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Heiskanen MA, Nevalainen J, Pahkala K, Juonala M, Hutri N, Kähönen M, Jokinen E, Laitinen TP, Tossavainen P, Taittonen L, Viikari JSA, Raitakari OT, Rovio SP. Change in cognitive performance during seven-year follow-up in midlife is associated with sex, age, and education - The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study. J Neurol 2024; 271:5165-5176. [PMID: 38824491 PMCID: PMC11319598 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-024-12466-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Sex, age, and education are associated with the level of cognitive performance. We investigated whether these factors modulate the change in cognitive performance in midlife by leveraging the longitudinal data from the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study (YFS). METHODS Participants of the YFS cohort performed a computer-based Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) in 2011 and 2018 (n = 1671, age 41-56 years in 2018). Overall cognitive performance and domains representing learning and memory, working memory, reaction time, and information processing were extracted by common principal component analysis from the longitudinal cognitive data. Linear models adjusted for baseline cognitive performance were used to study the association of sex, age, and education with changes in overall cognitive performance and in the cognitive domains. RESULTS Cognitive performance decreased in all domains (overall cognition -0.56 SD, p < 0.001; working memory -0.81 SD, p < 0.001; learning and memory -0.70 SD, p < 0.001; reaction time -0.06 SD, p = 0.019; information processing -0.03 SD, p = 0.016). The decrease in working memory and information processing was greater in females compared to males. Cognitive performance decreased more in older participants in all domains. Education alleviated the decrease in cognitive performance in all domains except reaction time. The beneficial effect of education was greater for males. CONCLUSIONS This study describes the natural course of aging-related changes in cognitive performance in midlife, the critical time window for early prevention of clinical cognitive decline. These findings provide a reference for studies focusing on determinants of pathological cognitive decline deviating from normal changes in cognitive performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marja A Heiskanen
- Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, FI-20520, Turku, Finland.
- Centre for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
| | | | - Katja Pahkala
- Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, FI-20520, Turku, Finland
- Centre for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
- Paavo Nurmi Centre, Unit for Health and Physical Activity, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Markus Juonala
- Department of Medicine, University of Turku and Division of Medicine, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Nina Hutri
- Tampere Centre for Skills Training and Simulation, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Mika Kähönen
- Department of Clinical Physiology, Tampere University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Eero Jokinen
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tomi P Laitinen
- Department of Clinical Physiology, University of Eastern Finland and Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Päivi Tossavainen
- Department of Pediatrics, Research Unit of Clinical Medicine, MRC Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Children and Adolescents, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Leena Taittonen
- Department of Pediatrics, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Jorma S A Viikari
- Department of Medicine, University of Turku and Division of Medicine, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Olli T Raitakari
- Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, FI-20520, Turku, Finland
- Centre for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
- Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Suvi P Rovio
- Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, FI-20520, Turku, Finland
- Centre for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
- Department of Public Health, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
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2
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Morrison L, Dyer AH, Dolphin H, Killane I, Bourke NM, Widdowson M, Woods CP, Gibney J, Reilly RB, Kennelly SP. Discrete Relationships between Spatiotemporal Gait Characteristics and Domain-Specific Neuropsychological Performance in Midlife. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 24:3903. [PMID: 38931687 PMCID: PMC11207228 DOI: 10.3390/s24123903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2024] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Midlife risk factors such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) confer a significantly increased risk of cognitive impairment in later life with executive function, memory, and attention domains often affected first. Spatiotemporal gait characteristics are emerging as important integrative biomarkers of neurocognitive function and of later dementia risk. We examined 24 spatiotemporal gait parameters across five domains of gait previously linked to cognitive function on usual-pace, maximal-pace, and cognitive dual-task gait conditions in 102 middle-aged adults with (57.5 ± 8.0 years; 40% female) and without (57.0 ± 8.3 years; 62.1% female) T2DM. Neurocognitive function was measured using a neuropsychological assessment battery. T2DM was associated with significant changes in gait phases and rhythm domains at usual pace, and greater gait variability observed during maximal pace and dual tasks. In the overall cohort, both the gait pace and rhythm domains were associated with memory and executive function during usual pace. At maximal pace, gait pace parameters were associated with reaction time and delayed memory. During the cognitive dual task, associations between gait variability and both delayed memory/executive function were observed. Associations persisted following covariate adjustment and did not differ by T2DM status. Principal components analysis identified a consistent association of slower gait pace (step/stride length) and increased gait variability during maximal-pace walking with poorer memory and executive function performance. These data support the use of spatiotemporal gait as an integrative biomarker of neurocognitive function in otherwise healthy middle-aged individuals and reveal discrete associations between both differing gait tasks and gait domains with domain-specific neuropsychological performance. Employing both maximal-pace and dual-task paradigms may be important in cognitively unimpaired populations with risk factors for later cognitive decline-with the aim of identifying individuals who may benefit from potential preventative interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Morrison
- Tallaght Institute of Memory and Cognition, Tallaght University Hospital, D24 NR0A Dublin, Ireland
- Discipline of Medical Gerontology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Adam H. Dyer
- Tallaght Institute of Memory and Cognition, Tallaght University Hospital, D24 NR0A Dublin, Ireland
- Discipline of Medical Gerontology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Helena Dolphin
- Tallaght Institute of Memory and Cognition, Tallaght University Hospital, D24 NR0A Dublin, Ireland
- Discipline of Medical Gerontology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Isabelle Killane
- Department of Engineering, Technological University Dublin, D07 EWV4 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Nollaig M. Bourke
- Discipline of Medical Gerontology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Matthew Widdowson
- Department of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, D08 W9RT Dublin, Ireland
- Robert Graves Institute of Endocrinology, Tallaght University Hospital, D24 NR0A Dublin, Ireland
| | - Conor P. Woods
- Department of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, D08 W9RT Dublin, Ireland
- Robert Graves Institute of Endocrinology, Tallaght University Hospital, D24 NR0A Dublin, Ireland
| | - James Gibney
- Department of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, D08 W9RT Dublin, Ireland
- Robert Graves Institute of Endocrinology, Tallaght University Hospital, D24 NR0A Dublin, Ireland
| | - Richard B. Reilly
- Discipline of Medical Gerontology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
- Trinity Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, D02 R590 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sean P. Kennelly
- Tallaght Institute of Memory and Cognition, Tallaght University Hospital, D24 NR0A Dublin, Ireland
- Discipline of Medical Gerontology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
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3
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Cousins O, Schubert JJ, Chandra A, Veronese M, Valkimadi P, Creese B, Khan Z, Arathimos R, Hampshire A, Rosenzweig I, Ballard C, Corbett A, Aasland D, Velayudhan L, O'Neill M, Collier D, Awais R, Sander K, Årstad E, Howes O, Turkheimer F, Hodges A. Microglial activation, tau and amyloid deposition in TREM2 p.R47H carriers and mild cognitive impairment patients: a multi-modal/multi-tracer PET/MRI imaging study with influenza vaccine immune challenge. J Neuroinflammation 2023; 20:272. [PMID: 37990275 PMCID: PMC10664604 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-023-02945-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Microglia are increasingly understood to play an important role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. The rs75932628 (p.R47H) TREM2 variant is a well-established risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. TREM2 is a microglial cell surface receptor. In this multi-modal/multi-tracer PET/MRI study we investigated the effect of TREM2 p.R47H carrier status on microglial activation, tau and amyloid deposition, brain structure and cognitive profile. METHODS We compared TREM2 p.R47H carriers (n = 8; median age = 62.3) and participants with mild cognitive impairment (n = 8; median age = 70.7). Participants underwent two [18F]DPA-714 PET/MRI scans to assess TSPO signal, indicative of microglial activation, before and after receiving the seasonal influenza vaccination, which was used as an immune stimulant. Participants also underwent [18F]florbetapir and [18F]AV1451 PET scans to assess amyloid and tau burden, respectively. Regional tau and TSPO signal were calculated for regions of interest linked to Braak stage. An additional comparison imaging healthy control group (n = 8; median age = 45.5) had a single [18F]DPA-714 PET/MRI. An expanded group of participants underwent neuropsychological testing, to determine if TREM2 status influenced clinical phenotype. RESULTS Compared to participants with mild cognitive impairment, TREM2 carriers had lower TSPO signal in Braak II (P = 0.04) and Braak III (P = 0.046) regions, despite having a similar burden of tau and amyloid. There were trends to suggest reduced microglial activation following influenza vaccine in TREM2 carriers. Tau deposition in the Braak VI region was higher in TREM2 carriers (P = 0.04). Furthermore, compared to healthy controls TREM2 carriers had smaller caudate (P = 0.02), total brain (P = 0.049) and white matter volumes (P = 0.02); and neuropsychological assessment revealed worse ADAS-Cog13 (P = 0.03) and Delayed Matching to Sample (P = 0.007) scores. CONCLUSIONS TREM2 p.R47H carriers had reduced levels of microglial activation in brain regions affected early in the Alzheimer's disease course and differences in brain structure and cognition. Changes in microglial response may underlie the increased Alzheimer's disease risk in TREM2 p.R47H carriers. Future therapeutic agents in Alzheimer's disease should aim to enhance protective microglial actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Cousins
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 9RT, UK
| | - Julia J Schubert
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 9RT, UK
| | - Avinash Chandra
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 9RT, UK
| | - Mattia Veronese
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 9RT, UK
- Department of Information Engineering, University of Padua, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Polena Valkimadi
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 9RT, UK
| | - Byron Creese
- College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX1 2HZ, UK
- Division of Psychology, Department of Life Sciences, Brunel University London, London, UB8 3PH, UK
| | - Zunera Khan
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 9RT, UK
| | - Ryan Arathimos
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 9RT, UK
| | - Adam Hampshire
- Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Ivana Rosenzweig
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 9RT, UK
| | - Clive Ballard
- College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX1 2HZ, UK
| | - Anne Corbett
- College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX1 2HZ, UK
| | - Dag Aasland
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 9RT, UK
| | - Latha Velayudhan
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 9RT, UK
| | | | | | - Ramla Awais
- Centre for Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry, University College London, London, WC1E 6BS, UK
| | - Kerstin Sander
- Centre for Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry, University College London, London, WC1E 6BS, UK
| | - Erik Årstad
- Centre for Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry, University College London, London, WC1E 6BS, UK
| | - Oliver Howes
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 9RT, UK
| | - Federico Turkheimer
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 9RT, UK
| | - Angela Hodges
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 9RT, UK.
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Curiel Cid RE, Zheng DD, Kitaigorodsky M, Adjouadi M, Crocco EA, Georgiou M, Gonzalez-Jimenez C, Ortega A, Goryawala M, Nagornaya N, Pattany P, Sfakianaki E, Visser U, Loewenstein DA. A Novel Computerized Cognitive Test for the Detection of Mild Cognitive Impairment and Its Association with Neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's Disease Prone Brain Regions. ADVANCES IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE 2023; 12:38-54. [PMID: 38873169 PMCID: PMC11170665 DOI: 10.4236/aad.2023.123004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
During the prodromal stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD), neurodegenerative changes can be identified by measuring volumetric loss in AD-prone brain regions on MRI. Cognitive assessments that are sensitive enough to measure the early brain-behavior manifestations of AD and that correlate with biomarkers of neurodegeneration are needed to identify and monitor individuals at risk for dementia. Weak sensitivity to early cognitive change has been a major limitation of traditional cognitive assessments. In this study, we focused on expanding our previous work by determining whether a digitized cognitive stress test, the Loewenstein-Acevedo Scales for Semantic Interference and Learning, Brief Computerized Version (LASSI-BC) could differentiate between Cognitively Unimpaired (CU) and amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI) groups. A second focus was to correlate LASSI-BC performance to volumetric reductions in AD-prone brain regions. Data was gathered from 111 older adults who were comprehensively evaluated and administered the LASSI-BC. Eighty-seven of these participants (51 CU; 36 aMCI) underwent MR imaging. The volumes of 12 AD-prone brain regions were related to LASSI-BC and other memory tests correcting for False Discovery Rate (FDR). Results indicated that, even after adjusting for initial learning ability, the failure to recover from proactive semantic interference (frPSI) on the LASSI-BC differentiated between CU and aMCI groups. An optimal combination of frPSI and initial learning strength on the LASSI-BC yielded an area under the ROC curve of 0.876 (76.1% sensitivity, 82.7% specificity). Further, frPSI on the LASSI-BC was associated with volumetric reductions in the hippocampus, amygdala, inferior temporal lobes, precuneus, and posterior cingulate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosie E. Curiel Cid
- Center for Cognitive Neuroscience and Aging and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - D. Diane Zheng
- Center for Cognitive Neuroscience and Aging and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Marcela Kitaigorodsky
- Center for Cognitive Neuroscience and Aging and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Malek Adjouadi
- Center for Advanced Technology and Education, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering and Computing, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Elizabeth A. Crocco
- Center for Cognitive Neuroscience and Aging and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Mike Georgiou
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Christian Gonzalez-Jimenez
- Center for Cognitive Neuroscience and Aging and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Alexandra Ortega
- Center for Cognitive Neuroscience and Aging and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Mohammed Goryawala
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Natalya Nagornaya
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Pradip Pattany
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Efrosyni Sfakianaki
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Ubbo Visser
- Department of Computer Science, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - David A. Loewenstein
- Center for Cognitive Neuroscience and Aging and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
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5
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Khaled Y, Abdelhamid AA, Al-Mazroey H, Almannai AK, Fetais S, Al-Srami AS, Ahmed S, Al-Hajri N, Mustafa A, Chivese T, Djouhri L. Higher serum uric acid is associated with poorer cognitive performance in healthy middle-aged people: a cross-sectional study. Intern Emerg Med 2023; 18:1701-1709. [PMID: 37330420 PMCID: PMC10504193 DOI: 10.1007/s11739-023-03337-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Age-related cognitive impairment can occur many years before the onset of the clinical symptoms of dementia. Uric acid (UA), a metabolite of purine-rich foods, has been shown to be positively associated with improved cognitive function, but such association remains controversial. Moreover, most of the previous studies investigating the association included elderly participants with memory-related diseases. Therefore, the present study aimed at investigating whether serum UA (sUA) is associated with cognitive performance in healthy middle-aged individuals. We conducted a cross-sectional study on a cohort of middle-aged individuals (40-60 years old) who participated in the Qatar Biobank. The participants had no memory-related diseases, schizophrenia, stroke, or brain damage. They were divided according to sUA level into a normal group (< 360 μmol/L) and a high group (≥ 360 μmol/L), and underwent an assessment of cognitive function using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery. Two cognitive function domains were assessed: (a) speed of reaction/reaction time and (b) short-term visual memory. The median age of the 931 participants included in the study was 48.0 years (IQR: 44.0, 53.0), of which 47.6% were male. Adjusted multivariable linear regression analyses showed that higher sUA is associated with poorer performance on the visual memory domain of cognitive function (β = - 6.87, 95% CI - 11.65 to - 2.10, P = 0.005), but not on the speed of reaction domain (β = - 55.16, 95% CI - 190.63 to 80.30, P = 0.424). Our findings support previous studies suggesting an inverse association between high sUA levels and cognitive function in elderly and extend the evidence for such a role to middle-aged participants. Further prospective studies are warranted to investigate the relationship between UA and cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yousef Khaled
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
| | - Aya A Abdelhamid
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
| | - Hissa Al-Mazroey
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
| | - Abdulrahman K Almannai
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
| | - Sara Fetais
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
| | - Aisha S Al-Srami
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
| | - Shaima Ahmed
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
| | - Noora Al-Hajri
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ayman Mustafa
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
- Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Research Unit, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Tawanda Chivese
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
| | - Laiche Djouhri
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar.
- Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Research Unit, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
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Jaffe PI, Kaluszka A, Ng NF, Schafer RJ. A massive dataset of the NeuroCognitive Performance Test, a web-based cognitive assessment. Sci Data 2022; 9:758. [PMID: 36481748 PMCID: PMC9731954 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-022-01872-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We present a dataset of approximately 5.5 million subtest scores from over 750,000 adults who completed the NeuroCognitive Performance Test (NCPT; Lumos Labs, Inc.), a validated, self-administered cognitive test accessed via web browser. The dataset includes assessment scores from eight test batteries consisting of 5-11 subtests that collectively span several cognitive domains including working memory, visual attention, and abstract reasoning. In addition to the raw scores and normative data from each subtest, the dataset includes basic demographic information from each participant (age, gender, and educational background). The scale and diversity of the dataset provides an unprecedented opportunity for researchers to investigate population-level variability in cognitive abilities and their relation to demographic factors. To facilitate reuse of this dataset by other researchers, we provide a Python module that supports several common preprocessing steps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul I Jaffe
- Lumos Labs, Inc., San Francisco, CA, 94108, USA.
- Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
| | | | - Nicole F Ng
- Lumos Labs, Inc., San Francisco, CA, 94108, USA
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7
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Buján A, Sampaio A, Pinal D. Resting-state electroencephalographic correlates of cognitive reserve: Moderating the age-related worsening in cognitive function. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:854928. [PMID: 36185469 PMCID: PMC9521492 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.854928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
This exploratory study aimed to investigate the resting-state electroencephalographic (rsEEG) correlates of the cognitive reserve from a life span perspective. Current source density (CSD) and lagged-linear connectivity (LLC) measures were assessed to this aim. We firstly explored the relationship between rsEEG measures for the different frequency bands and a socio-behavioral proxy of cognitive reserve, the Cognitive Reserve Index (CRI). Secondly, we applied moderation analyses to assess whether any of the correlated rsEEG measures showed a moderating role in the relationship between age and cognitive function. Moderate negative correlations were found between the CRI and occipital CSD of delta and beta 2. Moreover, inter- and intrahemispheric LLC measures were correlated with the CRI, showing a negative association with delta and positive associations with alpha 1, beta 1, and beta 2. Among those correlated measures, just two rsEEG variables were significant moderators of the relationship between age and cognition: occipital delta CSD and right hemispheric beta 2 LLC between occipital and limbic regions. The effect of age on cognitive performance was stronger for higher values of both measures. Therefore, lower values of occipital delta CSD and lower beta 2 LLC between right occipital and limbic regions might protect or compensate for the effects of age on cognition. Results of this exploratory study might be helpful to allocate more preventive efforts to curb the progression of cognitive decline in adults with less CR, possibly characterized by these rsEEG parameters at a neural level. However, given the exploratory nature of this study, more conclusive work on these rsEEG measures is needed to firmly establish their role in the cognition-age relationship, for example, verifying if these measures moderate the relationship between brain structure and cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Buján
- Psychological Neuroscience Laboratory (PNL), Research Center in Psychology (CIPsi), School of Psychology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
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Episodic Memory in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI) and Alzheimer’s Disease Dementia (ADD): Using the “Doors and People” Tool to Differentiate between Early aMCI—Late aMCI—Mild ADD Diagnostic Groups. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:diagnostics12071768. [PMID: 35885671 PMCID: PMC9324962 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12071768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Episodic memory is the type of memory that allows the recollection of personal experiences containing information on what has happened and, also, where and when it happened. Because of its sensitivity to neurodegenerative diseases and the aging of the brain, it is considered a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease dementia (ADD). The objective of the present study was to examine episodic memory in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and ADD. Patients with the diagnosis of early aMCI, late aMCI, and mild ADD were evaluated using the Doors and People tool which consists of four subtests examining different aspects of episodic memory. The statistical analysis with receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) showed the discriminant potential and the cutoffs of every subtest. Overall, the evaluation of episodic memory with the Doors and People tool can discriminate with great sensitivity between the different groups of people with AD and, especially, early aMCI, late aMCI, and mild ADD patients.
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9
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Campos-Magdaleno M, Leiva D, Pereiro AX, Lojo-Seoane C, Mallo SC, Facal D, Juncos-Rabadán O. Changes in visual memory in mild cognitive impairment: a longitudinal study with CANTAB. Psychol Med 2021; 51:2465-2475. [PMID: 32375918 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291720001142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mild cognitive impairment (MCI), as a stage in the cognitive continuum between normal ageing and dementia, is mainly characterized by memory impairment. The aims of this study were to examine CANTAB measures of temporal changes of visual memory in MCI and to evaluate the usefulness of the baseline scores for predicting changes in cognitive status. METHODS The study included 201 participants aged over 50 years with subjective cognitive complaints. Visual memory was assessed with four CANTAB tests [paired associates learning (PAL), delayed matching to sample (DMS), pattern recognition memory (PRM) and spatial span (SSP)] administered at baseline and on two further occasions, with a follow-up interval of 18-24 months. Participants were divided into three groups according to the change in their cognitive status: participants with subjective cognitive complaints who remained stable, MCI participants who remained stable (MCI-Stable) and MCI participants whose cognitive deterioration continued (MCI-Worsened). Linear mixed models were used to model longitudinal changes, with evaluation time as a fixed variable, and multinomial regression models were used to predict changes in cognitive status. RESULTS Isolated significant effects were obtained for age and group with all CANTAB tests used. Interactions between evaluation time and group were identified in the PAL and DMS tests, indicating different temporal patterns depending on the changes in cognitive status. Regression models also indicated that CANTAB scores were good predictors of changes in cognitive status. CONCLUSIONS Decline in visual memory measured by PAL and DMS tests can successfully distinguish different types of MCI, and considered together PAL, DMS, PRM and SSP can predict changes in cognitive status.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Campos-Magdaleno
- Department of Developmental Psychology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
| | - David Leiva
- Department of Methodology of Behavioural Sciences, University of Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
| | - Arturo X Pereiro
- Department of Developmental Psychology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
| | - Cristina Lojo-Seoane
- Department of Developmental Psychology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
| | - Sabela C Mallo
- Department of Developmental Psychology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
| | - David Facal
- Department of Developmental Psychology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
| | - Onésimo Juncos-Rabadán
- Department of Developmental Psychology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
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10
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Öhman F, Hassenstab J, Berron D, Schöll M, Papp KV. Current advances in digital cognitive assessment for preclinical Alzheimer's disease. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2021; 13:e12217. [PMID: 34295959 PMCID: PMC8290833 DOI: 10.1002/dad2.12217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 05/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
There is a pressing need to capture and track subtle cognitive change at the preclinical stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD) rapidly, cost-effectively, and with high sensitivity. Concurrently, the landscape of digital cognitive assessment is rapidly evolving as technology advances, older adult tech-adoption increases, and external events (i.e., COVID-19) necessitate remote digital assessment. Here, we provide a snapshot review of the current state of digital cognitive assessment for preclinical AD including different device platforms/assessment approaches, levels of validation, and implementation challenges. We focus on articles, grants, and recent conference proceedings specifically querying the relationship between digital cognitive assessments and established biomarkers for preclinical AD (e.g., amyloid beta and tau) in clinically normal (CN) individuals. Several digital assessments were identified across platforms (e.g., digital pens, smartphones). Digital assessments varied by intended setting (e.g., remote vs. in-clinic), level of supervision (e.g., self vs. supervised), and device origin (personal vs. study-provided). At least 11 publications characterize digital cognitive assessment against AD biomarkers among CN. First available data demonstrate promising validity of this approach against both conventional assessment methods (moderate to large effect sizes) and relevant biomarkers (predominantly weak to moderate effect sizes). We discuss levels of validation and issues relating to usability, data quality, data protection, and attrition. While still in its infancy, digital cognitive assessment, especially when administered remotely, will undoubtedly play a major future role in screening for and tracking preclinical AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fredrik Öhman
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska AcademyUniversity of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational MedicineUniversity of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
| | - Jason Hassenstab
- Department of NeurologyWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMissouriUSA
- Department of Psychological & Brain SciencesWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - David Berron
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)MagdeburgGermany
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences MalmöLund UniversityLundSweden
| | - Michael Schöll
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska AcademyUniversity of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational MedicineUniversity of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
- Dementia Research Centre, Queen Square Institute of NeurologyUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | - Kathryn V. Papp
- Center for Alzheimer Research and TreatmentDepartment of Neurology, Brigham and Women's HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
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11
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Canipe LG, Sioda M, Cheatham CL. Diversity of the gut-microbiome related to cognitive behavioral outcomes in healthy older adults. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2021; 96:104464. [PMID: 34174489 DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2021.104464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
With the aging of the United States population, age-related cognitive disorders will be more prevalent and will negatively impact society. Differences in factors within and among individuals that influence cognitive decline complicate studies on the topic. One difference among individuals - gut microbiome diversity and composition - changes within the person across their lifespan and varies among individuals. An individual's gut microflora can significantly influence gut-brain communication, brain function, and behavior. Little research has been done to evaluate the gut-brain relation in non-clinical populations, with no previous studies, to our knowledge, in healthy older adults. In the present study, we investigated the relation between microbiome diversity and cognitive decline. The researchers invited sixty-three healthy older adults between 67-83 years of age to provide a fecal sample and complete an electrophysiological assessment of brain potentials (Event-Related Potentials; ERP) and the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB). Electrophysiological and behavioral data were related to alpha diversity, a measure of the variety of species in the gut-microbiome, supporting the hypothesis that a relation exists between gut microbial diversity and cognitive performance in healthy older adults as measured by CANTAB and ERP. To our knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate the association between ERP outcomes and the gut-microbiome. Our results begin to bridge the gap in our understanding of the connection between behavior and the composition of the gut-microbiome, commonly referred to as the gut-brain connection.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Grant Canipe
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 235 E. Cameron Avenue Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3270; Department of Psychology & Human Service, Elon University, 100 Campus Drive, CB 2337, Elon, NC 27244.
| | - Michael Sioda
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Bioinformatics Building, 9201 University City Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28223-0001.
| | - Carol L Cheatham
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Nutrition Research Institute, 500 Laureate Way, Rm 1101, Kannapolis NC, USA; Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 235 E. Cameron Avenue Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3270.
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12
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Karlsen RH, Saksvik SB, Stenberg J, Lundervold AJ, Olsen A, Rautio I, Folvik L, Håberg AK, Vik A, Karr JE, Iverson GL, Skandsen T. Examining the Subacute Effects of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Using a Traditional and Computerized Neuropsychological Test Battery. J Neurotrauma 2020; 38:74-85. [PMID: 32948095 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2019.6922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
This study investigates subacute cognitive effects of mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) in the Trondheim Mild TBI Study, as measured, in part, by the neuropsychological test battery of the Collaborative European NeuroTrauma Effectiveness Research in TBI (CENTER-TBI) program, including computerized tests from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) and traditional paper-and-pencil tests. We investigated whether cognitive function was associated with injury severity: intracranial traumatic lesions on neuroimaging, witnessed loss of consciousness (LOC), or post-traumatic amnesia (PTA) >1 h. Further, we explored which of the tests in the CENTER-TBI battery might be associated with the largest subacute effects of MTBI (i.e., at 2 weeks post-injury). We recruited 177 patients with MTBI (16-59 years of age) from a regional trauma center and an outpatient clinic,79 trauma control participants, and 81 community control participants. The MTBI group differed from community controls only on one traditional test of processing speed (coding; p = 0.009, Cliff's delta [Δ] = 0.20). Patients with intracranial abnormalities performed worse than those without on a traditional test (phonemic verbal fluency; p = 0.043, Δ = 0.27), and patients with LOC performed differently on the Attention Switching Task from the CANTAB (p = 0.020, Δ = -0.20). Patients with PTA >1 h performed worse than those with <1 h on 10 measures, from traditional tests and the CANTAB (Δ = 0.33-0.20), likely attributable, at least in part, to pre-existing differences in intellectual functioning between groups. In general, those with MTBI had good neuropsychological outcome 2 weeks after injury and no particular CENTER-TBI computerized or traditional tests seemed to be more sensitive to subtle cognitive deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rune Hatlestad Karlsen
- Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Faculty of Social and Educational Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Simen Berg Saksvik
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social and Educational Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway.,Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, St. Olav's Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Jonas Stenberg
- Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Faculty of Social and Educational Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway
| | | | - Alexander Olsen
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social and Educational Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway.,Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, St. Olav's Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Ida Rautio
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social and Educational Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Line Folvik
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social and Educational Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Asta Kristine Håberg
- Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Faculty of Social and Educational Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway.,Department of Neurosurgery, St. Olav's Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Anne Vik
- Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Faculty of Social and Educational Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway.,Department of Neurosurgery, St. Olav's Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Justin E Karr
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Spaulding Research Institute, Home Base Program, Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Grant L Iverson
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Spaulding Research Institute, Home Base Program, Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Toril Skandsen
- Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Faculty of Social and Educational Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway.,Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, St. Olav's Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
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13
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Bekrater-Bodmann R, Löffler A, Silvoni S, Frölich L, Hausner L, Desch S, Kleinböhl D, Flor H. Tablet-based sensorimotor home-training system for amnestic mild cognitive impairments in the elderly: design of a randomised clinical trial. BMJ Open 2019; 9:e028632. [PMID: 31377702 PMCID: PMC6687000 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-028632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Revised: 06/13/2019] [Accepted: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Dementia (particularly Alzheimer's disease, AD) is a major cause of impaired cognitive functions in the elderly. Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) is a prodromal stage of AD, if substantiated by Alzheimer biomarkers. A neuroscientific model of pathological ageing emphasises the loss of brain plasticity, sensorimotor capacities and subsequent cognitive decline. A mechanistic treatment targeting dysfunctional plastic changes associated with ageing should be efficacious in delaying AD. In this trial, we aim to evaluate the effectiveness of a newly developed sensorimotor training, delivered at home, combined with personalised reinforcement, on the progression of aMCI-related cognitive impairments. METHODS AND ANALYSIS In a randomised trial, we will compare two aMCI groups (30 subjects each), randomly allocated to a sensorimotor or a cognitive control training. Both trainings consist of an adaptive algorithm, and will last 3 months each. We hypothesise that both trainings will have positive effects on cognitive function with the sensorimotor training being superior compared with the control training based on its improvement in basic perceptual skills underlying memory encoding and retrieval. The primary outcome is episodic memory function, improved hippocampal function during memory tasks will be a secondary outcome. As further exploratory outcomes, we expect improved segregation in sensory and motor maps, better sensory discrimination only in the sensorimotor training and reduced transition to dementia (examined after completion of this study). We expect the experimental training to be evaluated more positively by the users compared with the cognitive training, resulting in reduced rates of discontinuation. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The Ethics Committee of the Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, approved the study (2015-543N-MA), which adheres to the Declaration of Helsinki. The results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. Access to raw data is available on request. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER DRKS00012748.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin Bekrater-Bodmann
- Department of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Annette Löffler
- Department of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Stefano Silvoni
- Department of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Lutz Frölich
- Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Lucrezia Hausner
- Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Simon Desch
- Department of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Dieter Kleinböhl
- Department of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Herta Flor
- Department of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
- Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Mannheim University, Mannheim, Germany
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14
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Facal D, Valladares-Rodriguez S, Lojo-Seoane C, Pereiro AX, Anido-Rifon L, Juncos-Rabadán O. Machine learning approaches to studying the role of cognitive reserve in conversion from mild cognitive impairment to dementia. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2019; 34:941-949. [PMID: 30854737 DOI: 10.1002/gps.5090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The overall aim of the present study was to explore the role of cognitive reserve (CR) in the conversion from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to dementia. We used traditional and machine learning (ML) techniques to compare converter and nonconverter participants. We also discuss the predictive value of CR proxies in relation to the ML model performance. METHODS In total, 169 participants completed the longitudinal study. Participants were divided into a control group and three MCI subgroups, according to the Petersen criteria for diagnosis. Information about the participants was compared using nine ML classification techniques. Seven relevant performance metrics were computed in order to evaluate the accuracy of prediction regarding converter and nonconverter participants. RESULTS ML algorithms applied to socio-demographic, basic health, and CR proxy data enabled prediction of conversion to dementia. The best performing models were the gradient boosting classifier (accuracy (ACC) = 0.93; F1 = 0.86, and Cohen κ = 0.82) and random forest classifier (ACC = 0.92; F1 = 0.79, and Cohen κ = 0.71). Use of ML techniques corroborated the protective role of CR as a mediator of conversion to dementia, whereby participants with more years of education and higher vocabulary scores survived longer without developing dementia. CONCLUSIONS We used ML approaches to explore the role of CR in conversion from MCI to dementia. The findings indicate the potential value of ML algorithms for detecting risk of conversion to dementia in cognitive aging and CR studies. Further research is required to develop an ML-based procedure that can be used to make robust predictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Facal
- Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | | | - Cristina Lojo-Seoane
- Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Arturo X Pereiro
- Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Luis Anido-Rifon
- School of Telecommunication Engineering, University of Vigo, Vigo, Spain
| | - Onésimo Juncos-Rabadán
- Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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15
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Whitelock V, Nouwen A, Houben K, van den Akker O, Rosenthal M, Higgs S. Does working memory training improve dietary self-care in type 2 diabetes mellitus? Results of a double blind randomised controlled trial. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 2018; 143:204-214. [PMID: 30017630 DOI: 10.1016/j.diabres.2018.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2018] [Revised: 06/01/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Controlling food intake despite adequate knowledge remains a struggle for many people with type 2 diabetes. The present study investigated whether working memory training can reduce food intake and improve glycaemic control. It also examined training effects on cognition, food cravings, and dietary self-efficacy and self-care. METHODS In a double-blind multicentre parallel-group randomised controlled trial, adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus were randomly allocated to receive 25 sessions of either active (n = 45) or control (n = 36) working memory training. Assessments at baseline, post-training and 3-month follow-up measured cognition, food intake (primary outcomes), glycaemic control (HbA1c) and cholesterol (secondary outcomes). Semi-structured interviews assessed participants' experiences of the training. RESULTS Intention-to-treat ANOVAs (N = 81) showed improved non-trained updating ability in active compared to control training from pre-test (active M = 34.37, control M = 32.79) to post-test (active M = 31.35, control M = 33.53) and follow-up (active M = 31.81, control M = 32.65; η2 = 0.05). There were no overall effects of training on other measures of cognition, food intake, HbA1c, cholesterol, food cravings and dietary self-efficacy and self-care. In post-hoc analyses, those high in dietary restraint in the active training group showed a greater reduction in fat intake pre to post-test compared to controls. Interviews revealed issues around acceptability and performance of the training. CONCLUSIONS Transfer of working memory training effects to non-trained behaviour were limited, but do suggest that training may reduce fat intake in those who are already motivated to do so. TRIAL REGISTRATION Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN22806944.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Whitelock
- Department of Psychology, School of Science and Technology, Middlesex University, The Burroughs, Hendon, London NW4 4BT, UK.
| | - Arie Nouwen
- Department of Psychology, School of Science and Technology, Middlesex University, The Burroughs, Hendon, London NW4 4BT, UK
| | - Katrijn Houben
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, Maastricht 6200 MD, The Netherlands
| | - Olga van den Akker
- Department of Psychology, School of Science and Technology, Middlesex University, The Burroughs, Hendon, London NW4 4BT, UK
| | - Miranda Rosenthal
- Royal Free Hospital, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, Pond Street, London NW3 2QG, UK
| | - Suzanne Higgs
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
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16
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Aslam RW, Bates V, Dundar Y, Hounsome J, Richardson M, Krishan A, Dickson R, Boland A, Fisher J, Robinson L, Sikdar S. A systematic review of the diagnostic accuracy of automated tests for cognitive impairment. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2018; 33:561-575. [PMID: 29356098 PMCID: PMC5887872 DOI: 10.1002/gps.4852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2017] [Accepted: 11/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this review is to determine whether automated computerised tests accurately identify patients with progressive cognitive impairment and, if so, to investigate their role in monitoring disease progression and/or response to treatment. METHODS Six electronic databases (Medline, Embase, Cochrane, Institute for Scientific Information, PsycINFO, and ProQuest) were searched from January 2005 to August 2015 to identify papers for inclusion. Studies assessing the diagnostic accuracy of automated computerised tests for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and early dementia against a reference standard were included. Where possible, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and likelihood ratios were calculated. The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies tool was used to assess risk of bias. RESULTS Sixteen studies assessing 11 diagnostic tools for MCI and early dementia were included. No studies were eligible for inclusion in the review of tools for monitoring progressive disease and response to treatment. The overall quality of the studies was good. However, the wide range of tests assessed and the non-standardised reporting of diagnostic accuracy outcomes meant that statistical analysis was not possible. CONCLUSION Some tests have shown promising results for identifying MCI and early dementia. However, concerns over small sample sizes, lack of replicability of studies, and lack of evidence available make it difficult to make recommendations on the clinical use of the computerised tests for diagnosing, monitoring progression, and treatment response for MCI and early dementia. Research is required to establish stable cut-off points for automated computerised tests used to diagnose patients with MCI or early dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vickie Bates
- Health ServicesUniversity of LiverpoolLiverpoolUK
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Louise Robinson
- Institute of Health and SocietyNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUK
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17
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Aslam RW, Bates V, Dundar Y, Hounsome J, Richardson M, Krishan A, Dickson R, Boland A, Kotas E, Fisher J, Sikdar S, Robinson L. Automated tests for diagnosing and monitoring cognitive impairment: a diagnostic accuracy review. Health Technol Assess 2018; 20:1-74. [PMID: 27767932 DOI: 10.3310/hta20770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive impairment is a growing public health concern, and is one of the most distinctive characteristics of all dementias. The timely recognition of dementia syndromes can be beneficial, as some causes of dementia are treatable and are fully or partially reversible. Several automated cognitive assessment tools for assessing mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and early dementia are now available. Proponents of these tests cite as benefits the tests' repeatability and robustness and the saving of clinicians' time. However, the use of these tools to diagnose and/or monitor progressive cognitive impairment or response to treatment has not yet been evaluated. OBJECTIVES The aim of this review was to determine whether or not automated computerised tests could accurately identify patients with progressive cognitive impairment in MCI and dementia and, if so, to investigate their role in monitoring disease progression and/or response to treatment. DATA SOURCES Five electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, ISI Web of Science and PsycINFO), plus ProQuest, were searched from 2005 to August 2015. The bibliographies of retrieved citations were also examined. Trial and research registers were searched for ongoing studies and reviews. A second search was run to identify individual test costs and acquisition costs for the various tools identified in the review. REVIEW METHODS Two reviewers independently screened all titles and abstracts to identify potentially relevant studies for inclusion in the review. Full-text copies were assessed independently by two reviewers. Data were extracted and assessed for risk of bias by one reviewer and independently checked for accuracy by a second. The results of the data extraction and quality assessment for each study are presented in structured tables and as a narrative summary. RESULTS The electronic searching of databases, including ProQuest, resulted in 13,542 unique citations. The titles and abstracts of these were screened and 399 articles were shortlisted for full-text assessment. Sixteen studies were included in the diagnostic accuracy review. No studies were eligible for inclusion in the review of tools for monitoring progressive disease. Eleven automated computerised tests were assessed in the 16 included studies. The overall quality of the studies was good; however, the wide range of tests assessed and the non-standardised reporting of diagnostic accuracy outcomes meant that meaningful synthesis or statistical analysis was not possible. LIMITATIONS The main limitation of this review is the substantial heterogeneity of the tests assessed in the included studies. As a result, no meta-analyses could be undertaken. CONCLUSION The quantity of information available is insufficient to be able to make recommendations on the clinical use of the computerised tests for diagnosing and monitoring MCI and early dementia progression. The value of these tests also depends on the costs of acquisition, training, administration and scoring. FUTURE WORK Research is required to establish stable cut-off points for automated computerised tests that are used to diagnose patients with MCI or early dementia. Additionally, the costs associated with acquiring and using these tests in clinical practice should be estimated. STUDY REGISTRATION The study is registered as PROSPERO CRD42015025410. FUNDING The National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rabeea'h W Aslam
- Liverpool Review and Implementation Group (LRiG), University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Vickie Bates
- Liverpool Review and Implementation Group (LRiG), University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Yenal Dundar
- Liverpool Review and Implementation Group (LRiG), University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.,Community Mental Health Team, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, Southport, UK
| | - Juliet Hounsome
- Liverpool Review and Implementation Group (LRiG), University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Marty Richardson
- Liverpool Review and Implementation Group (LRiG), University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Ashma Krishan
- Liverpool Review and Implementation Group (LRiG), University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Rumona Dickson
- Liverpool Review and Implementation Group (LRiG), University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Angela Boland
- Liverpool Review and Implementation Group (LRiG), University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Eleanor Kotas
- Liverpool Review and Implementation Group (LRiG), University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Joanne Fisher
- Liverpool Review and Implementation Group (LRiG), University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Sudip Sikdar
- Older Adults Mental Health Team, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, Waterloo, Liverpool, UK.,Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Louise Robinson
- Newcastle University Institute for Ageing, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.,Institute for Health and Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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18
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Lauer J, Moreno-López L, Manktelow A, Carroll EL, Outtrim JG, Coles JP, Newcombe VF, Sahakian BJ, Menon DK, Stamatakis EA. Neural correlates of visual memory in patients with diffuse axonal injury. Brain Inj 2017; 31:1513-1520. [PMID: 28707953 DOI: 10.1080/02699052.2017.1341998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE To investigate the neural substrates of visual memory in a sample of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). We hypothesized that patients with decreased grey and white matter volume in frontal and parietal cortices as well as medial temporal and occipital lobes would perform poorly on the tests of visual memory analysed. METHODS AND PROCEDURES 39 patients and 53 controls were assessed on tests of visual memory and learning from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB). Patients with TBI were scanned with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Partial correlations and multiple regression analyses were used to examine relationships between cognitive variables and MRI volumetric findings. This study complements and extends previous studies by performing volumetric comparisons on a variety of resolution levels, from whole brain to voxel-based level analysis. MAIN OUTCOMES AND RESULTS Patients with TBI performed significantly worse than controls in all the tasks assessed. Performance was associated with wide-spread reductions in grey and white matter volume of several cortical and subcortical structures as well as with cerebrospinal fluid space enlargement in accordance with previous studies of memory in patients with TBI and cognitive models suggesting that memory problems involve the alteration of multiple systems. CONCLUSIONS Our results propose that compromised visual memory in patients with TBI is related to a distributed pattern of volume loss in regions mediating memory and attentional processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliane Lauer
- a Division of Anaesthesia , University of Cambridge , Cambridge , UK
| | | | - Anne Manktelow
- a Division of Anaesthesia , University of Cambridge , Cambridge , UK
| | - Ellen L Carroll
- a Division of Anaesthesia , University of Cambridge , Cambridge , UK
| | - Joanne G Outtrim
- a Division of Anaesthesia , University of Cambridge , Cambridge , UK
| | - Jonathan P Coles
- a Division of Anaesthesia , University of Cambridge , Cambridge , UK
| | - Virginia F Newcombe
- a Division of Anaesthesia , University of Cambridge , Cambridge , UK.,c Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre , University of Cambridge , Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge , UK
| | - Barbara J Sahakian
- b Department of Psychiatry and MRC/Wellcome Trust Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute , University of Cambridge , Cambridge , UK.,c Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre , University of Cambridge , Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge , UK
| | - David K Menon
- a Division of Anaesthesia , University of Cambridge , Cambridge , UK.,c Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre , University of Cambridge , Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge , UK
| | - Emmanuel A Stamatakis
- a Division of Anaesthesia , University of Cambridge , Cambridge , UK.,c Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre , University of Cambridge , Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge , UK
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19
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Matos Gonçalves M, Pinho MS, Simões MR. Construct and concurrent validity of the Cambridge neuropsychological automated tests in Portuguese older adults without neuropsychiatric diagnoses and with Alzheimer's disease dementia. AGING NEUROPSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITION 2017. [PMID: 28632037 DOI: 10.1080/13825585.2017.1294651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
We aimed to analyze the construct and concurrent validity of the Rapid Visual Information Processing (RVP), Paired Associates Learning (PAL), Reaction Time (RTI), and Spatial Working Memory (SWM) tests from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB®). Inclusion criteria were checked in a first session. The CANTAB and additional pencil-and-paper tests were administered within 1 week. The participants (aged 69-96 years) were 137 Portuguese adults without neuropsychiatric diagnoses and 37 adults with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease dementia. Comparisons were made between the CANTAB tests and between these tests and the Rey Complex Figure Test (RCFT), Verbal Fluency (VF) test, and some Wechsler Memory Scale-III and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III subtests. Most intra-test correlations were stronger than the CANTAB inter-test correlations. The RVP correlated more with VF animals (.44), the PAL with RCFT immediate recall (-.52), the RTI with RVP mean latency (.42), and the SWM with Spatial Span backward (-.39).
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Matos Gonçalves
- a Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the University of Coimbra , Coimbra , Portugal
| | - Maria Salomé Pinho
- b Memory, Language and Executive Functions Lab , Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the University of Coimbra , Coimbra , Portugal
| | - Mário R Simões
- c Centro de Investigação do Núcleo de Estudos e Intervenção Cognitivo-Comportamental (CINEICC), Cognitive-Behavioral Center for Research and Intervention, Psychological Assessment and Psychometrics Lab , Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the University of Coimbra , Coimbra , Portugal
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20
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Cacciamani F, Salvadori N, Eusebi P, Lisetti V, Luchetti E, Calabresi P, Parnetti L. Evidence of practice effect in CANTAB spatial working memory test in a cohort of patients with mild cognitive impairment. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY-ADULT 2017. [PMID: 28631988 DOI: 10.1080/23279095.2017.1286346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) is a system of neuropsychological tests frequently used to track the progression of cognitive deficits in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). We investigated test-retest reliability in seven CANTAB tests. Twenty-five MCI patients, with either AD-like or conflicting/normal cerebrospinal fluid profiles underwent three testing sessions at 6-month intervals, including the following tests: Reaction Time and Rapid Visual Information Processing (assessing attention and reaction times); Delayed Matching-to-Sample, Paired Associates Learning, Spatial Recognition Memory and Pattern Recognition Memory (assessing memory); Spatial Working Memory (assessing executive functions). No significant difference was found when comparing the two groups. Many CANTAB measures obtained low or marginal test-retest coefficients. We observed a marked improvement in Spatial Working Memory (SWM) in both groups when comparing the baseline performance with the 6-month follow-up, but no difference in performance between 6- and 12-month follow-ups. A similar trend was documented in Paired Associates Learning (PAL), but the effect size was small. Such improvement may result from a practice effect, likely due to the learning of an effective strategy. Our evidence raised an important issue concerning the need for methodological caution when interpreting the results of longitudinal studies using SWM and PAL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Cacciamani
- a Center for Memory Disturbances, Section of Neurology , University of Perugia , Perugia , Italy
| | - Nicola Salvadori
- a Center for Memory Disturbances, Section of Neurology , University of Perugia , Perugia , Italy
| | - Paolo Eusebi
- a Center for Memory Disturbances, Section of Neurology , University of Perugia , Perugia , Italy
| | - Viviana Lisetti
- a Center for Memory Disturbances, Section of Neurology , University of Perugia , Perugia , Italy
| | - Elisa Luchetti
- a Center for Memory Disturbances, Section of Neurology , University of Perugia , Perugia , Italy
| | - Paolo Calabresi
- a Center for Memory Disturbances, Section of Neurology , University of Perugia , Perugia , Italy
| | - Lucilla Parnetti
- a Center for Memory Disturbances, Section of Neurology , University of Perugia , Perugia , Italy
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21
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Kelly D, Coen RF, Akuffo KO, Beatty S, Dennison J, Moran R, Stack J, Howard AN, Mulcahy R, Nolan JM. Cognitive Function and Its Relationship with Macular Pigment Optical Density and Serum Concentrations of its Constituent Carotenoids. J Alzheimers Dis 2016; 48:261-77. [PMID: 26401946 PMCID: PMC4923753 DOI: 10.3233/jad-150199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Background: Macular pigment (MP) levels correlate with brain concentrations of lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z), and have also been shown to correlate with cognitive performance in the young and elderly. Objective: To investigate the relationship between MP, serum concentrations of L and Z, and cognitive function in subjects free of retinal disease with low MP (Group 1, n = 105) and in subjects with AMD (Group 2, n = 121). Methods: MP was measured using customized heterochromatic flicker photometry and dual-wavelength autofluorescence; cognitive function was assessed using a battery of validated cognition tests; serum L and Z concentrations were determined by HPLC. Results: Significant correlations were evident between MP and various measures of cognitive function in both groups (r = –0.273 to 0.261, p≤0.05, for all). Both serum L and Z concentrations correlated significantly (r = 0.187, p≤0.05 and r = 0.197, p≤0.05, respectively) with semantic (animal) fluency cognitive scores in Group 2 (the AMD study group), while serum L concentrations also correlated significantly with Verbal Recognition Memory learning slope scores in the AMD study group (r = 0.200, p = 0.031). Most of the correlations with MP, but not serum L or Z, remained significant after controlling for age, gender, diet, and education level. Conclusion: MP offers potential as a non-invasive clinical biomarker of cognitive health, and appears more successful in this role than serum concentrations of L or Z.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Kelly
- Macular Pigment Research Group, Department of Chemical and Life Sciences, Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Ireland
| | - Robert F Coen
- Memory Clinic, Mercers Institute for Research on Ageing, St. James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Kwadwo Owusu Akuffo
- Macular Pigment Research Group, Department of Chemical and Life Sciences, Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Ireland
| | - Stephen Beatty
- Macular Pigment Research Group, Department of Chemical and Life Sciences, Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Ireland.,Institute of Vision Research, Whitfield Clinic, Waterford, Ireland
| | - Jessica Dennison
- Macular Pigment Research Group, Department of Chemical and Life Sciences, Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Ireland
| | - Rachel Moran
- Macular Pigment Research Group, Department of Chemical and Life Sciences, Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Ireland
| | - Jim Stack
- Macular Pigment Research Group, Department of Chemical and Life Sciences, Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Ireland
| | | | - Riona Mulcahy
- University Hospital Waterford, Age-Related Care Unit, Waterford, Ireland
| | - John M Nolan
- Macular Pigment Research Group, Department of Chemical and Life Sciences, Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Ireland
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22
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Soares FC, de Oliveira TCG, de Macedo LDED, Tomás AM, Picanço-Diniz DLW, Bento-Torres J, Bento-Torres NVO, Picanço-Diniz CW. CANTAB object recognition and language tests to detect aging cognitive decline: an exploratory comparative study. Clin Interv Aging 2014; 10:37-48. [PMID: 25565785 PMCID: PMC4279672 DOI: 10.2147/cia.s68186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective The recognition of the limits between normal and pathological aging is essential to start preventive actions. The aim of this paper is to compare the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) and language tests to distinguish subtle differences in cognitive performances in two different age groups, namely young adults and elderly cognitively normal subjects. Method We selected 29 young adults (29.9±1.06 years) and 31 older adults (74.1±1.15 years) matched by educational level (years of schooling). All subjects underwent a general assessment and a battery of neuropsychological tests, including the Mini Mental State Examination, visuospatial learning, and memory tasks from CANTAB and language tests. Cluster and discriminant analysis were applied to all neuropsychological test results to distinguish possible subgroups inside each age group. Results Significant differences in the performance of aged and young adults were detected in both language and visuospatial memory tests. Intragroup cluster and discriminant analysis revealed that CANTAB, as compared to language tests, was able to detect subtle but significant differences between the subjects. Conclusion Based on these findings, we concluded that, as compared to language tests, large-scale application of automated visuospatial tests to assess learning and memory might increase our ability to discern the limits between normal and pathological aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Cabral Soares
- Universidade Federal do Pará, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Hospital Universitário João de Barros Barreto, Laboratório de Investigações em Neurodegeneração e Infecção Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | - Thaís Cristina Galdino de Oliveira
- Universidade Federal do Pará, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Hospital Universitário João de Barros Barreto, Laboratório de Investigações em Neurodegeneração e Infecção Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | - Liliane Dias e Dias de Macedo
- Universidade Federal do Pará, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Hospital Universitário João de Barros Barreto, Laboratório de Investigações em Neurodegeneração e Infecção Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | - Alessandra Mendonça Tomás
- Universidade Federal do Pará, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Hospital Universitário João de Barros Barreto, Laboratório de Investigações em Neurodegeneração e Infecção Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | | | - João Bento-Torres
- Universidade Federal do Pará, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Hospital Universitário João de Barros Barreto, Laboratório de Investigações em Neurodegeneração e Infecção Belém, Pará, Brazil ; Faculdade de Fisioterapia e Terapia Ocupacional, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | - Natáli Valim Oliver Bento-Torres
- Universidade Federal do Pará, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Hospital Universitário João de Barros Barreto, Laboratório de Investigações em Neurodegeneração e Infecção Belém, Pará, Brazil ; Faculdade de Fisioterapia e Terapia Ocupacional, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | - Cristovam Wanderley Picanço-Diniz
- Universidade Federal do Pará, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Hospital Universitário João de Barros Barreto, Laboratório de Investigações em Neurodegeneração e Infecção Belém, Pará, Brazil
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Visuospatial learning and memory in the Cebus apella and microglial morphology in the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus and CA1 lacunosum molecular layer. J Chem Neuroanat 2014; 61-62:176-88. [PMID: 25462387 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2014.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2014] [Revised: 09/18/2014] [Accepted: 10/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
We investigated whether the morphology of microglia in the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus (DG-Mol) or in the lacunosum molecular layer of CA1 (CA1-LMol) was correlated with spatial learning and memory in the capuchin monkey (Cebus apella). Learning and memory was tested in 4 monkeys with visuo-spatial, paired associated learning (PAL) tasks from the Cambridge battery of neuropsychological tests. After testing, monkeys were sacrificed, and hippocampi were sectioned. We specifically immunolabeled microglia with an antibody against the adapter binding, ionized calcium protein. Microglia were selected from the middle and outer thirds of the DG-Mol (n=268) and the CA1-LMol (n=185) for three-dimensional reconstructions created with Neurolucida and Neuroexplorer software. Cluster and discriminant analyses, based on microglial morphometric parameters, identified two major morphological microglia phenotypes (types I and II) found in both the CA1-LMol and DG-Mol of all individuals. Compared to type II, type I microglia were significantly smaller, thinner, more tortuous and ramified, and less complex (lower fractal dimensions). PAL performance was both linearly and non-linearly correlated with type I microglial morphological features from the rostral and caudal DG-Mol, but not with microglia from the CA1-LMol. These differences in microglial morphology and correlations with PAL performance were consistent with previous proposals of hippocampal regional contributions for spatial learning and memory. Our results suggested that at least two morphological microglial phenotypes provided distinct physiological roles to learning-associated activity in the rostral and caudal DG-Mol of the monkey brain.
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