severity of depressive symptoms measured by HDRS before and after pharmacotherapy. (1) Higher concentration of plasma TAS in rDD patients is associated with the severity of depressive symptoms. (2) Elevated levels of plasma TAS are related to impairment of short-term declarative memory, long-term declarative-memory, verbal fluency and working memory.