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Kim HA, Kaduthodil J, Strong RW, Germine LT, Cohan S, Wilmer JB. Multiracial Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (MRMET): An inclusive version of an influential measure. Behav Res Methods 2024; 56:5900-5917. [PMID: 38630159 PMCID: PMC11335804 DOI: 10.3758/s13428-023-02323-x] [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] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2024]
Abstract
Can an inclusive test of face cognition meet or exceed the psychometric properties of a prominent less inclusive test? Here, we norm and validate an updated version of the influential Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET), a clinically significant neuropsychiatric paradigm that has long been used to assess theory of mind and social cognition. Unlike the RMET, our Multiracial Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (MRMET) incorporates racially inclusive stimuli, nongendered answer choices, ground-truth referenced answers, and more accessible vocabulary. We show, via a series of large datasets, that the MRMET meets or exceeds RMET across major psychometric indices. Moreover, the reliable signal captured by the two tests is statistically indistinguishable, evidence for full interchangeability. We thus present the MRMET as a high-quality, inclusive, normed and validated alternative to the RMET, and as a case in point that inclusivity in psychometric tests of face cognition is an achievable aim. The MRMET test and our normative and validation data sets are openly available under a CC-BY-SA 4.0 license at osf.io/ahq6n.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heesu Ally Kim
- Department of Neuroscience, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA, USA
- Division of Depression and Anxiety Disorders, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
- Institute for Technology in Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Jasmine Kaduthodil
- Department of Neurosciences and Shiley-Marcos Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Roger W Strong
- Institute for Technology in Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA
- The Many Brains Project, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Laura T Germine
- Division of Depression and Anxiety Disorders, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
- Institute for Technology in Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Sarah Cohan
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jeremy B Wilmer
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Psychology, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA, USA.
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Stix K, Dalkner N, Bengesser SA, Birner A, Fellendorf FT, Häussl A, Lenger M, Maget A, Painold A, Platzer M, Queissner R, Schmiedhofer F, Schönthaler E, Schwerdtfeger A, Stross T, Tmava-Berisha A, Weber B, Unterrainer HF, Reininghaus EZ. Theory of mind abilities during the course of bipolar disorder: A longitudinal study using mixed models. Psychiatry Res 2024; 339:116039. [PMID: 38924901 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2024.116039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Theory of mind (ToM) deficits, difficulties in recognizing the intentions, propensities, and beliefs of others have been shown in individuals with bipolar disorder in several studies; however, it is not yet elucidated how ToM abilities changes over the course of bipolar disorder and is related to illness symptoms. This is one of the first longitudinal studies to compare the ToM abilities of euthymic bipolar individuals and healthy controls over a four and a half years period. ToM abilities were measured using the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET). A total of 91 euthymic bipolar individuals and 91 healthy controls were included in the analyses. Linear mixed models were used to compare ToM abilities of bipolar individuals and healthy controls. It was found that bipolar individuals scored lower on average on the RMET than healthy controls and that these RMET scores were stable over four and a half years. The results of this study suggest that ToM deficits are a stable (possibly endophenotypic) trait of bipolar disorder. This understanding can contribute to better identification, assessment, and treatment strategies for individuals with bipolar disorder, ultimately improving their overall care and outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Stix
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 31, 8036 Graz, Austria
| | - Nina Dalkner
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 31, 8036 Graz, Austria.
| | - Susanne A Bengesser
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 31, 8036 Graz, Austria
| | - Armin Birner
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 31, 8036 Graz, Austria
| | - Frederike T Fellendorf
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 31, 8036 Graz, Austria
| | - Alfred Häussl
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 31, 8036 Graz, Austria
| | - Melanie Lenger
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 31, 8036 Graz, Austria
| | - Alexander Maget
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 31, 8036 Graz, Austria
| | - Annamaria Painold
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 31, 8036 Graz, Austria
| | - Martina Platzer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 31, 8036 Graz, Austria
| | - Robert Queissner
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 31, 8036 Graz, Austria
| | - Franziska Schmiedhofer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 31, 8036 Graz, Austria
| | - Elena Schönthaler
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 31, 8036 Graz, Austria
| | | | - Tatjana Stross
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 31, 8036 Graz, Austria
| | - Adelina Tmava-Berisha
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 31, 8036 Graz, Austria
| | | | - Human-F Unterrainer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 31, 8036 Graz, Austria; Institute of Psychology, University of Graz, Austria; Faculty of Psychotherapy Science, Sigmund Freud University, Vienna, Austria; Center for Integrative Addiction Research (CIAR), Grüner Kreis Society, Vienna, Austria; Department of Religious Studies, University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Eva Z Reininghaus
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 31, 8036 Graz, Austria
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Isernia S, Cacciatore DM, Rossetto F, Ricci C, Baglio F. Reliability and minimal detectable change of the Yoni task for the theory of mind assessment. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1412560. [PMID: 39139598 PMCID: PMC11319278 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1412560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The Theory of Mind (ToM) assessment is becoming essential to evaluate the response to a social cognition intervention and to monitor the progression of social abilities impairment in atypical conditions. In the Italian setting, the Yoni task has been recently validated in its short version (the Yoni-48 task) to evaluate ToM in the clinical setting. The present study aimed to verify the test-retest reliability and the Minimal Detectable Change (MDC) of the Yoni-48 task. Methods The Yoni-48 task was administered to 229 healthy adults at two evaluation sessions 3 weeks apart (mean days between sessions = 20.35 ± 1.75) by a psychologist. The test-retest reliability of the Yoni-48 task accuracy and response time was tested by the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC2,1, two-way random model, absolute agreement type). Then, the MDC95 and MDC90 were computed based on the standard error of measurement. Finally, the 95% limits of agreement were plotted (LOA plot) to visualize the difference and mean score of each pair of measurements. Results The total Yoni-48 task accuracy, but not the response time score, showed a high ICC (>0.80), with an MDC of 0.10. By plotting the LOA plot for the accuracy score no systematic trends were observed. Discussion This evidence will support the adoption of the Yoni task in longitudinal designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Isernia
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi ONLUS, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | - Cristian Ricci
- Africa Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research (AUTHeR), North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
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Mulet-Perreault H, Landry M, Laforce RJ, Macoir J, Hudon C. Mini-SEA: Validity and Normative Data for the French-Quebec Population Aged 50 Years and Above. Arch Clin Neuropsychol 2024:acae051. [PMID: 38916196 DOI: 10.1093/arclin/acae051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The mini Social cognition & Emotional Assessment (mini-SEA) is a social cognition battery which assesses theory of mind and emotion recognition. Currently, no psychometrically validated measure of social cognition with adapted normative data exists for the middle-aged and elderly French-Quebec population. This project aims to determine the known-group discriminant validity of a cultural and linguistic adaptation of the mini-SEA between cognitively healthy people, those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or living with Alzheimer's Disease (AD). This study also aims to examine the stability of mini-SEA's performance over a 3-4-month time period, as well as to produce normative data for French-Quebec people aged 50 years. Normative data are derived for the full and an abbreviated version of the Faux Pas subtest. METHOD The sample included 211 French-speaking participants from Quebec (Canada) aged 50 to 89 years. Mini-SEA's performance between a sub-sample of cognitively healthy people (n = 20), those with MCI (n = 20) or with AD (n = 20) was compared. A sub-sample of cognitively healthy people (n = 30) performed the task twice to estimate test-retest reliability. Socio-demographic variables' effects on scores were examined to produce normative data in the form of regression equations or percentile ranks. RESULTS Significant differences emerged between cognitively healthy people and those with MCI or AD. Moreover, scores were relatively stable over a period of 3 to 4 months. Finally, for the normative data, age, gender, and education were associated with performance on the mini-SEA or its subtests. CONCLUSIONS This study improves and standardizes social cognition's assessment among French-Quebec individuals, which will help characterize their cognitive profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Mulet-Perreault
- École de psychologie, Faculté des sciences sociales, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Centre de recherche CERVO, Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de la Capitale-Nationale, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Mariane Landry
- École de psychologie, Faculté des sciences sociales, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Centre de recherche CERVO, Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de la Capitale-Nationale, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Robert Jr Laforce
- Clinique Interdisciplinaire de Mémoire, CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Département de médecine, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Joël Macoir
- Centre de recherche CERVO, Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de la Capitale-Nationale, Québec, QC, Canada
- École des sciences de la réadaptation, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Carol Hudon
- École de psychologie, Faculté des sciences sociales, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Centre de recherche CERVO, Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de la Capitale-Nationale, Québec, QC, Canada
- Centre de recherche VITAM, Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de la Capitale-Nationale, Québec, QC, Canada
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Li X, Shen M, Shen Z, Han Z, Jiao J, Tong X. Reading the mind in the eyes in patients with idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder. Neurol Sci 2024; 45:2697-2703. [PMID: 38190083 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-024-07303-3] [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: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Idiopathic rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) is characterized by vocalizations, jerks, and motor behaviors during REM sleep, often associated with REM-related dream content, which is considered a prodromal stage of α-synucleinopathy. The results of the Reading the Mind in the Eyes (RME) reflecting affective Theory of Mind (ToM) are inconsistent in α-synucleinopathy. The present study tried to investigate the RME in patients with iRBD. METHODS A total of 35 patients with iRBD and 26 healthy controls were included in the study. All participants were administered the RME and the cognitive assessments according to a standard procedure. The patients with iRBD were further divided into two groups (high or low RME) according to the scores of the RME (> 21, or ≤ 20). RESULTS The patients with iRBD had worse scores on cognitive tests compared with healthy controls involving global cognitive screening, memory, and visuospatial abilities (p < 0.05), but the scores of the RME were similar between the two groups (20.83 ± 3.38, 20.58 ± 3.43) (p ˃ 0.05). Patients with low RME had more obvious cognitive impairments than healthy controls. After applying Bonferroni correction for multiple tests, the low REM group only performed worse on the Sum of trials 1 to 5 and delayed recall of the RAVLT compared with the healthy control group (p < 0.001, = 0.002). The RME correlated with the scores of cognitive tests involving executive function, attention, memory, and visuospatial function. CONCLUSIONS The changes in RME had a relationship with cognitive impairments, especially memory, in patients with iRBD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xudong Li
- Department of Cognitive Disorder, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Fengtai District, South 4th Ring Road West 119, Beijing, 100070, China.
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing, China.
| | - Miaoxin Shen
- Department of Cognitive Disorder, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Fengtai District, South 4th Ring Road West 119, Beijing, 100070, China
| | | | - Ziling Han
- Department of Cognitive Disorder, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Fengtai District, South 4th Ring Road West 119, Beijing, 100070, China
| | - Jinsong Jiao
- Department of Neurology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaopeng Tong
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School, Xizang Minzu University, Xianyang, China
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Belfort Almeida Dos Santos TT, Nogueira MML, Lacerda IB, Brandt M, de Lucena AT, Rangel R, Gaigher J, Oliveira F, Dourado MCN. A Longitudinal Evaluation of the Pattern of Social Cognition Impairment in Brazilians With Alzheimer's Disease. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord 2023; 37:363-369. [PMID: 37916936 DOI: 10.1097/wad.0000000000000588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social cognition (SC) impairments contribute to the dependence of people with Alzheimer disease (AD), influencing their functional disability and the burden on family members and caregivers. Our objective was to longitudinally investigate the relationship between SC and cognitive and clinical variables in persons with AD and their caregivers. We also evaluated the different SC predictors from 3 perspectives: people with AD, caregivers of people with AD, and discrepancy analysis. METHODS In all, 137 dyads (people with AD and their caregivers) underwent 2 assessments: at baseline (M1) and after 1 year (M2). During follow-up, 58 dyads were excluded, and the study was thus concluded with 79. RESULTS Longitudinal analysis of the people with AD showed that while some cognitive functions declined (which is consistent with disease progression), SC impairments showed a more stable pattern. Another interesting result was related to SC predictors. For people with AD, SC was associated with cognition at both time points. For caregivers, besides cognition, other predictors included reduced functional abilities and quality of life in people with AD. These results are consistent with the discrepancy predictors. CONCLUSION The stable pattern in SC functioning over 12 months in AD suggests that this neurocognitive domain may be influenced more by emotional processing than by cognitive impairment. In addition, the SC predictors showed that the investigation of different points of view enables a more global understanding, contributing to better and more targeted treatment for the patient.
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Clemente L, Gasparre D, Alfeo F, Battista F, Abbatantuono C, Curci A, Lanciano T, Taurisano P. Theory of Mind and Executive Functions in Individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment or Healthy Aging. Brain Sci 2023; 13:1356. [PMID: 37891725 PMCID: PMC10605804 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13101356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Social cognition involves skills for maintaining harmonious personal and social relationships throughout life. Social cognition issues, including Theory of Mind (ToM), can significantly impact the well-being of older individuals and intensify with the onset of neurological conditions. Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is a state between healthy and pathological neurocognitive aging, where monitoring social functions is crucial. Despite numerous studies on ToM challenges in older adults and cognitive disorders, the underlying mechanisms remain debated. Uncertainty exists regarding whether ToM deficits are related to other cognitive functions, such as Executive Functions (EFs). Our study examined the correlation between EF and ToM performance in 32 MCI patients and 36 healthy elderly controls. The findings revealed a link between EF and ToM performance among healthy elderly individuals. Specifically, within the assessed EFs, the role of the working memory (WM) emerged. The study also highlighted distinctions between the MCI group and the healthy elderly group, showing that despite a general reduction in cognitive performance, the condition could impact these abilities in different ways. The study contributes to the literature, fostering comprehension of the mechanisms underlying ToM difficulties, while also paving the way for targeted interventions and enhanced clinical or preventative care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livio Clemente
- Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neuroscience (DiBraiN), University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, 70121 Bari, Italy; (L.C.); (D.G.); (C.A.); (P.T.)
| | - Daphne Gasparre
- Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neuroscience (DiBraiN), University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, 70121 Bari, Italy; (L.C.); (D.G.); (C.A.); (P.T.)
| | - Federica Alfeo
- Department of Education, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, 70121 Bari, Italy; (F.B.); (A.C.); (T.L.)
| | - Fabiana Battista
- Department of Education, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, 70121 Bari, Italy; (F.B.); (A.C.); (T.L.)
| | - Chiara Abbatantuono
- Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neuroscience (DiBraiN), University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, 70121 Bari, Italy; (L.C.); (D.G.); (C.A.); (P.T.)
| | - Antonietta Curci
- Department of Education, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, 70121 Bari, Italy; (F.B.); (A.C.); (T.L.)
| | - Tiziana Lanciano
- Department of Education, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, 70121 Bari, Italy; (F.B.); (A.C.); (T.L.)
| | - Paolo Taurisano
- Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neuroscience (DiBraiN), University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, 70121 Bari, Italy; (L.C.); (D.G.); (C.A.); (P.T.)
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Michaelian JC, McCade D, Hoyos CM, Brodaty H, Harrison F, Henry JD, Guastella AJ, Naismith SL. Pilot Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial Evaluating the Feasibility of an Intranasal Oxytocin in Improving Social Cognition in Individuals Living with Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis Rep 2023; 7:715-729. [PMID: 37483320 PMCID: PMC10357119 DOI: 10.3233/adr-230013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Individuals living with Alzheimer's disease (AD) demonstrate extensive deficits in social cognition. To date, no studies have investigated the feasibility of an intranasal oxytocin (INOT) treatment to improve social cognition in individuals living with AD. Objective We conducted a pilot trial to determine recruitment feasibility, enrolment acceptability, and adherence to an INOT treatment to inform on the subsequent design of a future randomized controlled trial (RCT). We also estimated the effect sizes of potential social cognitive function outcome measures related to participants and their caregivers. Methods Four individuals with AD were enrolled in a single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial involving a one-week treatment period with both INOT (72 IU twice daily) and placebo. Results All participants reported no treatment-causative or serious adverse events following repeated INOT administration. While enrolment acceptability (100%) and INOT adherence (placebo, 95%; INOT, 98%) were excellent, feasibility of recruitment was not acceptable (i.e., n = 4/58 individuals screened met inclusion criteria). However, positive/large effects were associated with secondary outcomes of self-reported health and wellbeing, caregiver 'burden', intimacy and interpersonal-bonding, following repeated INOT administration. No positive effects were associated with participant outcomes of social cognition. Conclusion This pilot RCT provides first evidence that INOT administration in individuals living with AD is safe and well-tolerated. Despite limitations in sample size, moderate-to-large effect size improvements were identified in participant health outcomes as well as core social cognitive functions and 'burden' as reported by a caregiver. This suggests potential broad-ranging beneficial effects of INOT which should be assessed in future RCTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes C. Michaelian
- School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Healthy Brain Ageing Program, Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Donna McCade
- Healthy Brain Ageing Program, Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Camilla M. Hoyos
- School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Healthy Brain Ageing Program, Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Henry Brodaty
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Fleur Harrison
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Adam J. Guastella
- Brain and Mind Centre, Children’s Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Sharon L. Naismith
- School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Healthy Brain Ageing Program, Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Wang XL, Zhai RQ, Li ZM, Li HQ, Lei YT, Zhao FF, Hao XX, Wang SY, Wu YH. Constructing a prognostic risk model for Alzheimer's disease based on ferroptosis. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1168840. [PMID: 37181620 PMCID: PMC10172508 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1168840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The aim of this study is to establish a prognostic risk model based on ferroptosis to prognosticate the severity of Alzheimer's disease (AD) through gene expression changes. Methods The GSE138260 dataset was initially downloaded from the Gene expression Omnibus database. The ssGSEA algorithm was used to evaluate the immune infiltration of 28 kinds of immune cells in 36 samples. The up-regulated immune cells were divided into Cluster 1 group and Cluster 2 group, and the differences were analyzed. The LASSO regression analysis was used to establish the optimal scoring model. Cell Counting Kit-8 and Real Time Quantitative PCR were used to verify the effect of different concentrations of Aβ1-42 on the expression profile of representative genes in vitro. Results Based on the differential expression analysis, there were 14 up-regulated genes and 18 down-regulated genes between the control group and Cluster 1 group. Cluster 1 and Cluster 2 groups were differentially analyzed, and 50 up-regulated genes and 101 down-regulated genes were obtained. Finally, nine common differential genes were selected to establish the optimal scoring model. In vitro, CCK-8 experiments showed that the survival rate of cells decreased significantly with the increase of Aβ1-42 concentration compared with the control group. Moreover, RT-qPCR showed that with the increase of Aβ1-42 concentration, the expression of POR decreased first and then increased; RUFY3 was firstly increased and then decreased. Discussion The establishment of this research model can help clinicians make decisions on the severity of AD, thus providing better guidance for the clinical treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Li Wang
- Department of Occupational Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Rui-Qing Zhai
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Zhi-Ming Li
- Department of Occupational Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Hong-Qiu Li
- Department of Occupational Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Ya-Ting Lei
- Department of Occupational Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Fang-Fang Zhao
- Department of Occupational Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Xiao-Xiao Hao
- Department of Occupational Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Sheng-Yuan Wang
- Department of Occupational Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- *Correspondence: Sheng-Yuan Wang,
| | - Yong-Hui Wu
- Department of Occupational Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Yong-Hui Wu,
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Tu L, Wang Z, Lv X, Xie T, Fan Z, Zhang M, Wang H, Yu X. Characteristics of Odor Identification and Hedonics and Their Association with Piriform Cortex-Based Resting-State Functional Connectivity in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment. J Alzheimers Dis 2023; 94:247-258. [PMID: 37212099 DOI: 10.3233/jad-221163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Olfactory identification dysfunction (OID) might be an early sign of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). However, odor hedonics, the ability to perceive odor pleasantness, is neglected. Also, the neural substrate of OID remains unclear. OBJECTIVE To explore the characteristics of odor identification and hedonics in aMCI and examine the potential neural correlates of OID by analyzing olfactory functional connectivity (FC) patterns in MCI. METHODS Forty-five controls and 83 aMCI patients were examined. The Chinese smell identification test was used to assess olfaction. Global cognition, memory, and social cognition were assessed. Resting-state functional networks associated with olfactory cortex seeds were compared between the cognitively normal (CN) and aMCI groups, as well as between aMCI subgroups by the degree of OID. RESULTS Compared to controls, aMCI patients had a significant deficit in olfactory identification, mainly reflected in the identification of pleasant and neutral odors. aMCI patients also rated pleasant and neutral odors much lower than controls. A positive correlation between olfaction and social cognition was found in aMCI. The seed-based FC analysis found that aMCI patients had higher FC between the right orbitofrontal cortex and right frontal lobe/middle frontal gyrus than controls. Subgroup analysis showed that, compared to aMCI without OID, aMCI with severe OID had abnormal FC in the bilateral piriform region. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that OID in aMCI primarily refers to the identification of pleasant and neutral odors. The FC alterations in bilateral orbitofrontal cortex and piriform cortices might contribute to the impairment in odor identification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lihui Tu
- Dementia Care and Research Center, Clinical Research Division, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Sixth Hospital, Haidian District, Beijing, China
- Beijing Dementia Key Lab, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Ministry of Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
- The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhijiang Wang
- Dementia Care and Research Center, Clinical Research Division, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Sixth Hospital, Haidian District, Beijing, China
- Beijing Dementia Key Lab, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Ministry of Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaozhen Lv
- Dementia Care and Research Center, Clinical Research Division, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Sixth Hospital, Haidian District, Beijing, China
- Beijing Dementia Key Lab, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Ministry of Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Teng Xie
- Dementia Care and Research Center, Clinical Research Division, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Sixth Hospital, Haidian District, Beijing, China
- Beijing Dementia Key Lab, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Ministry of Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Zili Fan
- Dementia Care and Research Center, Clinical Research Division, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Sixth Hospital, Haidian District, Beijing, China
- Beijing Dementia Key Lab, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Ministry of Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
- The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Ming Zhang
- Dementia Care and Research Center, Clinical Research Division, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Sixth Hospital, Haidian District, Beijing, China
- Beijing Dementia Key Lab, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Ministry of Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychiatry, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huali Wang
- Dementia Care and Research Center, Clinical Research Division, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Sixth Hospital, Haidian District, Beijing, China
- Beijing Dementia Key Lab, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Ministry of Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Yu
- Dementia Care and Research Center, Clinical Research Division, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Sixth Hospital, Haidian District, Beijing, China
- Beijing Dementia Key Lab, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Ministry of Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
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11
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Rossetto F, Isernia S, Cabinio M, Pirastru A, Blasi V, Baglio F. Affective Theory of Mind as a residual ability to preserve mentalizing in amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment: A 12-months longitudinal study. Front Neurol 2022; 13:1060699. [PMID: 36468066 PMCID: PMC9716015 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.1060699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Theory of Mind (ToM) decline has been outlined in people with amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI), but evidence from longitudinal studies is lacking. This longitudinal study aims to investigate changes in cognitive and affective ToM performance in an aMCI sample (n = 28; 14 females, mean age = 76.54 ± 4.35). METHOD Participants underwent two steps of neurocognitive evaluation, at the baseline (T1) and 12-month follow-up (T2), to obtain their global cognitive level and both affective (Reading the Mind in the Eyes test, ET) and cognitive (Strange Stories, SS) ToM profile. Then, participants were categorized into two groups based on ToM changes: people who worsened (ETΔ < 0; SSΔ < 0) and people who did not (ETΔ≥0; SSΔ≥0) at follow-up. Differences between groups in cognitive functions and ToM profiles at baseline have been investigated. RESULTS Our results showed that 46% of subjects worsened in affective (ET) and 28% in cognitive (SS) ToM at follow-up. People who worsened in ET reported a statistically significantly higher performance in ET at baseline (p = 0.002) but not at follow-up than people who did not worsen. In contrast, subjects who worsened in SS showed a lower Immediate Free Recall (IFR, p = 0.026) and Delayed Free Recall (DFR, p = 0.028) score of the Free and Cued Selective Reminding test at baseline and at follow-up, a lower ET (p = 0.020) baseline score, a lower SS and MMSE level at follow-up than people who not worsened. About 71% of MCI subjects showed the same trend of evolution of the Mini-Mental State Examination and SS. Variables that significantly differed between groups have been inserted in a stepwise logistic regression to pilot explore predictors of affective and cognitive ToM evolution. Logistic regression showed ET at baseline (p = 0.015) as the only significant predictor of affective ToM evolution (R2 = 0.450), while both ET (p = 0.044) and memory performance (p = 0.045) at baseline significantly predicted cognitive ToM evolution (R2 = 0.746). DISCUSSION In conclusion, our results support the role of affective ToM as a residual mentalizing ability in preserving the mentalizing level in people with aMCI.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sara Isernia
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi ONLUS, Milan, Italy
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12
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Gourlay C, Collin P, D'Auteuil C, Jacques M, Scherzer PB. A further study of the psychometric qualities of the Strange Stories-Revised across the three stages of aging. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY. ADULT 2022:1-9. [PMID: 35940197 DOI: 10.1080/23279095.2022.2109419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Happé's Strange Stories task was developed in 1994 to assess theory of mind, the ability to infer mental states in oneself and others. Since then, it has undergone revisions, translations, and adaptations. A modified version of the task, the Strange Stories-Revised (SS-R), previously showed satisfactory qualities in a study aiming at identifying psychometrically acceptable social cognitive measures. OBJECTIVE The current study expands upon the psychometric evaluation study by examining the qualities of a short version of the SS-R in a sample of healthy adult subjects. METHODS One hundred and eighteen healthy adults completed the task along with neurocognitive measures. Mean scores of the long and short versions were compared. Associations between ToM as measured by performance on this abbreviated version of the SS-R, and potential confounders were explored. Internal consistency, dimensionality of the short version, and performance comparisons across three stages of aging (18-34; 35-59; 60-85 years old) were investigated, and standard measurement error was calculated to improve precision and data interpretation. RESULTS Reliability coefficients were comparable in the short and long versions. Principal component analysis showed that a one-factor structure best fits the data. Significant differences were observed in ToM performance across the three age groups, indicating a decline with time that was also captured by the long version, starting during midlife and increasing in significance with age. CONCLUSION The short version of the SS-R is a promising measure that can be profitably used in time-limited settings to assess theory of mind.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Gourlay
- Département de psychologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Pascal Collin
- Département de psychologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Camille D'Auteuil
- Département de psychologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Marie Jacques
- Département de psychologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Peter B Scherzer
- Département de psychologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Canada
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13
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE Social cognition is impaired in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. However, its relationship to social functioning and perceived social support has yet to be explored. Here, we examine how theory of mind (ToM) relates to social functioning in MCI and dementia. METHODS Older adults (cognitively normal = 1272; MCI = 132; dementia = 23) from the PATH Through Life project, a longitudinal, population-based study, were assessed on the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET), measures of social functioning, and social well-being. The associations between RMET performance, social functioning, and cognitive status were analysed using generalised linear models, adjusting for demographic variables. RESULTS Participants with MCI (b=-.52, 95% CI [-.70, -.33]) and dementia (b=-.78, 95% CI [-1.22, -.34]) showed poorer RMET performance than cognitively normal participants. Participants with MCI and dementia reported reduced social network size (b=-.21, 95% CI [-.40, -.02] and b=-.90, 95% CI [-1.38, -.42], respectively) and participants with dementia reported increased loneliness (b = .36, 95% CI [.06, .67]). In dementia, poorer RMET performance was associated with increased loneliness (b=-.07, 95% CI [-.14, -.00]) and a trend for negative interactions with partners (b=-.37, 95% CI [-.74, .00]), but no significant associations were found in MCI. CONCLUSIONS MCI and dementia were associated with poor self-reported social function. ToM deficits were related to poor social function in dementia but not MCI. Findings highlight the importance of interventions to address social cognitive deficits in persons with dementia and education of support networks to facilitate positive interactions and social well-being.
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14
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Nicolini P, Abbate C, Inglese S, Mari D, Rossi PD, Cesari M. Socially desirable responding in geriatric outpatients with and without mild cognitive impairment and its association with the assessment of self-reported mental health. BMC Geriatr 2021; 21:494. [PMID: 34525955 PMCID: PMC8442330 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-021-02435-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Socially desirable responding is a potentially relevant issue in older adults and can be evaluated with the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (MCSDS). However, the eight-item MCSDS has never been specifically administered to geriatric subjects, and there is a dearth of literature on the relationship between social desirability and cognitive impairment. Also, the connection between social desirability and subjective measures of psychological well-being is a matter of controversy. This study has three main aims. First, to determine the psychometric properties of the eight-item MCSDS in geriatric outpatients without dementia (i.e. with normal cognition (NC) or mild cognitive impairment (MCI)). Second, to investigate the link between social desirability and cognitive functioning. Third, to determine the association between social desirability and the assessment of self-reported mental health. Methods Community-dwelling outpatients (aged ≥ 65) were consecutively recruited and neuropsychologically tested to diagnose NC or MCI (n = 299). Social desirability was assessed with the eight-item MCSDS. Depressive and anxiety symptoms were measured with the short Geriatric Depression (GDS-s) and the State-Trait Personality Inventory Trait Anxiety (STPI-TA) scales. Results On principal components analysis, the eight-item MCSDS was found to have a multidimensional structure. Of the initial three-component solution, only two subscales had acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha > 0.6): “Acceptance of responsibility” and “Integrity”. The third subscale (“Kindness towards others”) appeared to gauge two distinct constructs of formal (i.e. politeness) versus substantive (i.e. forgiveness) compassion. On binary logistic regression, only higher income was a significant predictor of formal compassion. Test-retest reliability was substantial to excellent (Gwet’s AC2 ≥ 0.8). There were no meaningful differences in social desirability between the NC and MCI groups. Likewise, negative Spearman’s correlations between social desirability and cognitive Z-scores across the whole sample were weak (rs < |0.3|) and confined to one MCSDS item. Although social desirability was an independent predictor of the STPI-TA score in multiple linear regression, it explained only a marginal amount of incremental variance in anxiety symptoms (less than 2%). Conclusions Our results suggest that social desirability need not be a major concern when using questionnaires to assess mental health in geriatric outpatients without dementia. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12877-021-02435-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Nicolini
- Geriatric Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
| | - Carlo Abbate
- Geriatric Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.,IRCCS Fondazione don Carlo Gnocchi, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Inglese
- Geriatric Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniela Mari
- Geriatric Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.,Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo D Rossi
- Geriatric Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Matteo Cesari
- Geriatric Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.,Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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15
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Schild AK, Volk J, Scharfenberg D, Schuermann K, Meiberth D, Onur OA, Jessen F, Maier F. Social Cognition in Patients with Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment and Mild Dementia of the Alzheimer Type. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 83:1173-1186. [PMID: 34397409 DOI: 10.3233/jad-201126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social cognition (SC) is a core criterion for neurocognitive disorders. However, findings in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) are inconsistent. OBJECTIVE We report assessments of emotion recognition (ER), affective and cognitive theory of mind (ToM) in young (YC) and older controls (OC) compared to aMCI and DAT. METHODS 28 aMCI, 30 DAT, 30 YC, and 29 OC received tests of SC and a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment. Analysis of covariance was used to determine group differences. Multiple regression models were applied to identify predictors for each SC task. RESULTS In controls, OC performed worse in ER and both ToM tasks compared to YC except for one subtest. No significant differences were found between OC and patients concerning ER and affective ToM. In cognitive ToM, differences between OC and patients depended on content and cognitive load with significant impairment in DAT compared to OC. A cognitive composite score predicted SC in OC, but not in patients. Associations of SC with single cognitive domains were found in all groups with language and complex attention as best predictors. Not all variance of SC performance was explained by variance in cognitive domains. CONCLUSION Lower performance on SC tasks in OC versus YC was confirmed, although not all tasks were equally affected. With progressive cognitive impairment, cognitive ToM is more impaired than ER or affective ToM. SC seems to be at least partly independent of other cognitive domains, justifying its inclusion in batteries for dementia diagnostic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann-Katrin Schild
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Cologne, Medical Faculty, Cologne, Germany
| | - Jenny Volk
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Cologne, Medical Faculty, Cologne, Germany
| | - Daniel Scharfenberg
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Cologne, Medical Faculty, Cologne, Germany
| | - Katrin Schuermann
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Cologne, Medical Faculty, Cologne, Germany
| | - Dix Meiberth
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Cologne, Medical Faculty, Cologne, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Oezguer A Onur
- University Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Neurology, Cologne, Germany
| | - Frank Jessen
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Cologne, Medical Faculty, Cologne, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany.,Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Franziska Maier
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Cologne, Medical Faculty, Cologne, Germany
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16
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Michaelian JC, Duffy SL, Mowszowski L, Guastella AJ, McCade D, McKinnon AC, Naismith SL. Poorer Theory of Mind in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment Is Associated with Decreased Functional Connectivity in the Default Mode Network. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 81:1079-1091. [PMID: 33843670 DOI: 10.3233/jad-201284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Older adults living with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) not only demonstrate impairments in Theory of Mind (ToM), relative to adults with non-amnestic MCI (naMCI), but are also at a higher risk of developing dementia. OBJECTIVE Our primary objective was to ascertain whether default mode network (DMN) functional connectivity was differentially associated with ToM abilities between MCI subgroups. METHODS Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we investigated alterations in resting-state functional connectivity within the brain's DMN in a sample of 43 older adults with aMCI (n = 19) and naMCI (n = 24), previously reported to demonstrate poorer ToM abilities. RESULTS Compared to naMCI, the aMCI subgroup revealed a significant association between poorer ToM performance and reduced functional connectivity between the bilateral temporal pole (TempP) and the left lateral temporal cortex (LTC) (LTC_L-TempP_L: b = -0.06, t(33) = -3.53, p = 0.02; LTC_L-TempP_R: b = -0.07,t(33) = -3.20, p = 0.03); between the right TempP and the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex (dMPFC) (b = -0.04, t(33) = -3.02, p = 0.03) and between the left and right TempP (b = -0.05, t(33) = -3.26, p = 0.03). In the naMCI subgroup, the opposite relationship was present between the bilateral TempP and the left LTC (Combined correlation: r = -0.47, p = 0.02), however, not between the right TempP and the dMPFC (r = -0.14, p = 0.51) or the left and right TempP (r = -0.31, p = 0.14). CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that alterations in functional connectivity within the DMN involving temporal and frontal lobe regions are associated with ToM deficits in aMCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes C Michaelian
- School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Healthy Brain Ageing Program, Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Shantel L Duffy
- Healthy Brain Ageing Program, Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Loren Mowszowski
- School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Healthy Brain Ageing Program, Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Adam J Guastella
- Brain and Mind Centre, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Donna McCade
- Healthy Brain Ageing Program, Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Andrew C McKinnon
- School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Healthy Brain Ageing Program, Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Sharon L Naismith
- School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Healthy Brain Ageing Program, Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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17
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Burgio F, Benavides-Varela S, Toffano R, Palmer K, Meneghello F, Arcara G, Semenza C. Predicting financial deficits from a standard neuropsychological assessment: preliminary evidence in mild cognitive impairment. Neurol Sci 2021; 43:299-303. [PMID: 34014396 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-021-05304-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) might experience difficulties in numerical and financial abilities of daily living that compromise their autonomy. The aim of the present work was to examine whether specific tests of the standard neuropsychological assessment could be used to predict these deficits in the clinical practice. Thirty-four MCI patients underwent a comprehensive clinical and neuropsychological examination including (1) a complete assessment of financial abilities and (2) a traditional neuropsychological assessment including measures of language, memory, executive functioning, reasoning, attention, and visuospatial abilities. The neuropsychological tests were used as predictors of the performance in everyday financial tasks using logistic regression analysis. Deficits in financial tasks including calculating percentages, using financial concepts and applying financial judgments were significantly predicted by tests of executive functions, language and short-term memory, while deficits in frequently encountered financial tasks activities such as item purchase and reading numbers could not be predicted by standard neuropsychological evaluations. Contingency tables on performance above/below clinical cut-offs evidenced some cases of financial deficits in the absence of cognitive deficits and, vice versa, some patients with cognitive decline did not show financial impairments. These results suggest that while some cognitive functions might be crucial for taking financial decisions, an ad hoc test of financial capacity is essential to make overall inferences about the everyday financial autonomy of MCI patients. This has potential implications for clinical and legal decisions that directly impact the individuals and their families.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Silvia Benavides-Varela
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.,Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Katie Palmer
- Department of Geriatrics, Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Carlo Semenza
- IRCCS San Camillo Hospital, Venice, Italy.,Department of Neuroscience (Padova Neuroscience Center), University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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18
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Lin X, Zhang X, Liu Q, Zhao P, Zhong J, Pan P, Wang G, Yi Z. Social cognition in multiple sclerosis and its subtypes: A meta-analysis. Mult Scler Relat Disord 2021; 52:102973. [PMID: 33962135 DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2021.102973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated demyelinating disease that disrupts several social cognitive abilities, including the theory of mind (ToM) and facial emotion recognition (FER). It is unclear how specific ToM subcomponents, including cognitive and affective ToM, are affected in patients with MS and the social cognitive abilities in MS subtypes. METHODS A search of PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases was conducted until June 2020. Effect sizes were calculated using Hedges g with a random-effects model. RESULTS A total of 45 studies were included. Relative to health controls (HCs), patients with MS and its subtypes (including relapsing-remitting MS [RRMS] and progressive MS) exhibited impairments in ToM (g = -0.77, g = -0.70, g = -0.75, respectively), cognitive ToM (g = -0.72, g = -0.83, g = -0.73, respectively), affective ToM (g = -0.84, g = -0.63, g = -0. 50, respectively), and FER (g = -0.62, g = -0.53, g = -1.07, respectively). In addition, there was no difference between progressive primary MS and secondary progressive MS in overall ToM, cognitive ToM, affective ToM, and FER. Compared to patients with RRMS, patients with progressive MS showed no difference in overall ToM, cognitive ToM, and affective ToM but had more serious defects in FER (g = -0.57). CONCLUSIONS These quantitative results indicate that patients with MS and its subtypes have a differential impairment of the core aspects of social cognitive processing (including ToM and FER), which may help develop the structured social cognitive interventions in MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- XiaoGuang Lin
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Suqian Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Suqian, PR China
| | - XueLing Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Suqian Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Suqian, PR China
| | - QinQin Liu
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Suqian Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Suqian, PR China
| | - PanWen Zhao
- Department of Central Laboratory, Affiliated Yancheng School of Clinical Medicine of Nanjing Medical University, PR China
| | - JianGuo Zhong
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Yancheng School of Clinical Medicine of Nanjing Medical University, PR China
| | - PingLei Pan
- Department of Neurology and Department of Central Laboratory, Affiliated Yancheng School of Clinical Medicine of Nanjing Medical University, PR China
| | - GenDi Wang
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Yancheng School of Clinical Medicine of Nanjing Medical University, PR China
| | - ZhongQuan Yi
- Department of Central Laboratory, Affiliated Yancheng School of Clinical Medicine of Nanjing Medical University, PR China.
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19
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Lin X, Zhang X, Liu Q, Zhao P, Zhong J, Pan P, Wang G, Yi Z. Empathy and Theory of Mind in Multiple Sclerosis: A Meta-Analysis. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:628110. [PMID: 33897490 PMCID: PMC8062809 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.628110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. Studies have shown that MS disrupts several social cognitive abilities [including empathy and theory of mind (ToM)]. Overall ToM deficits in MS are well documented, but how the specific ToM subcomponents and empathic capacity are affected remains unclear. For this meta-analysis, we searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase from inception to July 2020. Effect sizes were calculated using Hedges g with a random-effects model. Thirty-three studies were included. Relative to healthy controls (HCs), patients with MS were moderately impaired in overall empathy (g = -0.67), overall ToM (g = -74), cognitive ToM (g = -0.72), and the overlapping domains of cognitive empathy/affective ToM (g = -0.79); no group differences were identified for affective empathy (g = -0.19). Compared with HCs, patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and progressive MS were impaired in overall empathy, overall ToM, cognitive ToM, and cognitive empathy/affective ToM, without significant RRMS-progressive MS differences in impairment degree. We conducted the first meta-analytic review investigating the empathy and ToM functioning patterns in patients with MS and examined the overlapping and distinct subcomponents of these constructs. The findings suggest differential impairment of the core aspects of social cognitive processing in patients with MS, which may importantly inform the development of structured social cognitive MS interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- XiaoGuang Lin
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Suqian Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Suqian, China
| | - XueLing Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Suqian Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Suqian, China
| | - QinQin Liu
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Suqian Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Suqian, China
| | - PanWen Zhao
- Department of Central Laboratory, Affiliated Yancheng School of Clinical Medicine of Nanjing Medical University, Yancheng, China
| | - JianGuo Zhong
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Yancheng School of Clinical Medicine of Nanjing Medical University, Yancheng, China
| | - PingLei Pan
- Department of Neurology and Department of Central Laboratory, Affiliated Yancheng School of Clinical Medicine of Nanjing Medical University, Yancheng, China
| | - GenDi Wang
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Yancheng School of Clinical Medicine of Nanjing Medical University, Yancheng, China
| | - ZhongQuan Yi
- Department of Central Laboratory, Affiliated Yancheng School of Clinical Medicine of Nanjing Medical University, Yancheng, China
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Lin X, Zhang X, Liu Q, Zhao P, Zhang H, Wang H, Yi Z. Theory of mind in adults with traumatic brain injury: A meta-analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 121:106-118. [PMID: 33359093 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Studies of abnormal theory of mind (ToM) performance in adult patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) have reported inconsistent results. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to characterize ToM performance in adult patients with TBI. Random-effects models were employed to estimate the overall effect size and the differential effect sizes across different ToM aspects. Based on a sample of 28 studies (1031 patients and 865 healthy controls), the meta-analytic findings revealed that ToM was significantly impaired in adult patients with TBI compared to healthy controls (g = -1.13). Besides, patients with TBI showed significant impairments in individual ToM tasks, as well as for different stimulus modes and contents involved in these ToM tasks. A meta-regression indicated a positive association between ToM performance and Glasgow Coma Scale score. The results of the current meta-analysis suggest that the performance in ToM tasks may be a good predictor of functional outcomes in adults with TBI, which is important for the identification of targets for cognitive interventions and the development of useful training intervention programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- XiaoGuang Lin
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Suqian Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Suqian, PR China
| | - XueLing Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Suqian Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Suqian, PR China
| | - QinQin Liu
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Suqian Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Suqian, PR China
| | - PanWen Zhao
- Department of Central Laboratory, Affiliated Yancheng Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Yancheng, PR China
| | - Hui Zhang
- Department of Central Laboratory, Affiliated Yancheng Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Yancheng, PR China
| | - HongSheng Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Yancheng Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Yancheng, PR China.
| | - ZhongQuan Yi
- Department of Central Laboratory, Affiliated Yancheng Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Yancheng, PR China.
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Lin X, Zhang X, Liu Q, Zhao P, Zhong J, Pan P, Wang G, Yi Z. Empathy and theory of mind in multiple sclerosis: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore) 2020; 99:e21773. [PMID: 32872076 PMCID: PMC7437753 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000021773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Recently, numerous studies have shown that MS disrupts a number of social cognitive abilities, including empathy, theory of mind (ToM), and facial emotion recognition. In contrast to well-documented deficits in the core social cognitive domains of ToM and facial emotion recognition, it is not clear the broad and specific subcomponents of empathy processing affected. In addition, the specific subcomponents of ToM affected in MS are also unclear. The aim of this study is to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to characterize the performance of empathy and ToM in MS. METHODS A systematic literature search will be performed for eligible studies published up to July 1st, 2020 in 3 international databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase). The work such as article retrieval, screen, quality evaluation, data collection will be conducted by 2 independent researchers. Meta-analysis will be performed using Stata 15.0 software. RESULTS The results of this study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. CONCLUSIONS This meta-analysis will provide a high-quality synthesis from existing evidence for the performance of empathy and ToM in MS. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER INPLASY202070029.
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Affiliation(s)
- XiaoGuang Lin
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Suqian Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Suqian
| | - XueLing Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Suqian Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Suqian
| | - QinQin Liu
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Suqian Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Suqian
| | | | - JianGuo Zhong
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Yancheng School of Clinical Medicine of Nanjing Medical University, P.R. China
| | - PingLei Pan
- Department of Central Laboratory
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Yancheng School of Clinical Medicine of Nanjing Medical University, P.R. China
| | - GenDi Wang
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Yancheng School of Clinical Medicine of Nanjing Medical University, P.R. China
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22
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Saitgareeva AR, Bulygin KV, Gareev IF, Beylerli OA, Akhmadeeva LR. The role of microglia in the development of neurodegeneration. Neurol Sci 2020; 41:3609-3615. [DOI: 10.1007/s10072-020-04468-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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