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Kaufman JR, Fatima H, Lacritz LH, Cullum CM. Utility of a Short-Form Phonemic Fluency Task. Arch Clin Neuropsychol 2024:acae022. [PMID: 38516816 DOI: 10.1093/arclin/acae022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE to establish a proof-of-concept and ascertain the reliability of an abbreviated 30-second (30s) phonemic fluency measure as a cognitive screening tool in older adults. METHODS in all, 201 English-speaking individuals with normal cognition (NC; n = 119) or cognitive impairment (CI; mild CI or dementia; n = 82) were administered a standard 60s phonemic fluency task (FAS/CFL) with discrete 30s intervals denoted. RESULTS for all letters, 30s trial scores significantly predicted 60s scores for the same letter, R2 = .7-.9, F(1, 200) = 850-915, p < .001. As with 60s total scores, 30s cumulative scores (for all three trials) were significantly different between NC and CI groups (p < .001). Receiver operating characteristic analyses showed that 30s total scores distinguished NC and CI groups as effectively (AUC = .675) as 60s total scores (AUC = .658). CONCLUSIONS these findings support the utility and reliability of a short-form phonemic fluency paradigm, as 30s performance reliably predicted 60s/trial totals and was equally accurate in distinguishing impaired/non-impaired groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack R Kaufman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Hudaisa Fatima
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Laura H Lacritz
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - C Munro Cullum
- Departments of Psychiatry, Neurology, and Neurological Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
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2
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Zhou A, Britt C, Woods RL, Orchard SG, Murray AM, Shah RC, Rajan R, McNeil JJ, Chong TTJ, Storey E, Ryan J. Normative Data for Single-Letter Controlled Oral Word Association Test in Older White Australians and Americans, African-Americans, and Hispanic/Latinos. J Alzheimers Dis Rep 2023; 7:1033-1043. [PMID: 37849629 PMCID: PMC10578329 DOI: 10.3233/adr-230089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT) is a commonly used measure of verbal fluency. While a normal decline in verbal fluency occurs in late adulthood, significant impairments may indicate brain injury or diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Normative data is essential to identify when test performance falls below expected levels based on age, gender, and education level. Objective This study aimed to establish normative performance data on single-letter COWAT for older community-dwelling adults. Methods Over 19,000 healthy men and women, without a diagnosis of dementia or a Modified Mini-Mental State Examination score below 77/100, were recruited for the ASPREE trial. Neuropsychological assessments, including the COWAT with letter F, were administered at study entry. Results Median participant age was 75 years (range 65-98), with 56.5% being women. The majority of participants had 9-11 years of education in Australia and over 12 years in the U.S. The COWAT performance varied across ethno-racial groups and normative data were thus presented separately for 16,335 white Australians, 1,084 white Americans, 896 African-Americans, and 316 Hispanic/Latinos. Women generally outperformed men in the COWAT, except for Hispanic/Latinos. Higher education levels consistently correlated with better COWAT performance across all groups, while the negative association with age was weaker. Conclusions This study provides comprehensive normative data for the COWAT stratified by ethno-racial groups in Australia and the U.S., considering age, gender, and education level. These norms can serve as reference standards for screening cognitive impairments in older adults in both clinical and research settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aoshuang Zhou
- Division of Epidemiology, Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Carlene Britt
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Robyn L. Woods
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Suzanne G. Orchard
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Anne M. Murray
- Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Hennepin Healthcare, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Berman Center for Outcomes and Clinical Research, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Raj C. Shah
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine and the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ramesh Rajan
- Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - John J. McNeil
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Trevor T.-J. Chong
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Neurology, Alfred Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Elsdon Storey
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Joanne Ryan
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Kendig MD, Chow JYL, Martire SI, Rooney KB, Boakes RA. Switching from Sugar- to Artificially-Sweetened Beverages: A 12-Week Trial. Nutrients 2023; 15:2191. [PMID: 37432352 DOI: 10.3390/nu15092191] [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: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) forms the primary source of added sugar intake and can increase the risk of metabolic disease. Evidence from studies in humans and rodents also indicates that consumption of SSBs can impair performance on cognitive tests, but that removing SSB access can ameliorate these effects. METHODS The present study used an unblinded 3-group parallel design to assess the effects of a 12-week intervention in which young healthy adults (mean age = 22.85, SD = 3.89; mean BMI: 23.2, SD = 3.6) who regularly consumed SSBs were instructed to replace SSB intake with artificially-sweetened beverages (n = 28) or water (n = 25), or (c) to continue SSB intake (n = 27). RESULTS No significant group differences were observed in short-term verbal memory on the Logical Memory test or the ratio of waist circumference to height (primary outcomes), nor in secondary measures of effect, impulsivity, adiposity, or glucose tolerance. One notable change was a significant reduction in liking for strong sucrose solutions in participants who switched to water. Switching from SSBs to 'diet' drinks or water had no detectable impact on cognitive or metabolic health over the relatively short time frame studied here. This study was prospectively registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12615001004550; Universal Trial Number: U1111-1170-4543).
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Kendig
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Julie Y L Chow
- School of Psychology, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
- School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Sarah I Martire
- School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Kieron B Rooney
- Discipline of Exercise and Sport Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Robert A Boakes
- School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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4
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Smerbeck A, Olson LT, Morra LF, Raines J, Schretlen DJ, Benedict RHB. Effects of Repeated Administration and Comparability of Alternate Forms for the Global Neuropsychological Assessment (GNA). Assessment 2023; 30:160-170. [PMID: 34528446 DOI: 10.1177/10731911211045125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The Global Neuropsychological Assessment (GNA) is an extremely brief battery of cognitive tasks assessing episodic memory, processing speed, working memory, verbal fluency, executive function, and mood. It can be given in under 15 minutes, has five alternate forms, and does not require an examinee to be literate. The purpose of this study was to quantify practice effects over repeated administrations and assess comparability of the GNA's five alternate forms, preparing the battery for repeated administration in research and clinical settings. Forty participants each completed all five GNA forms at weekly intervals following a Latin square design (i.e., each form was administered at every position in the sequence an equal number of times). In a cognitively intact population, practice effects of 0.56 to 1.06 SD were observed across GNA measures when comparing the first and fifth administration. Most GNA tests showed nonsignificant interform differences with cross-form means differing by 0.35 SD or less, with the exception of modest but statistically significant interform differences for the GNA Story Memory subtest across all five forms. However, post hoc analysis identified clusters of two and three Story Memory alternate forms that were equivalent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Smerbeck
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Lauren T Olson
- State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Lindsay F Morra
- The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Abstract
This chapter is written for the qualified neurologist or related professional working with persons who have had a stroke or other sudden brain injury. It is critical that the presence of aphasia is detected, no matter how mild the presentation, and to support that assertion, this chapter highlights the plight of persons with latent aphasia. At the individual level, the impact of aphasia is devastating, with overwhelming evidence that aphasia negatively impacts psychosocial outcomes. At the global level, sensitive detection and accurate diagnosis of aphasia are critical for accurate characterization and quantification of the global burden of aphasia. The word "LANGUAGE" is leveraged as an acronym to create a useful and memorable checklist to guide navigation of aphasia screening and assessment: it begins with the definition of language (L), followed by the definition and diagnostic criteria for aphasia (A). Then language abilities and characteristics to be considered in assessment are presented: naming (N); grammar and syntax (G); unintelligible words, jargon, and paraphasias (U); auditory comprehension and repetition (A); graphemic abilities-reading and writing (G); and everyday communication and discourse (E). Recommendations for improving procedural adherence are provided, and a list of potential brief assessment measures are introduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica D Richardson
- Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States.
| | - Sarah Grace Dalton
- Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, United States
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The Reliability and Validity of the Action Fluency Test in Healthy College Students. Arch Clin Neuropsychol 2019; 34:1175-1191. [DOI: 10.1093/arclin/acz016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2018] [Revised: 03/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Objective
This study examined the test–retest reliability and construct validity of the Action Fluency Test (AFT) as a measure of executive functioning.
Method
Using a correlational design, 128 healthy college students (M Age = 19.24, SD = 2.01; M education = 13.29 years, SD = 0.81) completed the AFT, and measures of verbal and figural fluency, executive functioning and other relevant constructs (e.g., vocabulary, working memory, and attention).
Results
Coefficients of stability were acceptable for AFT correct words (r = .76; p < .01), but not for errors (r = .41) or perseverations (r = .14). No practice effects were observed upon repeat testing (M interval = 39.21 days). Divergent validity evidence was mixed. AFT scores were unrelated to working memory and perceptual-reasoning abilities; however, correlations with vocabulary (r = .32; p < .01) and information-processing speed (r = .30; p < .01) were greater than associations between AFT scores and executive measures. Regarding convergent validity, AFT scores correlated with other fluency tasks (r = .4 range), but correlations with measures of executive functioning were absent or small. Action and letter fluency correlated with measures of attentional control and inhibition; however, these associations were no longer significant after controlling for shared variance with information-processing speed.
Conclusions
Findings are consistent with previous research suggesting vocabulary and information-processing speed underlie effective fluency performance to a greater extent than executive functioning. The AFT measures unique variance not accounted for by semantic and letter fluency tasks, and therefore may be used for a variety of research and clinical purposes.
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Duration of Posttraumatic Amnesia Predicts Neuropsychological and Global Outcome in Complicated Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. J Head Trauma Rehabil 2018; 31:E1-E9. [PMID: 26828710 DOI: 10.1097/htr.0000000000000210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Examine the effects of posttraumatic amnesia (PTA) duration on neuropsychological and global recovery from 1 to 6 months after complicated mild traumatic brain injury (cmTBI). PARTICIPANTS A total of 330 persons with cmTBI defined as Glasgow Coma Scale score of 13 to 15 in emergency department, with well-defined abnormalities on neuroimaging. METHODS Enrollment within 24 hours of injury with follow-up at 1, 3, and 6 months. MEASURES Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended, California Verbal Learning Test II, and Controlled Oral Word Association Test. Duration of PTA was retrospectively measured with structured interview at 30 days postinjury. RESULTS Despite all having a Glasgow Coma Scale Score of 13 to 15, a quarter of the sample had a PTA duration of greater than 7 days; half had PTA duration of 1 of 7 days. Both cognitive performance and Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale outcomes were strongly associated with time since injury and PTA duration, with those with PTA duration of greater than 1 week showing residual moderate disability at 6-month assessment. CONCLUSIONS Findings reinforce importance of careful measurement of duration of PTA to refine outcome prediction and allocation of resources to those with cmTBI. Future research would benefit from standardization in computed tomographic criteria and use of severity indices beyond Glasgow Coma Scale to characterize cmTBI.
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O’Connell ME, Tuokko H, Voll S, Simard M, Griffith LE, Taler V, Wolfson C, Kirkland S, Raina P. An evidence-based approach to the creation of normative data: base rates of impaired scores within a brief neuropsychological battery argue for age corrections, but against corrections for medical conditions. Clin Neuropsychol 2017; 31:1188-1203. [DOI: 10.1080/13854046.2017.1349931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Holly Tuokko
- Institute on Aging & Lifelong Health, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada
| | - Stacey Voll
- Institute on Aging & Lifelong Health, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada
| | - Martine Simard
- School of Psychology, Laval University and Centre de recherche de l’Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Québec, Québec City, Canada
| | - Lauren E. Griffith
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Vanessa Taler
- School of Psychology, University of Ottawa & Bruyère Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Christina Wolfson
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Susan Kirkland
- Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
| | - Parminder Raina
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, McMaster Institute for Research on Aging & Labarge Centre for Mobility in Aging, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
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9
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Herring D, Paulson D. Moderate alcohol use and apolipoprotein E-4 (ApoE-4): Independent effects on cognitive outcomes in later life. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2017; 40:326-337. [PMID: 28659024 DOI: 10.1080/13803395.2017.1343803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Substantive past research suggests that moderate alcohol use confers beneficial health outcomes. The study of moderate alcohol use and cognition has produced variable findings. The primary goal was to examine the relationship between alcohol use and cognitive aging over time (Experiment 1), in a demographically representative, longitudinal survey of older adults. Experiment 2 examined the hypothesis that apolipoprotein E-4 (ApoE-4) would moderate the relationship between moderate drinking and performance on cognitive domains. METHOD The sample was drawn from the Aging, Demographics, and Memory Study (ADAMS) supplement of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and included 856 participants over age 65 in 2001. Follow-up data were from 2002, 2006, and 2008. Alcohol use was measured via self-report. Control variables included gender, age, race, number of years of education, medical burden (total number of medical diseases), and marital status. RESULTS Results of Experiment 1 indicated that moderate alcohol use was significantly associated with better baseline functioning across cognitive measures (p ≤ .05), but had no significant effect on rate of change over time across cognitive domains. Results of Experiment 2 indicated that while ApoE-4 carriage did not moderate the relationship between alcohol use and cognitive performance, generally, both ApoE-4 and moderate alcohol use were significant predictors of cognitive performance. CONCLUSIONS Overall, findings from this study support past findings that moderate alcohol use is associated with better cognitive functioning among community-dwelling older adults, and these relative benefits appear to persist throughout later life. However, the role of individual differences on manifestation of benefit remain very poorly understood. Future research should further examine the respective roles of demographic differences associated with cognitive aging, genetic moderators, and the influence of social interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Herring
- a Department of Psychology , University of Central Florida , Orlando , FL , USA
| | - Daniel Paulson
- a Department of Psychology , University of Central Florida , Orlando , FL , USA
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Cornell Kärnekull S, Arshamian A, Nilsson ME, Larsson M. From Perception to Metacognition: Auditory and Olfactory Functions in Early Blind, Late Blind, and Sighted Individuals. Front Psychol 2016; 7:1450. [PMID: 27729884 PMCID: PMC5037222 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2016] [Accepted: 09/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Although evidence is mixed, studies have shown that blind individuals perform better than sighted at specific auditory, tactile, and chemosensory tasks. However, few studies have assessed blind and sighted individuals across different sensory modalities in the same study. We tested early blind (n = 15), late blind (n = 15), and sighted (n = 30) participants with analogous olfactory and auditory tests in absolute threshold, discrimination, identification, episodic recognition, and metacognitive ability. Although the multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) showed no overall effect of blindness and no interaction with modality, follow-up between-group contrasts indicated a blind-over-sighted advantage in auditory episodic recognition, that was most pronounced in early blind individuals. In contrast to the auditory modality, there was no empirical support for compensatory effects in any of the olfactory tasks. There was no conclusive evidence for group differences in metacognitive ability to predict episodic recognition performance. Taken together, the results showed no evidence of an overall superior performance in blind relative sighted individuals across olfactory and auditory functions, although early blind individuals exceled in episodic auditory recognition memory. This observation may be related to an experience-induced increase in auditory attentional capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Artin Arshamian
- Gösta Ekman Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Stockholm UniversityStockholm, Sweden; Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska InstitutetStockholm, Sweden; Center for Language Studies and Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Radboud UniversityNijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Mats E Nilsson
- Gösta Ekman Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Stockholm University Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Maria Larsson
- Gösta Ekman Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Stockholm University Stockholm, Sweden
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Van Vleet TM, DeGutis JM, Merzenich MM, Simpson GV, Zomet A, Dabit S. Targeting alertness to improve cognition in older adults: A preliminary report of benefits in executive function and skill acquisition. Cortex 2016; 82:100-118. [PMID: 27372902 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2016.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2015] [Revised: 01/23/2016] [Accepted: 05/20/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Efficient self-regulation of alertness declines with age exacerbating normal declines in performance across multiple cognitive domains, including learning and skill acquisition. Previous cognitive intervention studies have shown that it is possible to enhance alertness in patients with acquired brain injury and marked attention impairments, and that this benefit generalizes to improvements in more global cognitive functions. In the current preliminary studies, we sought to test whether this approach, that targets both tonic (over a period of minutes) and phasic (moment-to-moment) alertness, can improve key executive functioning declines in older adults, and enhance the rate of skill acquisition. The results of both Experiments 1 and 2 demonstrate that, compared to active control (AC) training, alertness training significantly enhanced performance in several validated executive function measures. In Experiment 2, alertness training significantly improved skill acquisition compared to AC training in a well-characterized speed of processing (SOP) task, with the largest benefits shown in the most challenging SOP blocks. The results of the current study suggest that targeting intrinsic alertness through cognitive training provides a novel approach to improve executive functions in older adults and may be a useful adjunct treatment to enhance benefits gained in other clinically validated treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas M Van Vleet
- Department of Veteran Affairs, VA Medical Center, Martinez, CA, United States; Posit Science, San Francisco, CA, United States.
| | - Joseph M DeGutis
- Department of Veteran Affairs, VA Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Michael M Merzenich
- Posit Science, San Francisco, CA, United States; Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | | | - Ativ Zomet
- Posit Science, San Francisco, CA, United States; Vision Sciences Department, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States
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12
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John S, Rajashekhar B, Guddattu V. Word Retrieval Ability on Phonemic Fluency in Typically Developing Children. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY-CHILD 2016; 5:252-63. [PMID: 26980155 DOI: 10.1080/21622965.2015.1050099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Verbal fluency tasks are simple behavioral measures useful in assessing word retrieval abilities. Among the verbal fluency tasks, the utility of the Phonemic Fluency Task in children has received less attention. As the task is dependent on phonemic characteristics of each language, there is a great need for understanding its developmental trend. The present study, therefore, aims to delineate the performance on phonemic fluency in typically developing Malayalam-speaking children. Verbal fluency performance on 2 tasks of phonemic fluency was tested using a cross-sectional study design among 1,015 school-going Malayalam-speaking typically developing children aged 5 to 15 years old. Performance with respect to word productivity and clustering-switching measures was analyzed. The effect of age, gender, and tasks on the outcome measures were investigated in the present study. Study findings revealed a positive influence of age with no statistically significant gender effects. Children employed both task-discrepant and task-consistent organizational strategies during tasks of phonemic fluency, dependent purely on the Malayalam language. Future research focusing on developmental trends across different languages is vital for enhancing the task's clinical sensitivity and specificity among childhood disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunila John
- a Department of Speech & Hearing, School of Allied Health Sciences , Manipal University , Manipal , Karnataka , India
| | - Bellur Rajashekhar
- a Department of Speech & Hearing, School of Allied Health Sciences , Manipal University , Manipal , Karnataka , India
| | - Vasudeva Guddattu
- b Department of Statistics , Manipal University , Manipal , Karnataka , India
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Walsh JN, Manor B, Hausdorff J, Novak V, Lipsitz L, Gow B, Macklin EA, Peng CK, Wayne PM. Impact of Short- and Long-term Tai Chi Mind-Body Exercise Training on Cognitive Function in Healthy Adults: Results From a Hybrid Observational Study and Randomized Trial. Glob Adv Health Med 2015; 4:38-48. [PMID: 26331103 PMCID: PMC4533658 DOI: 10.7453/gahmj.2015.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive decline amongst older adults is a significant public health concern. There is growing interest in behavioral interventions, including exercise, for improving cognition. Studies to date suggest tai chi (TC) may be a safe and potentially effective exercise for preserving cognitive function with aging; however, its short-term and potential long-term impact on physically active, healthy adults is unclear. OBJECTIVE To compare differences in cognitive function among long-term TC expert practitioners and age-matched and gender-matched TC-naïve adults and to determine the effects of short-term TC training on measures of cognitive function in healthy, nonsedentary adults. DESIGN A hybrid design including an observational comparison and a 2-arm randomized clinical trial (RCT). PARTICIPANTS Healthy, nonsedentary, TC-naive adults (50 y-79 y) and age-matched and gender-matched long-term TC experts. METHODS A cross-sectional comparison of cognitive function in healthy TC-naïve (n=60) and TC expert (24.5 y ÷ 12 y experience; n=27) adults: TC-naïve adults then completed a 6-month, 2-arm, wait-list randomized clinical trial of TC training. Six measures of cognitive function were assessed for both cross-sectional and longitudinal comparisons. RESULTS TC experts exhibited trends towards better scores on all cognitive measures, significantly so for category fluency (P=.01), as well as a composite z score summarizing all 6 cognitive assessments (P=.03). In contrast, random assignment to 6 months of TC training in TC-naïve adults did not significantly improve any measures of cognitive function. CONCLUSIONS In healthy nonsedentary adults, long-term TC training may help preserve cognitive function; however, the effect of short-term TC training in healthy adults remains unclear. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01340365.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacquelyn N Walsh
- Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States (Ms Walsh)
| | - Brad Manor
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States (Dr Manor)
| | - Jeffrey Hausdorff
- Movement Disorders Unit, Department of Neurology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel (Dr Hausdorff)
| | - Vera Novak
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States (Dr Novak)
| | - Lewis Lipsitz
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States (Dr Lipsitz)
| | - Brian Gow
- Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States (Mr Gow)
| | - Eric A Macklin
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States (Dr Macklin)
| | | | - Peter M Wayne
- Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States (Dr Wayne)
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14
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Change in cognitive function over 12 months among patients with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. J Cardiovasc Nurs 2014; 28:E28-36. [PMID: 23907140 DOI: 10.1097/jcn.0b013e31829dfc6e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) have decreased cognitive function associated with arrhythmic and/or cardiac disorders, such as ischemic cardiomyopathy. Little is known about changes in cognitive function over time among ICD patients. AIMS The aim of this study was to evaluate baseline-to-12-month changes in cognitive function in memory (total recall and delayed recall), psychomotor speed, and executive function among ICD patients. METHODS In this prospective study, 115 (mean [SD] age, 64.83 [9.06] years, 75% mean) and 77 ICD patients completed baseline and 12-month face-to-face interviews, respectively, which included neuropsychological tests to evaluate cognitive function. RESULTS Patients who completed baseline and 12-month testing had decreased total and delayed recall memory (all P < .05). No significant changes from baseline to 12 months were observed in psychomotor speed (t = 0.33; P = .74) and executive function (t = -1.12; P = .27). Using 1.0 standard deviation or below the mean as a cutoff criterion, 12% to 22% of ICD patients had poor cognitive function over time. Particularly, at baseline, 17 (15%) and 15 (13%) of the 115 patients had poor memory in total and delayed recall, respectively. At 12 months, 12 (16%) and 9 (12%) of the 77 patients had poor memory in total and delayed recall, respectively. CONCLUSIONS In this sample of patients with ICDs, memory was poor at baseline and decreased over 12 months. Future studies are indicated to determine how this change in memory influences outcomes such as medication adherence.
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Casals-Coll M, Sanchez-Benavides G, Meza-Cavazos S, Manero RM, Aguilar M, Badenes D, Molinuevo JL, Robles A, Barquero MS, Antunez C, Martinez-Parra C, Frank-Garcia A, Fernandez M, Blesa R, Pena-Casanova J. Spanish Multicenter Normative Studies (NEURONORMA Project): Normative Data and Equivalence of Four BNT Short-Form Versions. Arch Clin Neuropsychol 2013; 29:60-74. [DOI: 10.1093/arclin/act085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Cavaco S, Gonçalves A, Pinto C, Almeida E, Gomes F, Moreira I, Fernandes J, Teixeira-Pinto A. Semantic Fluency and Phonemic Fluency: Regression-based Norms for the Portuguese Population. Arch Clin Neuropsychol 2013; 28:262-71. [DOI: 10.1093/arclin/act001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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Wayne PM, Manor B, Novak V, Costa MD, Hausdorff JM, Goldberger AL, Ahn AC, Yeh GY, Peng CK, Lough M, Davis RB, Quilty MT, Lipsitz LA. A systems biology approach to studying Tai Chi, physiological complexity and healthy aging: design and rationale of a pragmatic randomized controlled trial. Contemp Clin Trials 2013; 34:21-34. [PMID: 23026349 PMCID: PMC3638751 DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2012.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2012] [Revised: 09/21/2012] [Accepted: 09/25/2012] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Aging is typically associated with progressive multi-system impairment that leads to decreased physical and cognitive function and reduced adaptability to stress. Due to its capacity to characterize complex dynamics within and between physiological systems, the emerging field of complex systems biology and its array of quantitative tools show great promise for improving our understanding of aging, monitoring senescence, and providing biomarkers for evaluating novel interventions, including promising mind-body exercises, that treat age-related disease and promote healthy aging. MATERIAL AND METHODS An ongoing, two-arm randomized clinical trial is evaluating the potential of Tai Chi mind-body exercise to attenuate age-related loss of complexity. A total of 60 Tai Chi-naïve healthy older adults (aged 50-79) are being randomized to either six months of Tai Chi training (n=30), or to a waitlist control receiving unaltered usual medical care (n=30). Our primary outcomes are complexity-based measures of heart rate, standing postural sway and gait stride interval dynamics assessed at 3 and 6months. Multiscale entropy and detrended fluctuation analysis are used as entropy- and fractal-based measures of complexity, respectively. Secondary outcomes include measures of physical and psychological function and tests of physiological adaptability also assessed at 3 and 6months. DISCUSSION Results of this study may lead to novel biomarkers that help us monitor and understand the physiological processes of aging and explore the potential benefits of Tai Chi and related mind-body exercises for healthy aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter M Wayne
- Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brad Manor
- Department of Gerontology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Vera Novak
- Department of Gerontology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Madelena D Costa
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Interdisciplinary Medicine and Biotechnology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jeffrey M Hausdorff
- Movement Disorders Unit, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center; Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Ary L Goldberger
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Interdisciplinary Medicine and Biotechnology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Andrew C Ahn
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of General Medicine and Primary Care, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Gloria Y Yeh
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of General Medicine and Primary Care, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - C-K Peng
- Division of Interdisciplinary Medicine and Biotechnology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Center for Dynamical Biomarkers and Translational Medicine, National Central University, Chungli, Taiwan
| | - Matthew Lough
- Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife, Roslindale, MA, USA
| | - Roger B. Davis
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of General Medicine and Primary Care, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Mary T Quilty
- Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lewis A Lipsitz
- Department of Gerontology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife, Roslindale, MA, USA
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Arasanz CP, Staines WR, Roy EA, Schweizer TA. The cerebellum and its role in word generation: a cTBS study. Cortex 2011; 48:718-24. [PMID: 21457953 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2011.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2010] [Revised: 12/07/2010] [Accepted: 02/25/2011] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of the cerebellum in the executive control of word generation using a phonemic and semantic fluency task. Phonemic fluency tasks require novel strategy to organize verbal output, and are more effortful than semantic fluency tasks. The number of category switches made between subcategories of words is a measure of mental flexibility, and is greatest during the early phase of the task (first 15sec). Both tasks were tested on healthy participants, before and after the application of transcranial magnetic stimulation using continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) applied over the left or the right posterior/lateral cerebellar cortex in separate groups. We hypothesized that the number of category switches and number of words produced within the first 15sec would be reduced after cTBS to the right, posterior-lateral cerebellum during phonemic fluency tasks. The results from the study were consistent with the hypothesis. Within the first 15sec of each trial, right cTBS participants displayed significantly lower switching scores (p=.05) after stimulation. Previous studies have illustrated similar impairments in switching between categories during phonemic fluency performance in patients with damage to the left frontal cortex. Our findings support the general hypothesis of cerebellar involvement in executive control through connections to the frontal cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla P Arasanz
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, ON, Canada
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Tucker AM, Whitney P, Belenky G, Hinson JM, Van Dongen HPA. Effects of sleep deprivation on dissociated components of executive functioning. Sleep 2010; 33:47-57. [PMID: 20120620 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/33.1.47] [Citation(s) in RCA: 182] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVES We studied the effects of sleep deprivation on executive functions using a task battery which included a modified Sternberg task, a probed recall task, and a phonemic verbal fluency task. These tasks were selected because they allow dissociation of some important executive processes from non-executive components of cognition. DESIGN Subjects were randomized to a total sleep deprivation condition or a control condition. Performance on the executive functions task battery was assessed at baseline, after 51 h of total sleep deprivation (or no sleep deprivation in the control group), and following 2 nights of recovery sleep, at fixed time of day (11:00). Performance was also measured repeatedly throughout the experiment on a control task battery, for which the effects of total sleep deprivation had been documented in previously published studies. SETTING Six consecutive days and nights in a controlled laboratory environment with continuous behavioral monitoring. PARTICIPANTS Twenty-three healthy adults (age range 22-38 y; 11 women). Twelve subjects were randomized to the sleep deprivation condition; the others were controls. RESULTS Performance on the control task battery was considerably degraded during sleep deprivation. Overall performance on the modified Sternberg task also showed impairment during sleep deprivation, as compared to baseline and recovery and compared to controls. However, two dissociated components of executive functioning on this task--working memory scanning efficiency and resistance to proactive interference--were maintained at levels equivalent to baseline. On the probed recall task, resistance to proactive interference was also preserved. Executive aspects of performance on the phonemic verbal fluency task showed improvement during sleep deprivation, as did overall performance on this task. CONCLUSION Sleep deprivation affected distinct components of cognitive processing differentially. Dissociated non-executive components of cognition in executive functions tasks were degraded by sleep deprivation, as was control task performance. However, the executive functions of working memory scanning efficiency and resistance to proactive interference were not significantly affected by sleep deprivation, nor were dissociated executive processes of phonemic verbal fluency performance. These results challenge the prevailing view that executive functions are especially vulnerable to sleep loss. Our findings also question the idea that impairment due to sleep deprivation is generic to cognitive processes subserved by attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrienne M Tucker
- Sleep and Performance Research Center, Washington State University Spokane, WA 99210-1495, USA
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TALLBERG IM, IVACHOVA E, JONES TINGHAG K, ÖSTBERG P. Swedish norms for word fluency tests: FAS, animals and verbs. Scand J Psychol 2008; 49:479-85. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9450.2008.00653.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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