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Erickson T, Malek-Ahmadi M, Luft CA, Campbell C, Strecker HK. Word Fluency Test (WFT): A parallel FAS alternative. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY. ADULT 2024; 31:282-291. [PMID: 35076309 DOI: 10.1080/23279095.2021.2021410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The capacity to quickly verbalize words beginning with a specific letter is integral in assessing language skills as well as an essential part of a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment. Using the letters F, A, S as a word fluency measure is limited by having no direct parallel alternative that can use the same F, A, S norms. This observational and cross-sectional study examined the correlation between the Word Fluency Test (WFT), utilizing letters M, D, H, as a parallel alternative to the clinical standard F, A, S to determine if the two are equivalent. This would allow for the use of existing F, A, S norms. Study participants (N = 356) were comprised of both adult control participants and out-patients with normal neuropsychological test results. Between-group differences for both task performances were not statistically significant indicating that patients and controls performed similarly on each of the six letters. Between-letter correlations were moderate in strength indicating an acceptable level of agreement between all of the letters. The results confirm equivalency and support administering the WFT and employing F, A, S norms offering a corresponding parallel alternative measure with strong correlation indicating high level of agreement.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Cecily A Luft
- Neuropsychology - Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA
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2
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Collée E, van den Berg E, Visch-Brink E, Vincent A, Dirven C, Satoer D. Differential contribution of language and executive functioning to verbal fluency performance in glioma patients. J Neuropsychol 2024; 18 Suppl 1:19-40. [PMID: 38087828 DOI: 10.1111/jnp.12356] [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] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Glioma patients often suffer from deficits in language and executive functioning. Performance in verbal fluency (generating words within one minute according to a semantic category-category fluency, or given letter-letter fluency) is typically impaired in this patient group. While both language and executive functioning play a role in verbal fluency, the relative contribution of both domains remains unclear. We aim to retrospectively investigate glioma patients' performance on verbal and nonverbal fluency and to explore the influence of language and executive functioning on verbal fluency. Sixty-nine adults with gliomas in eloquent areas underwent a neuropsychological test battery (verbal fluency, nonverbal fluency, language, and executive functioning tests) before surgery (T1) and a subgroup of 31 patients also at three (T2) and twelve months (T3) after surgery. Preoperatively, patients were impaired in all verbal fluency tasks and dissociations were found based on tumour location. In contrast, nonverbal fluency was intact. Different language and executive functioning tests predicted performance on category fluency animals and letter fluency, while no significant predictors for category fluency professions were found. The longitudinal results indicated that category fluency professions deteriorated after surgery (T1-T2, T1-T3) and that nonverbal fluency improved after surgery (T1-T3, T2-T3). Verbal fluency performance can provide information on different possible underlying deficits in language and executive functioning in glioma patients, depending on verbal fluency task selection. Efficient task (order) selection can be based on complexity. Category fluency professions can be selected to detect more permanent long-term deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Collée
- Department of Neurosurgery, Erasmus MC - University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Esther van den Berg
- Department of Neurology and Alzheimer Center Erasmus MC, Erasmus MC - University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Evy Visch-Brink
- Department of Neurosurgery, Erasmus MC - University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Arnaud Vincent
- Department of Neurosurgery, Erasmus MC - University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Clemens Dirven
- Department of Neurosurgery, Erasmus MC - University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Djaina Satoer
- Department of Neurosurgery, Erasmus MC - University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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3
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Delgado-Losada ML, Rubio-Valdehita S, López-Higes R, Campos-Magdaleno M, Ávila-Villanueva M, Frades-Payo B, Lojo-Seoane C. Phonological fluency norms for Spanish middle-aged and older adults provided by the SCAND initiative (P, M, & R). J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2024; 30:172-182. [PMID: 37465902 DOI: 10.1017/s1355617723000309] [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] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Verbal fluency tests are quick and easy to administer neuropsychological measures and are regularly used in neuropsychological assessment. Additionally, phonological fluency is a widely used paradigm that is sensitive to cognitive impairment. This paper offers normative data of phonological verbal fluency (letters P, M, R) for Spanish middle- and older-aged adults, considering sociodemographic factors, and different measures such as the total number of words, errors (perseveration and intrusions), and 15 sec-segmented scores. METHOD A total of 1165 cognitively unimpaired participants aged between 50 and 89 years old, participated in the study. Data for P were obtained for all participants. Letters M and R were also administered to a subsample of participants (852) aged 60 to 89 years. In addition, errors and words produced every 15 seconds were collected in the subsample. To verify the effect of sociodemographic variables, linear regression was used. Adjustments were calculated for variables that explained at least 5% of the variance (R2 ≥ .05). RESULTS Means and standard deviations by age, scaled scores, and percentiles for all tests across different measures are shown. No determination coefficients equal to or greater than .05 were found for sex or age. The need to establish adjustments for the educational level was only found in some of the measures. CONCLUSIONS The current norms provide clinically useful data to evaluate Spanish-speaking natives from Spain aged from 50 to 89 years. Specific patterns of cognitive impairment can be analyzed using these normative data and may be important in neuropsychological assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- M L Delgado-Losada
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid, 28223 Madrid, Spain
| | - S Rubio-Valdehita
- Department of Social Work and Differential Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid, 28223 Madrid, Spain
| | - R López-Higes
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid, 28223 Madrid, Spain
| | - M Campos-Magdaleno
- Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | | | - B Frades-Payo
- CIEN Foundation, Carlos III Institute of Health, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - C Lojo-Seoane
- Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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Ramezani M, Fawcett AJ. Cognitive-Motor Training Improves Reading-Related Executive Functions: A Randomized Clinical Trial Study in Dyslexia. Brain Sci 2024; 14:127. [PMID: 38391702 PMCID: PMC10887110 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14020127] [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: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Children with developmental dyslexia (DD) often struggle with executive function difficulties which can continue into adulthood if not addressed. This double-blinded randomized clinical trial study evaluated the short-term effects of the Verbal Working Memory-Balance (VWM-B) program on reading-related executive functions, reading skills, and reading comprehension in Persian children with DD. The active control group [12 children with DD with a mean age of 9 years (SD = 0.90)] received training using the single-task VWM program, while the experiment group [15 children with DD with a mean age of 8 years (SD = 0.74)] received training with the dual-task VWM-B program. Both groups received fifteen training sessions, and assessments were conducted before and after the intervention. The groups were homogenized for possible confounders of age, gender, IQ level, and attention level. The study employed separate mixed ANOVA analyses to estimate the impact of training programs on various measured functions. Significant improvements were observed in the outcome measures of backward digit span, text comprehension, verbal fluency, Stroop color-word test and interference, and the reading subtests. Additionally, significant correlations were found between reading skills and backward digit span, text comprehension, verbal fluency, and Stroop variables. In conclusion, the dual-task VWM-B program was found to be more effective than the single-task VWM program in improving selective attention, cognitive inhibition, verbal working memory capacity, information processing speed, naming ability, and lexical access speed. These enhanced executive functions were associated with improved reading skills in children with DD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Ramezani
- Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Health Management Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14496-14535, Iran
| | - Angela J Fawcett
- Department of Psychology, Swansea University, Swansea SA1 8EN, UK
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Hirnstein M, Stuebs J, Moè A, Hausmann M. Sex/Gender Differences in Verbal Fluency and Verbal-Episodic Memory: A Meta-Analysis. PERSPECTIVES ON PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2023; 18:67-90. [PMID: 35867343 PMCID: PMC9896545 DOI: 10.1177/17456916221082116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Women are thought to fare better in verbal abilities, especially in verbal-fluency and verbal-memory tasks. However, the last meta-analysis on sex/gender differences in verbal fluency dates from 1988. Although verbal memory has only recently been investigated meta-analytically, a comprehensive meta-analysis is lacking that focuses on verbal memory as it is typically assessed, for example, in neuropsychological settings. On the basis of 496 effect sizes and 355,173 participants, in the current meta-analysis, we found that women/girls outperformed men/boys in phonemic fluency (ds = 0.12-0.13) but not in semantic fluency (ds = 0.01-0.02), for which the sex/gender difference appeared to be category-dependent. Women/girls also outperformed men/boys in recall (d = 0.28) and recognition (ds = 0.12-0.17). Although effect sizes are small, the female advantage was relatively stable over the past 50 years and across lifetime. Published articles reported stronger female advantages than unpublished studies, and first authors reported better performance for members of their own sex/gender. We conclude that a small female advantage in phonemic fluency, recall, and recognition exists and is partly subject to publication bias. Considerable variance suggests further contributing factors, such as participants' language and country/region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Hirnstein
- Department of Biological and Medical
Psychology, University of Bergen
| | - Josephine Stuebs
- Department of Biological and Medical
Psychology, University of Bergen
- Department of Neuropsychology and
Psychopharmacology, Maastricht University
- Institute of Clinical Medicine,
University of Oslo
| | - Angelica Moè
- Department of General Psychology,
University of Padua
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6
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Lubrini G, Periáñez JA, Laseca-Zaballa G, Bernabéu-Brotons E, Ríos-Lago M. Verbal Fluency Tasks: Influence of Age, Gender, and Education and Normative Data for the Spanish Native Adult Population. Arch Clin Neuropsychol 2021; 37:365-375. [PMID: 34323264 DOI: 10.1093/arclin/acab056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Phonological and semantic verbal fluency (VF) tasks are frequently used to assess language and executive functions in both clinical and research settings. F, A, and S are the most commonly used letters in phonological tasks across languages and cultures. Unfortunately, the lack of norms for the native Spanish population for these letters, and for certain semantic categories such as "proper names," may lead to misinterpretation of scores due to demographic differences. The aim of the present study was to provide normative data for F, A, and S and for "proper names," "animals," and "fruits and vegetables" for the native Spanish population. METHOD 257 healthy subjects took part in the study (ages: 17-100 years, 3-20 years of education). Correlation, multiple regression, and t-tests were used to select the most appropriate variables for stratification. RESULTS Education was the best predictor of performance in all tasks, followed by age. Given that t-test results showed no differences related to gender, with the only exception of the semantic category "animals," this variable was not considered for stratification. Consequently, the data were stratified in two education levels (<13, ≥13 years of education) and in two age levels (<60, ≥60) within the low-educational level group. Mean, standard deviation, and percentile scores for each group are provided. CONCLUSIONS The present norms provide a reference for clinicians assessing VF. This data may also facilitate comparisons with other normative studies in cross-cultural and cross-linguistic research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genny Lubrini
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - José A Periáñez
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Garazi Laseca-Zaballa
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Marcos Ríos-Lago
- Dept. Basic Psychology II, UNED, Madrid, Spain
- Brain Damage Service, Beata Maria Ana Hospital, Madrid, Spain
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Rodriguez FS, Huhn S, Vega WA, Aranda MP, Schroeter ML, Engel C, Baber R, Burkhardt R, Löffler M, Thiery J, Villringer A, Luck T, Riedel-Heller SG, Witte AV. Do High Mental Demands at Work Protect Cognitive Health in Old Age via Hippocampal Volume? Results From a Community Sample. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 12:622321. [PMID: 33536897 PMCID: PMC7848890 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2020.622321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
As higher mental demands at work are associated with lower dementia risk and a key symptom of dementia is hippocampal atrophy, the study aimed at investigating the association between mental demands at work and hippocampal volume. We analyzed data from the population-based LIFE-Adult-Study in Leipzig, Germany (n = 1,409, age 40–80). Hippocampal volumes were measured via three-dimensional Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI; 3D MP-RAGE) and mental demands at work were classified via the O*NET database. Linear regression analyses adjusted for gender, age, education, APOE e4-allele, hypertension, and diabetes revealed associations between higher demands in “language and knowledge,” “information processing,” and “creativity” at work on larger white and gray matter volume and better cognitive functioning with “creativity” having stronger effects for people not yet retired. Among retired individuals, higher demands in “pattern detection” were associated with larger white matter volume as well as larger hippocampal subfields CA2/CA3, suggesting a retention effect later in life. There were no other relevant associations with hippocampal volume. Our findings do not support the idea that mental demands at work protect cognitive health via hippocampal volume or brain volume. Further research may clarify through what mechanism mentally demanding activities influence specifically dementia pathology in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisca S Rodriguez
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), RG Psychosocial Epidemiology and Public Health, Greifswald, Germany.,Center for Cognitive Science, University of Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, Germany.,Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health (ISAP), University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,LIFE-Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sebastian Huhn
- Max-Planck-Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany.,Clinic for Cognitive Neurology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Collaborative Research Centre 1052 "Obesity Mechanisms," Subproject A1, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - William A Vega
- Edward Royball Institute of Aging, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Maria P Aranda
- Edward Royball Institute of Aging, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Matthias L Schroeter
- Max-Planck-Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany.,Clinic for Cognitive Neurology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Christoph Engel
- LIFE-Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Epidemiology (IMISE), University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ronny Baber
- LIFE-Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics (ILM), University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ralph Burkhardt
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics (ILM), University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Markus Löffler
- LIFE-Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Epidemiology (IMISE), University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Joachim Thiery
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics (ILM), University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Arno Villringer
- Max-Planck-Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany.,Clinic for Cognitive Neurology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Tobias Luck
- Faculty of Applied Social Sciences, University of Applied Sciences Erfurt, Erfurt, Germany
| | - Steffi G Riedel-Heller
- Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health (ISAP), University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - A Veronica Witte
- Max-Planck-Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany.,Clinic for Cognitive Neurology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Collaborative Research Centre 1052 "Obesity Mechanisms," Subproject A1, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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8
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Gonzalez-Burgos L, Barroso J, Ferreira D. Cognitive reserve and network efficiency as compensatory mechanisms of the effect of aging on phonemic fluency. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 12:23351-23378. [PMID: 33203801 PMCID: PMC7746387 DOI: 10.18632/aging.202177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 04/21/2023]
Abstract
Compensation in cognitive aging is a topic of recent interest. However, factors contributing to cognitive compensation in functions such as phonemic fluency (PF) are not completely understood. Using cross-sectional data, we investigated cognitive reserve (CR) and network efficiency in young (32-58 years) versus old (59-84 years) individuals with high versus low performance in PF. ANCOVA was used to investigate the interaction between CR, age, and performance in PF. Random forest and graph theory analyses were conducted to study the contribution of cognition to PF and efficiency measures, respectively. Higher CR increased performance in PF and reduced age-related differences in PF. A slightly higher number of cognitive functions contributed to performance in high CR groups. The networks were more integrated in high CR individuals, both in the older age and high-performance groups. The strength and segregation of the networks were decreased in high-performance groups with high CR. We conclude that PF decreases less with age in individuals with higher CR, possibly due to a greater capacity to recruit non-linguistic cognitive networks, and efficient use of language networks, thereby integrating information in a rapid way across less fragmented networks. High CR and network efficiency seem to be important factors for cognitive compensation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lissett Gonzalez-Burgos
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychobiology and Methodology, Faculty of Health Science, Section of Psychology and Speech Therapy, University of La Laguna, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
- Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences, and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - José Barroso
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychobiology and Methodology, Faculty of Health Science, Section of Psychology and Speech Therapy, University of La Laguna, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - Daniel Ferreira
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychobiology and Methodology, Faculty of Health Science, Section of Psychology and Speech Therapy, University of La Laguna, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
- Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences, and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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9
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Gonzalez-Burgos L, Hernández-Cabrera JA, Westman E, Barroso J, Ferreira D. Cognitive compensatory mechanisms in normal aging: a study on verbal fluency and the contribution of other cognitive functions. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 11:4090-4106. [PMID: 31232698 PMCID: PMC6628999 DOI: 10.18632/aging.102040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Verbal fluency has been widely studied in cognitive aging. However, compensatory mechanisms that maintain its optimal performance with increasing age are not completely understood. Using cross-sectional data, we investigated differentiation and dedifferentiation processes in verbal fluency across the lifespan by analyzing the association between verbal fluency and numerous cognitive measures within four age groups (N=446): early middle-age (32-45 years), late middle-age (46-58 years), early elderly (59-71 years), and late elderly (72-84 years). ANCOVA was used to investigate the interaction between age and fluency modality. Random forest models were conducted to study the contribution of cognition to semantic, phonemic, and action fluency. All modalities declined with increasing age, but semantic fluency was the most vulnerable to aging. The most prominent reduction in performance was observed during the transition from middle-age to early elderly, when cognitive variables stopped contributing (differentiation), and new cognitive variables started contributing (dedifferentiation). Lexical access, processing speed, and executive functions were among the most contributing functions. We conclude that the association between age and verbal fluency is masked by age-specific influences of other cognitive functions. Differentiation and dedifferentiation processes can coexist. This study provides important data for better understanding of cognitive aging and compensatory processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lissett Gonzalez-Burgos
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychobiology and Methodology, Faculty of Psychology, University of La Laguna, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain.,Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences, and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Juan Andrés Hernández-Cabrera
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychobiology and Methodology, Faculty of Psychology, University of La Laguna, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - Eric Westman
- Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences, and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Neuroimaging, Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - José Barroso
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychobiology and Methodology, Faculty of Psychology, University of La Laguna, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - Daniel Ferreira
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychobiology and Methodology, Faculty of Psychology, University of La Laguna, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain.,Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences, and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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10
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Hussenoeder FS, Conrad I, Roehr S, Glaesmer H, Hinz A, Enzenbach C, Engel C, Witte V, Schroeter ML, Loeffler M, Thiery J, Villringer A, Riedel-Heller SG, Rodriguez FS. The association between mental demands at the workplace and cognitive functioning: the role of the big five personality traits. Aging Ment Health 2020; 24:1064-1070. [PMID: 31129995 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2019.1617244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Objectives: Mental demands at the workplace can be preventive against cognitive decline. However, personality shapes the way information is processed and we therefore assume that Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness, would moderate the beneficial effects of workplace stimulation on cognitive outcomes.Methods: We analyzed data from the population-based LIFE-Adult-Study (n = 6529). Cognitive outcomes were assessed via the Trail-Making Test (TMTA, TMTB) and the Verbal Fluency Test. Personality was assessed via the Personality Adjective List (16 AM). Mental demands were classified with the indices Verbal and Executive based on the O*NET database.Results: Multivariate regression analyses showed only two significant moderation effects of personality, i.e. in individuals with low scores on Conscientiousness/Openness, index Verbal was connected to better TMTB performance, while this effect disappeared for individuals with high values on the personality trait. However, the additional explained variance remained marginal.Conclusion: The findings suggest that personality does not modify associations between high mental demands at work and better cognitive functioning in old age; however, there is a tendency that high levels of Openness and Conscientiousness may offset effects of mental demands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix S Hussenoeder
- Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ines Conrad
- Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Susanne Roehr
- Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Heide Glaesmer
- Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Andreas Hinz
- Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Cornelia Enzenbach
- Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Epidemiology (IMISE), University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Christoph Engel
- Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Epidemiology (IMISE), University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Veronika Witte
- Max-Planck-Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Matthias L Schroeter
- Clinic for Cognitive Neurology, Max-Planck-Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences and University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Markus Loeffler
- Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Epidemiology (IMISE), University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Joachim Thiery
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Arno Villringer
- Max-Planck-Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Steffi G Riedel-Heller
- Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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11
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Kavé G, Sapir-Yogev S. Associations between memory and verbal fluency tasks. JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION DISORDERS 2020; 83:105968. [PMID: 31835071 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcomdis.2019.105968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Revised: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/01/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies have provided inconsistent evidence concerning the association between delayed retrieval of story information from long-term memory and retrieval of words on verbal fluency tasks. The current study looks for shared retrieval mechanisms in these tasks from childhood to old age. Three-hundred and eighty participants (ages 5-91) performed tasks of story recall, digit span, phonemic fluency, and semantic fluency. Significant correlations between delayed story recall and both fluency tasks emerged in all age groups, and the contribution of delayed story recall to fluency performance remained significant when analyzing the combined effects of story recall and digit span. These findings suggest that retrieval of information through story recall and retrieval of words on fluency tasks may share similar cognitive components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gitit Kavé
- Department of Education and Psychology, The Open University, Ra'anana, Israel.
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12
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Reynoso-Alcántara V, Silva-Pereyra J, Vergara-Lope Tristán S, Díaz Camacho JE, Guiot Vázquez MI, Del Callejo Canal DD, Canal Martínez ME. Verbal fluency in Mexican Spanish-speaking subjects with high educational level: Ranking of letters and semantic categories. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2019; 41:1001-1014. [PMID: 31354101 DOI: 10.1080/13803395.2019.1643454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Verbal fluency tasks are useful tools in clinical practice and research studies across languages and contexts, but specific data obtained using Spanish phonological tasks and semantic tasks with different levels of difficulty are lacking. The present study aimed to determine the difficulty level of a phonological tasks and semantic tasks among Spanish-speakers. Method: Both tasks were ordered across five difficulty levels based on the frequency of use in Mexican Spanish (phonological) and the number of elements given by a group of participants (semantic). One hundred healthy Mexican Spanish-speaking participants (aged 24-63 years; 55 females) were presented with five phonological and five semantic categories. The participants also underwent a neuropsychological test and sociodemographic interview. The number of words correctly produced in each category within one minute was calculated. An ANOVA and a Kruskal-Wallis analysis were conducted in order to know if there were different levels of difficulty in the tasks. Additionally, correlation analyzes were performed to test the effect of the sociodemographic and cognitive variables on the participants' responses. Results: According to the analyzes, there were different levels of difficulty in the categories; P was the easiest and O was the most difficult category in the phonological tasks, and body parts and precious stones were the easiest and most difficult, respectively, in the semantic tasks. Age had a negative correlation with four-legged animals and a positive correlation with O; Positive correlations were also found between education and professions, vegetables, and alcoholic beverages; and between IQ and D, N, musical instruments, sports, vegetables, and trees. Conclusions: Both tasks offer categories with different level of difficulty based on the performance of a highly educated Mexican population. These data may be useful for clinical and research purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Juan Silva-Pereyra
- Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México , Estado de México , México
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Clustering and Switching Patterns in Semantic Fluency and Their Relationship to Working Memory in Mild Cognitive Impairment. Dement Neurocogn Disord 2019; 18:47-61. [PMID: 31297135 PMCID: PMC6609534 DOI: 10.12779/dnd.2019.18.2.47] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2019] [Revised: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Purpose Semantic verbal fluency test is a neuropsychological assessment that can sensitively detect neuropathological changes. Considering its multifactorial features tapping various cognitive domains such as semantic memory, executive function, and working memory, it is necessary to examine verbal fluency performance in association with underlying cognitive functions. The objective of the current study was to investigate semantic fluency patterns of people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) based on clustering and switching and their relationship with working memory. Methods Twenty-six individuals with MCI and 23 normal elderly adults participated in this study. A semantic verbal fluency test (animal version) was administered and the performance was analyzed using the following measures: number of correct words, cluster size, and number of switches. Scores of digit forward (DF) and backward span tasks were employed as working memory measures. Results Analyses of variance revealed significant group differences in the numbers of correct words and switches. Multivariate logistic regression and receiver-operating characteristic analyses showed that the number of switches more sensitively distinguished MCI existence than the number of correct words. Stepwise linear regression analysis showed that DF task and age significantly predicted the number of correct words while only the DF task significantly predicted the number of switches. Conclusions Decrement in semantic verbal fluency in MCI seems to be associated with impaired switching abilities. Working memory capacity might serve as the underlying cognitive factor related to decreased verbal fluency in MCI.
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Taporoski TP, Duarte NE, Pompéia S, Sterr A, Gómez LM, Alvim RO, Horimoto ARVR, Krieger JE, Vallada H, Pereira AC, von Schantz M, Negrão AB. Heritability of semantic verbal fluency task using time-interval analysis. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0217814. [PMID: 31185027 PMCID: PMC6559646 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0217814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Individual variability in word generation is a product of genetic and environmental influences. The genetic effects on semantic verbal fluency were estimated in 1,735 participants from the Brazilian Baependi Heart Study. The numbers of exemplars produced in 60 s were broken down into time quartiles because of the involvement of different cognitive processes—predominantly automatic at the beginning, controlled/executive at the end. Heritability in the unadjusted model for the 60-s measure was 0.32. The best-fit model contained age, sex, years of schooling, and time of day as covariates, giving a heritability of 0.21. Schooling had the highest moderating effect. The highest heritability (0.17) was observed in the first quartile, decreasing to 0.09, 0.12, and 0.0003 in the following ones. Heritability for average production starting point (intercept) was 0.18, indicating genetic influences for automatic cognitive processes. Production decay (slope), indicative of controlled processes, was not significant. The genetic influence on different quartiles of the semantic verbal fluency test could potentially be exploited in clinical practice and genome-wide association studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- T. P. Taporoski
- Institute of Psychiatry (LIM-23), Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Cardiology, Heart Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - N. E. Duarte
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Cardiology, Heart Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Departmento de Matemáticas, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Manizales, Colombia
| | - S. Pompéia
- Department of Psychobiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo–Escola Paulista de Medicina, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - A. Sterr
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | - L. M. Gómez
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Cardiology, Heart Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - R. O. Alvim
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Cardiology, Heart Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Public Health, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, Brazil
| | - A. R. V. R. Horimoto
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Cardiology, Heart Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - J. E. Krieger
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Cardiology, Heart Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - H. Vallada
- Institute of Psychiatry (LIM-23), Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - A. C. Pereira
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Cardiology, Heart Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - M. von Schantz
- Institute of Psychiatry (LIM-23), Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - A. B. Negrão
- Institute of Psychiatry (LIM-23), Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Cardiology, Heart Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Pires L, Moura O, Guerrini C, Buekenhout I, Simões MR, Leitão J. Confirmatory Factor Analysis of Neurocognitive Measures in Healthy Young Adults: The Relation of Executive Functions with Other Neurocognitive Functions. Arch Clin Neuropsychol 2019; 34:350-365. [PMID: 29688248 DOI: 10.1093/arclin/acy040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2017] [Revised: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The present study aimed to investigate the factor structure of a set of neurocognitive tests theoretically assessing executive functions (EF), verbal abilities (VA), and processing speed (PS). This study extended previous research by analyzing if each test is better explained by the specific factor to which it theoretically belongs or by a more general neurocognitive factor; and also by analyzing the relations between the neurocognitive factors. METHODS Using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) we examined the factor structure of nine neurocognitive tests (EF: Working Memory, Tower, Divided Attention, Stroop, and Verbal Fluency tests; VA: Word List and Confrontation Naming tests; PS: Coding and Telephone Search tests) in a nonclinical sample (N = 90; 18-33 years old, 76 women). We tested five factor models of neurocognitive functioning: a one-factor model; two models with two-correlated factors; and two models with three-correlated factors. RESULTS A three-correlated-factor model, with EF, VA, and PS factors, was the most suitable for our neuropsychological data. The Verbal Fluency test was better explained by the VA factor rather than by the EF factor. The EF factor was correlated with the PS factor, but not with the VA factor. CONCLUSIONS Most of the neurocognitive measures used in the present study loaded in the expected factors (with the exception of the Verbal Fluency that was apparently more related to VA). EF and PS represent related but separable functions. Our results highlight the need for a careful interpretation of test scores since performance on one test usually requires multiple functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luís Pires
- CINEICC - Neuropsychology Research and Cognitive and Behavioural Intervention Center, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Memory, Language and Executive Functions Lab, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Centre for Health and Clinical Neuroscience, Psychology, School of Life Sciences, University of Hull, UK
| | - Octávio Moura
- CINEICC - Neuropsychology Research and Cognitive and Behavioural Intervention Center, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Psychological Assessment Lab, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Chiara Guerrini
- Centre for Health and Clinical Neuroscience, Psychology, School of Life Sciences, University of Hull, UK
| | - Imke Buekenhout
- CINEICC - Neuropsychology Research and Cognitive and Behavioural Intervention Center, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Memory, Language and Executive Functions Lab, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Mário R Simões
- CINEICC - Neuropsychology Research and Cognitive and Behavioural Intervention Center, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Psychological Assessment Lab, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - José Leitão
- CINEICC - Neuropsychology Research and Cognitive and Behavioural Intervention Center, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Memory, Language and Executive Functions Lab, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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Responses to executive demand in young adulthood differ by APOE genotype. Behav Brain Res 2019; 360:158-168. [PMID: 30472114 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2018.11.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2018] [Revised: 11/06/2018] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Despite evidence of a relationship between Apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4+ and later-life cognitive decline, the lifespan effects of carrying an ε4+ allele on cognitive ageing are not well understood. Evidence of ε4+ advantages in early-life are inconsistent, but not inconsiderable. We explored the proposal that APOE ε4+ cognitive advantages arise only in response to complex and sensitive tasks targeting specific executive functions. We systematically manipulated executive demand within verbal fluency, decision-making, prospective memory, and sustained attention tasks. Participants aged 18-25 years (21 ε4+, 63 ε33) also completed a measure of subjective effort. Under low executive demand, ε4+ made fewer verbal fluency word repeats compared to ε33 carriers. Under high executive demand, ε4+ showed lower costs associated with performing concurrent tasks, greater switching errors, and more verbal fluency root repetition errors. Overall, ε4+ appeared to be showing working memory updating advantages under conditions of low executive demand, more effective resource allocation under elevated levels of executive demand, and errors indicating different strategy use compared to ε33 carriers, including speed-accuracy trade-offs.
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17
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Ibrahim O, Sutherland HG, Haupt LM, Griffiths LR. An emerging role for epigenetic factors in relation to executive function. Brief Funct Genomics 2017; 17:170-180. [DOI: 10.1093/bfgp/elx032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
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18
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Rodriguez FS, Schroeter ML, Witte AV, Engel C, Löffler M, Thiery J, Villringer A, Luck T, Riedel-Heller SG. Could High Mental Demands at Work Offset the Adverse Association Between Social Isolation and Cognitive Functioning? Results of the Population-Based LIFE-Adult-Study. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 2017; 25:1258-1269. [PMID: 28669574 DOI: 10.1016/j.jagp.2017.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2016] [Revised: 05/15/2017] [Accepted: 05/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The study investigated whether high mental demands at work, which have shown to promote a good cognitive functioning in old age, could offset the adverse association between social isolation and cognitive functioning. METHODS Based on data from the population-based LIFE-Adult-Study, the association between cognitive functioning (Verbal Fluency Test, Trail Making Test B) and social isolation (Lubben Social Network Scale) as well as mental demands at work (O*NET database) was analyzed via linear regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, education, and sampling weights. RESULTS Cognitive functioning was significantly lower in socially isolated individuals and in individuals working in low mental demands jobs-even in old age after retirement and even after taking into account the educational level. An interaction effect suggested stronger effects of mental demands at work in socially isolated than nonisolated individuals. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that working in high mental-demand jobs could offset the adverse association between social isolation and cognitive functioning. Further research should evaluate how interventions that target social isolation and enhance mentally demanding activities promote a good cognitive functioning in old age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisca S Rodriguez
- Edward R. Roybal Institute on Aging, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA; Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany; Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Matthias L Schroeter
- Max-Planck-Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany; Clinic for Cognitive Neurology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - A Veronica Witte
- Collaborative Research Centre 1052 "Obesity Mechanisms", University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany; Max-Planck-Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany; Clinic for Cognitive Neurology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Christoph Engel
- Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany; Subproject A1, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany; Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Epidemiology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Markus Löffler
- Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany; Subproject A1, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany; Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Epidemiology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Joachim Thiery
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Arno Villringer
- Max-Planck-Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany; Clinic for Cognitive Neurology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Tobias Luck
- Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany; Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Steffi G Riedel-Heller
- Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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Sudo FK, Amado P, Alves GS, Laks J, Engelhardt E. A continuum of executive function deficits in early subcortical vascular cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Dement Neuropsychol 2017; 11:371-380. [PMID: 29354217 PMCID: PMC5769995 DOI: 10.1590/1980-57642016dn11-040006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2017] [Accepted: 11/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Subcortical Vascular Cognitive Impairment (SVCI) is a clinical continuum of vascular-related cognitive impairment, including Vascular Mild Cognitive Impairment (VaMCI) and Vascular Dementia. Deficits in Executive Function (EF) are hallmarks of the disorder, but the best methods to assess this function have yet to be determined. The insidious and almost predictable course of SVCI and the multidimensional concept of EF suggest that a temporal dissociation of impairments in EF domains exists early in the disorder. OBJECTIVE This study aims to review and analyze data from the literature about performance of VaMCI patients on the most used EF tests through a meta-analytic approach. METHODS Medline, Web of Knowledge and PsycINFO were searched, using the terms: "vascular mild cognitive impairment" OR "vascular cognitive impairment no dementia" OR "vascular mild neurocognitive disorder" AND "dysexecutive" OR "executive function". Meta-analyses were conducted for each of the selected tests, using random-effect models. RESULTS Systematic review showed major discrepancies among the results of the studies included. Meta-analyses evidenced poorer performance on the Trail-Making Test part B and the Stroop color test by VaMCI patients compared to controls. CONCLUSION A continuum of EF impairments has been proposed in SVCI. Early deficits appear to occur in cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Kenji Sudo
- Departamento de Psicologia, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
- Instituto D'Or de Ensino e Pesquisa, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Patricia Amado
- Instituto de Psiquiatria, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Gilberto Sousa Alves
- Departamento de Medicina Interna, Universidade Federal do Ceará, CE, Brazil
- Goethe Universitat Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
| | - Jerson Laks
- Instituto de Psiquiatria, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biomedicina Translacional (BIOTRANS), Unigranrio, Duque de Caxias, RJ, Brazil
| | - Eliasz Engelhardt
- Setor de Neurologia Cognitiva e do Comportamento, INDC/CDA/ IPUB, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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Occelli V, Lacey S, Stephens C, Merabet LB, Sathian K. Enhanced verbal abilities in the congenitally blind. Exp Brain Res 2017; 235:1709-1718. [PMID: 28280879 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-017-4931-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2016] [Accepted: 02/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Numerous studies have found that congenitally blind individuals have better verbal memory than their normally sighted counterparts. However, it is not known whether this reflects superiority of verbal or memory abilities. In order to distinguish between these possibilities, we tested congenitally blind participants and normally sighted control participants, matched for age and education, on a range of verbal and spatial tasks. Congenitally blind participants were significantly better than sighted controls on all the verbal tasks but the groups did not differ significantly on the spatial tasks. Thus, the congenitally blind appear to have superior verbal, but not spatial, abilities. This may reflect greater reliance on verbal information and the involvement of visual cortex in language processing in the congenitally blind.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Occelli
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Simon Lacey
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Careese Stephens
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
- Rehabilitation R&D Center for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation, Atlanta VAMC, Decatur, GA, USA
| | - Lotfi B Merabet
- The Laboratory for Visual Neuroplasticity, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - K Sathian
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
- Rehabilitation Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Rehabilitation R&D Center for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation, Atlanta VAMC, Decatur, GA, USA.
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Associations of the 24-h activity rhythm and sleep with cognition: a population-based study of middle-aged and elderly persons. Sleep Med 2015; 16:850-5. [PMID: 26028055 DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2015.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2015] [Revised: 03/19/2015] [Accepted: 03/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive functioning changes with age, sleep, and the circadian rhythm. We investigated whether these factors are independently associated with different cognitive domains assessed in middle-aged and elderly persons. METHODS In 1723 middle-aged and elderly persons (age 62 ± 9.4 years, mean ± standard deviation, SD) of the Rotterdam Study, we collected actigraphy recordings of on average 138 h. Actigraphy was used to quantify 24-h rhythms by calculating the stability of the rhythm over days and the fragmentation of the rhythm. Sleep parameters including total sleep time, sleep-onset latency, and wake after sleep onset were also estimated from actigraphy. Cognitive functioning was assessed with the word learning test (WLT), word fluency test (WFT), letter digit substitution task (LDST), and Stroop color word test (Stroop). RESULTS Persons with less stable 24-h rhythms performed worse on the LDST (B = 0.42 per SD increase, p = 0.004) and the Stroop interference trial (B = -1.04 per SD increase, p = 0.003) after full adjustment. Similarly, persons with more fragmented rhythms performed worse on the LDST (B = -0.47 per SD increase, p = 0.002) and the Stroop (B = 1.47 per SD increase, p <0.001). By contrast, longer observed sleep-onset latencies were related to worse performance on the WLT delayed recall (B = -0.19 per SD increase, p = 0.027) and the WFT (B = -0.45 per SD increase, p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS Disturbances of sleep and the 24-h activity rhythm were independently related to cognition; while persons with longer sleep-onset latencies had worse performance on memory and verbal tasks, persons with 24-h rhythm disturbances performed less on executive functioning and perceptual speed tasks.
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Stolwyk R, Bannirchelvam B, Kraan C, Simpson K. The cognitive abilities associated with verbal fluency task performance differ across fluency variants and age groups in healthy young and old adults. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2015; 37:70-83. [DOI: 10.1080/13803395.2014.988125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Ehlen F, Schoenecker T, Kühn AA, Klostermann F. Differential effects of deep brain stimulation on verbal fluency. BRAIN AND LANGUAGE 2014; 134:23-33. [PMID: 24815947 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandl.2014.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2013] [Revised: 03/31/2014] [Accepted: 04/07/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
We aimed at gaining insights into principles of subcortical lexical processing. Therefore, effects of deep brain stimulation (DBS) in different target structures on verbal fluency (VF) were tested. VF was assessed with active vs. inactivated DBS in 13 and 14 patients with DBS in the vicinity of the thalamic ventral intermediate nucleus (VIM) and, respectively, of the subthalamic nucleus (STN). Results were correlated to electrode localizations in postoperative MRI, and compared to those of 12 age-matched healthy controls. Patients' VF performance was generally below normal. However, while activation of DBS in the vicinity of VIM provoked marked VF decline, it induced subtle phonemic VF enhancement in the vicinity of STN. The effects correlated with electrode localizations in left hemispheric stimulation sites. The results show distinct dependencies of VF on DBS in the vicinity of VIM vs. STN. Particular risks for deterioration occur in patients with relatively ventromedial thalamic electrodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felicitas Ehlen
- Charité, University Medicine Berlin, Dept. of Neurology, Motor and Cognition Group, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Germany.
| | - Thomas Schoenecker
- Charité, University Medicine Berlin, Dept. of Neurology, Motor Neuroscience Group, Campus Virchow Klinikum, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Andrea A Kühn
- Charité, University Medicine Berlin, Dept. of Neurology, Motor Neuroscience Group, Campus Virchow Klinikum, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany; Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Unter den Linden 6, 10099 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Fabian Klostermann
- Charité, University Medicine Berlin, Dept. of Neurology, Motor and Cognition Group, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Germany; Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Unter den Linden 6, 10099 Berlin, Germany.
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Then FS, Luck T, Luppa M, Arélin K, Schroeter ML, Engel C, Löffler M, Thiery J, Villringer A, Riedel-Heller SG. Association between mental demands at work and cognitive functioning in the general population - results of the health study of the Leipzig research center for civilization diseases (LIFE). J Occup Med Toxicol 2014; 9:23. [PMID: 24914403 PMCID: PMC4049483 DOI: 10.1186/1745-6673-9-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2014] [Accepted: 05/13/2014] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The level of mental demands in the workplace is rising. The present study investigated whether and how mental demands at work are associated with cognitive functioning in the general population. Methods The analysis is based on data of the Health Study of the Leipzig Research Centre for Civilization Disease (LIFE). 2,725 participants aged 40–80 years underwent cognitive testing (Trail-Making Test, Verbal Fluency Test) and provided information on their occupational situation. Participants over the age of 65 years additionally completed the Mini-Mental State Examination. Mental demands at work were rated by a standardized classification system (O*NET). The association between mental demands and cognitive functioning was analyzed using Generalized Linear Modeling (GENLIN) adjusted for age, gender, self-regulation, working hour status, education, and health-related factors. Results Univariate as well as multivariate analyses demonstrated significant and highly consistent effects of higher mental demands on better performance in cognitive testing. The results also indicated that the effects are independent of education and intelligence. Moreover, analyses of retired individuals implied a significant association between high mental demands at work of the job they once held and a better cognitive functioning in old age. Conclusions In sum, our findings suggest a significant association between high mental demands at work and better cognitive functioning. In this sense, higher levels of mental demands – as brought about by technological changes in the working environment – may also have beneficial effects for the society as they could increase cognitive capacity levels and might even delay cognitive decline in old age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisca S Then
- Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health (ISAP), Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Str. 55, 04103 Leipzig, Germany ; LIFE - Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Tobias Luck
- Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health (ISAP), Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Str. 55, 04103 Leipzig, Germany ; LIFE - Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Melanie Luppa
- Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health (ISAP), Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Str. 55, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Katrin Arélin
- LIFE - Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany ; Max-Planck-Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, and Clinic for Cognitive Neurology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Matthias L Schroeter
- LIFE - Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany ; Max-Planck-Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, and Clinic for Cognitive Neurology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Christoph Engel
- LIFE - Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany ; Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Epidemiology (IMISE), University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Markus Löffler
- LIFE - Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany ; Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Epidemiology (IMISE), University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Joachim Thiery
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics (ILM), University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Arno Villringer
- Max-Planck-Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, and Clinic for Cognitive Neurology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Steffi G Riedel-Heller
- Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health (ISAP), Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Str. 55, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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Cognitive predictors of limited health literacy in adults with heterogeneous socioeconomic backgrounds. J Health Psychol 2014; 20:1613-25. [DOI: 10.1177/1359105313520337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between health literacy and specific cognitive abilities in hospital users. A neuropsychological battery was administered and the Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults was used to classify individuals as having adequate or limited functional health literacy. Of the 322 participants, 102 (31.7%) presented limited health literacy. Even after adjusting for demographics, years of education, and quality of education, health literacy was strongly associated with measures of cognitive performance, but the strength of association was variable across different cognitive abilities.
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26
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Neurobehavioural evidence for the involvement of the FMR1 gene in female carriers of fragile X syndrome. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2013; 37:522-47. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2013.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2012] [Revised: 12/11/2012] [Accepted: 01/06/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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