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Marier A, Dadar M, Bouhali F, Montembeault M. Irregular word reading as a marker of semantic decline in Alzheimer's disease: implications for premorbid intellectual ability measurement. Alzheimers Res Ther 2024; 16:96. [PMID: 38698406 PMCID: PMC11064305 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-024-01438-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Irregular word reading has been used to estimate premorbid intelligence in Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia. However, reading models highlight the core influence of semantic abilities on irregular word reading, which shows early decline in AD. The primary objective of this study is to ascertain whether irregular word reading serves as an indicator of cognitive and semantic decline in AD, potentially discouraging its use as a marker for premorbid intellectual abilities. METHOD Six hundred eighty-one healthy controls (HC), 104 subjective cognitive decline, 290 early and 589 late mild cognitive impairment (EMCI, LMCI) and 348 AD participants from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative were included. Irregular word reading was assessed with the American National Adult Reading Test (AmNART). Multiple linear regressions were conducted predicting AmNART score using diagnostic category, general cognitive impairment and semantic tests. A generalized logistic mixed-effects model predicted correct reading using extracted psycholinguistic characteristics of each AmNART words. Deformation-based morphometry was used to assess the relationship between AmNART scores and voxel-wise brain volumes, as well as with the volume of a region of interest placed in the left anterior temporal lobe (ATL), a region implicated in semantic memory. RESULTS EMCI, LMCI and AD patients made significantly more errors in reading irregular words compared to HC, and AD patients made more errors than all other groups. Across the AD continuum, as well as within each diagnostic group, irregular word reading was significantly correlated to measures of general cognitive impairment / dementia severity. Neuropsychological tests of lexicosemantics were moderately correlated to irregular word reading whilst executive functioning and episodic memory were respectively weakly and not correlated. Age of acquisition, a primarily semantic variable, had a strong effect on irregular word reading accuracy whilst none of the phonological variables significantly contributed. Neuroimaging analyses pointed to bilateral hippocampal and left ATL volume loss as the main contributors to decreased irregular word reading performances. CONCLUSIONS While the AmNART may be appropriate to measure premorbid intellectual abilities in cognitively unimpaired individuals, our results suggest that it captures current semantic decline in MCI and AD patients and may therefore underestimate premorbid intelligence. On the other hand, irregular word reading tests might be clinically useful to detect semantic impairments in individuals on the AD continuum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Marier
- Douglas Research Centre & Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, 6875 Boulevard LaSalle, Montréal, QC, H4H 1R3, Canada
- Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC, C.P. 6128, H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Mahsa Dadar
- Douglas Research Centre & Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, 6875 Boulevard LaSalle, Montréal, QC, H4H 1R3, Canada
| | | | - Maxime Montembeault
- Douglas Research Centre & Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, 6875 Boulevard LaSalle, Montréal, QC, H4H 1R3, Canada.
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Marier A, Dadar M, Bouhali F, Montembeault M. Irregular word reading as a marker of cognitive and semantic decline in Alzheimer's disease rather than an estimate of premorbid intellectual abilities. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3381469. [PMID: 37841870 PMCID: PMC10571618 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3381469/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Background Irregular word reading has been used to estimate premorbid intelligence in Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia. However, reading models highlight the core influence of semantic abilities on irregular word reading, which shows early decline in AD. The general aim of this study is to determine whether irregular word reading is a valid estimate of premorbid intelligence, or a marker of cognitive and semantic decline in AD. Method 681 healthy controls (HC), 104 subjective cognitive decline, 290 early and 589 late mild cognitive impairment (EMCI, LMCI) and 348 AD participants from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative were included. Irregular word reading was assessed with the American National Adult Reading Test (AmNART). Multiple linear regressions were conducted predicting AmNART score using diagnostic category, general cognitive impairment and semantic tests. A generalized logistic mixed-effects model predicted correct reading using extracted psycholinguistic characteristics of each AmNART words. Deformation-based morphometry was used to assess the relationship between AmNART scores and voxel-wise brain volumes, as well as with the volume of a region of interest placed in the left anterior temporal lobe (ATL). Results EMCI, LMCI and AD patients made significantly more errors in reading irregular words compared to HC, and AD patients made more errors than all other groups. Across the AD continuum, as well as within each diagnostic group, irregular word reading was significantly correlated to measures of general cognitive impairment / dementia severity. Neuropsychological tests of lexicosemantics were moderately correlated to irregular word reading whilst executive functioning and episodic memory were respectively weakly and not correlated. Age of acquisition, a primarily semantic variable, had a strong effect on irregular word reading accuracy whilst none of the phonological variables significantly contributed. Neuroimaging analyses pointed to bilateral hippocampal and left ATL volume loss as the main contributors to decreased irregular word reading performances. Conclusions Irregular word reading performances decline throughout the AD continuum, and therefore, premorbid intelligence estimates based on the AmNART should not be considered accurate in MCI or AD. Results are consistent with the theory of irregular word reading impairments as an indicator of disease severity and semantic decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Marier
- Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC, Canada, H3C 3J7
| | - Mahsa Dadar
- Douglas Research Centre & Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, 6875 Boulevard LaSalle, Montréal, QC, Canada, H4H 1R3
| | | | - Maxime Montembeault
- Douglas Research Centre & Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, 6875 Boulevard LaSalle, Montréal, QC, Canada, H4H 1R3
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Executive functioning in body dysmorphic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. CNS Spectr 2023; 28:33-40. [PMID: 34313212 DOI: 10.1017/s1092852921000705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess executive functions (EFs) in patients with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) compared with healthy controls. METHODS Adults diagnosed with BDD (n = 26) or OCD (n = 29) according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, and healthy controls (n = 28) underwent validated and computerized neuropsychological tests, spatial working memory (SWM), intra-extra-dimensional set shifting (IED), and stop signal task (SST), from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB). Test performance was compared between groups, and correlated with standardized symptom severity of BDD and OCD. Significance level was set to P < .05. RESULTS There were no statistically significant between-group differences on key outcome measures in SWM, IED, or SST. There was a weak positive correlation between symptom severity and test errors on SWM and IED in both OCD and BDD groups; increased clinical severity was associated with more errors in these tests. Furthermore, there was a negative correlation between symptom severity and SST in the BDD group. CONCLUSIONS Patients with BDD or OCD did not differ from healthy control subjects in terms of test performance; however, there were several statistically significant correlations between symptom severity and performance in those with BDD or OCD. More studies on EFs in BDD and OCD are required to elucidate if there are differences in EFs between these two disorders.
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Nicastri CM, McFeeley BM, Simon SS, Ledreux A, Håkansson K, Granholm A, Mohammed AH, Daffner KR. BDNF mediates improvement in cognitive performance after computerized cognitive training in healthy older adults. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA (NEW YORK, N. Y.) 2022; 8:e12337. [PMID: 36089933 PMCID: PMC9428279 DOI: 10.1002/trc2.12337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Introduction The often-cited mechanism linking brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) to cognitive health has received limited experimental study. There is evidence that cognitive training, physical exercise, and mindfulness meditation may improve cognition. Here, we investigated whether improvements in cognition after these three types of structured interventions are facilitated by increases in BDNF. Methods A total of 144 heathy older adults completed a 5-week intervention involving working memory/cognitive training, physical exercise, mindfulness meditation, or an active control condition. Serum BDNF levels and Digit Symbol Test (DST) performance were measured pre- and post-intervention. Results Linear mixed models suggested that only the cognitive training group demonstrated augmentation of BDNF and DST performance relative to the control condition. Path analysis revealed that changes in BDNF mediate intervention-related improvement in task performance. Regression analyses showed that, across all intervention conditions, increased BDNF levels were associated with increased DST scores. Discussion This study appears to be the first to suggest that BDNF helps mediate improvements in cognition after working memory training in healthy older adults. Highlights Older adults were randomized to physical activity, mindfulness, cognitive training (computerized cognitive training (CCT), or control.CCT, but no other condition, led to increased serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels.CCT led to improvement on the untrained Digit Symbol Test (DST) of speed/working memory.Path analysis: increases in BDNF mediate intervention-related improvement on DST.Increases in BDNF associated with improved DST across all experimental groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casey M. Nicastri
- Laboratory of Healthy Cognitive AgingCenter for Brain/Mind MedicineDepartment of NeurologyHarvard Medical SchoolBrigham and Women's HospitalBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Brittany M. McFeeley
- Laboratory of Healthy Cognitive AgingCenter for Brain/Mind MedicineDepartment of NeurologyHarvard Medical SchoolBrigham and Women's HospitalBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Sharon S. Simon
- Cognitive Neuroscience DivisionDepartment of NeurologyColumbia UniversityNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Aurélie Ledreux
- Knoebel Institute for Healthy AgingUniversity of DenverDenverColoradoUSA
- Department of NeurosurgeryUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusAuroraColoradoUSA
| | - Krister Håkansson
- Karolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden
- Karolinska University HospitalSolnaSweden
| | - Ann‐Charlotte Granholm
- Knoebel Institute for Healthy AgingUniversity of DenverDenverColoradoUSA
- Department of NeurosurgeryUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusAuroraColoradoUSA
- Karolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden
| | | | - Kirk R. Daffner
- Laboratory of Healthy Cognitive AgingCenter for Brain/Mind MedicineDepartment of NeurologyHarvard Medical SchoolBrigham and Women's HospitalBostonMassachusettsUSA
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Carlsson R, Svensson I, Jacobson C, Warkentin S. Linking aberrant pauses during object naming to letter and word decoding speed in elderly with attention complaints. NORDIC PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/19012276.2022.2075438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- R. Carlsson
- Department of Psychology, Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden
| | - I. Svensson
- Department of Psychology, Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden
| | - C. Jacobson
- Department of Psychology, Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden
| | - S. Warkentin
- Department of Psychology, Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES In diagnosing dementia, estimating premorbid functioning is critical for accurate detection of the presence and severity of cognitive decline. However, which assessments of premorbid intelligence are most suitable for use in clinical practice is not well established. Here, we systematically evaluate the validity of instruments for measuring premorbid intelligence in people living with dementia. DESIGN AND SETTING In this systematic review, electronic databases (EMBASE, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and AMED) were searched to identify studies reporting on objective measures of premorbid intelligence in dementia. Participants from included studies were recruited from local communities and clinical settings. PARTICIPANTS A total of 1082 patients with dementia and 2587 healthy controls were included in the review. MEASUREMENTS The literature search resulted in 13 eligible studies describing 19 different instruments. The majority of instruments (n = 14) consisted of language-based measures, with versions of the National Adult Reading Test (NART) being most commonly investigated. RESULTS Preliminary evidence suggested comparable performance of patients with mild dementia and healthy controls on word reading tasks in English, Portuguese, Swedish, and Japanese. In moderate dementia, however, the performance was significantly impaired on most verbal tasks. There was a lack of reliability and validity testing of available instruments, with only one of the included studies reporting psychometric properties within the patient group. CONCLUSIONS The results demonstrate that there is a wide range of tools available for estimating premorbid intelligence in dementia, with cautious support for the potential of word reading tasks across different languages in individuals with mild dementia. However, the review highlights the urgent need for extensive assessments of the psychometric properties of these tasks in dementia. We propose that further longitudinal research and assessments of nonverbal measures are necessary to validate these instruments and enhance diagnostic procedures for people living with dementia worldwide.
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Philipson J, Blomstedt P, Hariz M, Jahanshahi M. Deep brain stimulation in the caudal zona incerta in patients with essential tremor: effects on cognition 1 year after surgery. J Neurosurg 2021; 134:208-215. [PMID: 31860827 DOI: 10.3171/2019.9.jns191646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The ventral intermediate nucleus (VIM) of the thalamus is currently the established target in the use of deep brain stimulation (DBS) to treat essential tremor (ET). In recent years, the caudal zona incerta (cZi), a brain target commonly used during the lesional era, has been revived as the primary target in a number of DBS studies that show evidence of the efficacy of cZi targeting in DBS treatment for controlling the symptoms of ET. The authors sought to obtain comprehensive neuropsychological data and thoroughly investigate the cognitive effects of cZi targeting in patients with ET treated with DBS. METHODS Twenty-six consecutive patients with ET who received DBS with cZi as the target at our department from December 2012 to February 2017 were included in this study. All patients were assessed using a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery covering the major cognitive domains both preoperatively and 12 months postoperatively. RESULTS The results show no major adverse effects on patient performance on the tests of cognitive function other than a slight decline of semantic verbal fluency. CONCLUSIONS This study indicates that the cZi is a safe target from a cognitive perspective in the treatment of ET with DBS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Philipson
- 1Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Patric Blomstedt
- 1Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Marwan Hariz
- 1Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- 2Unit of Functional Neurosurgery, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom; and
| | - Marjan Jahanshahi
- 2Unit of Functional Neurosurgery, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom; and
- 3The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
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Feng NC, Ryan E, Kidane M, Tusch ES, McFeeley BM, Carlsson R, Mohammed AH, Håkansson K, Daffner KR. Feasibility of an at-home, web-based, interactive exercise program for older adults. ALZHEIMERS & DEMENTIA-TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH & CLINICAL INTERVENTIONS 2019; 5:825-833. [PMID: 31799367 PMCID: PMC6883315 DOI: 10.1016/j.trci.2019.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Introduction Increased physical exercise is linked to enhanced brain health and reduced dementia risk. Exercise intervention studies usually are conducted at facilities in groups under trainer supervision. To improve scalability, accessibility, and engagement, programs may need to be structured such that individuals can execute and adjust routines in their own homes. Methods One hundred eighty-three healthy older adults from two sites (the United States and Sweden) were screened. One hundred fifty-six subjects (mean age 73.2), randomly assigned to one of four interventions (PACE-Yourself physical exercise program, mindfulness meditation, or Cogmed® adaptive or nonadaptive computerized working memory training) began the study. All interventions were structurally similar: occurring in subjects' homes using interactive, web-based software, over five weeks, ∼175 minutes/week. In the PACE-Yourself program, video segments presented aerobic exercises at different pace and intensity (P&I). The program paused frequently, allowing subjects to indicate whether P&I was “too easy,” “too hard,” or “somewhat hard.” P&I of the subsequent exercise set was adjusted, allowing subjects to exercise at a perceived exertion level of “somewhat hard.” Program completion was defined as finishing ≥60% of sessions. Results A high percentage of participants in all groups completed the program, although the number (86%) was slightly lower in the PACE-Yourself group than the other three. Excluding dropouts, the PACE-Yourself group had a lower adherence rate of 93%, compared with the other three (∼98%). Over the five weeks, PACE-Yourself participants increased exercising at the highest intensity level, consistent with augmented aerobic activity over time. The number of exercise sessions completed predicted the postintervention versus preintervention increase in self-reported level of physical activity. Discussion This study supports the feasibility of a home-based, subject-controlled, exercise program in which P&I is regulated via real-time participant feedback, which may promote self-efficacy. Further study is needed to determine if similar results are found over longer periods and in more diverse populations. Physical exercise is linked to enhanced brain health and reduced dementia risk. PACE-Yourself is an interactive, web-based exercise program. Its novel design allows participants to regulate exercise pace and intensity. Older adults in the program had high completion and adherence rates. PACE-Yourself may facilitate scalability and accessibility of exercise programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole C Feng
- Department of Neurology, Center for Brain/Mind Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Hale Building for Transformative Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Eliza Ryan
- Department of Neurology, Center for Brain/Mind Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Hale Building for Transformative Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mhretab Kidane
- Department of Computer Science and Media Technology, Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden
| | - Erich S Tusch
- Department of Neurology, Center for Brain/Mind Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Hale Building for Transformative Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brittany M McFeeley
- Department of Neurology, Center for Brain/Mind Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Hale Building for Transformative Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Roger Carlsson
- Department of Psychology, Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden
| | - Abdul H Mohammed
- Department of Psychology, Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden.,Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Krister Håkansson
- Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kirk R Daffner
- Department of Neurology, Center for Brain/Mind Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Hale Building for Transformative Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
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Gil G, Magaldi RM, Busse AL, Ribeiro ES, Brucki SMD, Yassuda MS, Jacob-Filho W, Apolinario D. Development of a word accentuation test for predicting cognitive performance in Portuguese-speaking populations. ARQUIVOS DE NEURO-PSIQUIATRIA 2019; 77:560-567. [PMID: 31508682 DOI: 10.1590/0004-282x20190089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The Word Accentuation Test (WAT) has been used to predict premorbid intelligence and cognitive performance in Spanish-speaking populations. It requires participants to read a list of words without the accent marks that indicate the stressed syllable. Label="OBJECTIVE">As Portuguese pronunciation is also strongly based on accent marks, our aim was to develop a Brazilian version of the WAT. METHODS An initial pool of 60 items was constructed and a final version of 40 items (named WAT-Br) was derived by item response theory. A sample of 206 older adults underwent the WAT-Br and a standardized neuropsychological battery. Independent ratings were performed by two observers in 58 random participants. RESULTS The items showed moderate to high discrimination (α between 0.93 and 25.04) and spanned a wide range of difficulty (β between -2.07 and 1.40). The WAT-Br was shown to have an excellent internal consistency (Kuder-Richardson Formula 20 = 0.95) and inter-rater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.92). It accounted for 61% of the variance in global cognitive performance. CONCLUSION A version of the WAT for Portuguese-speaking populations was developed and proved to be a valuable tool for estimating cognitive performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gislaine Gil
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Disciplina de Geriatria, São Paulo SP Brasil
| | - Regina Miksian Magaldi
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Disciplina de Geriatria, São Paulo SP Brasil
| | - Alexandre Leopold Busse
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Disciplina de Geriatria, São Paulo SP Brasil
| | - Elyse Soares Ribeiro
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Disciplina de Geriatria, São Paulo SP Brasil
- Hospital das Clínicas, Divisão de Psicologia, São Paulo SP, Brasil
| | - Sonia Maria Dozzi Brucki
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Neurologia, Grupo de Neurologia Cognitiva e Comportamental, São Paulo SP, Brasil
| | - Mônica Sanches Yassuda
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Neurologia, Grupo de Neurologia Cognitiva e Comportamental, São Paulo SP, Brasil
- Universidade de São Paulo, Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades, São Paulo SP, Brasil
| | - Wilson Jacob-Filho
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Disciplina de Geriatria, São Paulo SP Brasil
| | - Daniel Apolinario
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Disciplina de Geriatria, São Paulo SP Brasil
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Simon SS, Tusch ES, Feng NC, Håkansson K, Mohammed AH, Daffner KR. Is Computerized Working Memory Training Effective in Healthy Older Adults? Evidence from a Multi-Site, Randomized Controlled Trial. J Alzheimers Dis 2019; 65:931-949. [PMID: 30103334 DOI: 10.3233/jad-180455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Developing effective interventions to attenuate age-related cognitive decline and prevent or delay the onset of dementia are major public health goals. Computerized cognitive training (CCT) has been marketed increasingly to older adults, but its efficacy remains unclear. Working memory (WM), a key determinant of higher order cognitive abilities, is susceptible to age-related decline and a relevant target for CCT in elders. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of CCT focused on WM compared to an active control condition in healthy older adults. METHODS Eighty-two cognitively normal adults from two sites (USA and Sweden) were randomly assigned to Cogmed Adaptive or Non-Adaptive (active control) CCT groups. Training was performed in participants' homes, five days per week over five weeks. Changes in the performance of the Cogmed trained tasks, and in five neuropsychological tests (Trail Making Test Part A and Part B, Digit Symbol, Controlled Oral Word Association Test and Semantic Fluency) were used as outcome measures. RESULTS The groups were comparable at baseline. The Adaptive group showed robust gains in the trained tasks, and there was a time-by-group interaction for the Digit Symbol test, with significant improvement only after Adaptive training. In addition, the magnitude of the intervention effect was similar at both sites. CONCLUSION Home-based CCT Adaptive WM training appears more effective than Non-Adaptive training in older adults from different cultural backgrounds. We present evidence of improvement in trained tasks and on a demanding untrained task dependent upon WM and processing speed. The benefits over the active control group suggest that the Adaptive CCT gains were linked to providing a continuously challenging level of WM difficulty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon S Simon
- Department of Neurology, Center for Brain/Mind Medicine, Division of Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Erich S Tusch
- Department of Neurology, Center for Brain/Mind Medicine, Division of Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nicole C Feng
- Department of Neurology, Center for Brain/Mind Medicine, Division of Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Krister Håkansson
- Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Department of NVS, Karolinska Insitutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Psychology, Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden
| | - Abdul H Mohammed
- Department of Psychology, Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden.,Center of Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Karolinska Insitutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kirk R Daffner
- Department of Neurology, Center for Brain/Mind Medicine, Division of Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Ledreux A, Håkansson K, Carlsson R, Kidane M, Columbo L, Terjestam Y, Ryan E, Tusch E, Winblad B, Daffner K, Granholm AC, Mohammed AKH. Differential Effects of Physical Exercise, Cognitive Training, and Mindfulness Practice on Serum BDNF Levels in Healthy Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Intervention Study. J Alzheimers Dis 2019; 71:1245-1261. [PMID: 31498125 PMCID: PMC10896591 DOI: 10.3233/jad-190756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies have indicated that an active lifestyle is associated with better brain health and a longer life, compared to a more sedentary lifestyle. These studies, both on human and animal subjects, have typically focused on a single activity, usually physical exercise, but other activities have received an increasing interest. One proposed mechanism is that physical exercise increases levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the brain. For the first time, the long-term effects on serum BDNF levels were compared in persons who engaged in either physical exercise training, cognitive training, or mindfulness practice during 5 weeks, and compared with an active control group. Two cohorts of healthy older individuals, one from the Boston area in the US and one from the Växjö area in Sweden, participated. A total of 146 participants were randomly assigned to one of the four groups. All interventions were structurally similar, using interactive, computer-based software that directed participants to carry out specified activities for 35 minutes/day, 5 days per week for 5 weeks. Blood samples were obtained at baseline and soon after the completion of the 5-week long intervention program, and serum BDNF levels were measured using a commercially available ELISA. Only the group that underwent cognitive training increased their serum BDNF levels after 5 weeks of training (F1,74 = 4.22, p = 0.044, partial η2 = 0.054), corresponding to an average 10% increase. These results strongly suggest that cognitive training can exert beneficial effects on brain health in an older adult population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélie Ledreux
- Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging, University of Denver, 2155 E Wesley Ave, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Krister Håkansson
- Theme Aging, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Roger Carlsson
- Department of Psychology, Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden
| | - Mhretab Kidane
- Department of Computer Science and Media Technology, Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden
| | - Laura Columbo
- Department of Neurosciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Ave, Charleston, SC, USA
| | | | - Eliza Ryan
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Erich Tusch
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bengt Winblad
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kirk Daffner
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ann-Charlotte Granholm
- Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging, University of Denver, 2155 E Wesley Ave, Denver, CO, USA
- Department of Neurosciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Ave, Charleston, SC, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Abdul Kadir H Mohammed
- Department of Psychology, Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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van der Linde I, Bright P. A genetic algorithm to find optimal reading test word subsets for estimating full-scale IQ. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0205754. [PMID: 30335801 PMCID: PMC6193671 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0205754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 10/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In clinical neuropsychology the cognitive abilities of neurological patients are commonly estimated using well-established paper-based tests. Typically, scores on some tests remain relatively well preserved, whilst others exhibit a significant and disproportionate decline. Scores on those tests that measure preserved cognitive functions (so-called 'hold' tests) may be used to estimate premorbid abilities, including scores in non-hold tests that would have been expected prior to the onset of cognitive impairment. Many hold tests entail word reading, with each word being graded as correctly or incorrectly pronounced. Inevitably, such tests are likely to contain words that provide little or no diagnostic power (i.e., can be eliminated without negatively affecting prediction accuracy). In this paper, a genetic algorithm is developed and demonstrated, using n = 92 neurologically healthy participants, to identify optimal word subsets from the National Adult Reading Test that minimize the mean error in predicting the most widely used clinical measure of IQ and cognitive ability, the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Fourth Edition IQ. In addition to requiring only 17-20 of the original 50 words (suggesting that this test could be revised to be up to 66% shorter) and minimizing mean prediction error, the algorithm increases the proportion of the variance in the predicted variable explained in comparison to using all words (from r2 = 0.46 to r2 = 0.61). In a clinical setting this would improve estimates of premorbid cognitive function and, if an abbreviated revision to this test were to be adopted, reduce the arduousness of the test for patients. The proposed method is evaluated with jackknifing and leave one out cross validation. The general approach may be used to optimize the relationship between any two psychological tests by finding the question subset in one test that minimizes the prediction error in a second test by training the genetic algorithm using data collected from participants upon whom both tests have been administered. This approach may also be used to develop new predictive tests, since it provides a method to identify an optimal subset of a set of candidate questions (for which empirical data have been collected) that maximizes prediction accuracy and the proportion of variance in the predicted variable that can be explained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian van der Linde
- Department of Computing & Technology, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Vision & Eye Research Unit (VERU), School of Medicine, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Peter Bright
- Vision & Eye Research Unit (VERU), School of Medicine, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Department of Psychology, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Davis AS, Bernat DJ, Reynolds CR. Estimation of Premorbid Functioning in Pediatric Neuropsychology: Review and Recommendations. JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC NEUROPSYCHOLOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s40817-018-0051-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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14
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Freitas S, Prieto G, Simões MR, Nogueira J, Santana I, Martins C, Alves L. Using the Rasch analysis for the psychometric validation of the Irregular Word Reading Test (TeLPI): A Portuguese test for the assessment of premorbid intelligence. Clin Neuropsychol 2018; 32:60-76. [PMID: 29722591 DOI: 10.1080/13854046.2018.1468481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The present study aims to analyze the psychometric characteristics of the TeLPI (Irregular Words Reading Test), a Portuguese premorbid intelligence test, using the Rasch model for dichotomous items. RESULTS The results reveal an overall adequacy and a good fit of values regarding both items and persons. A high variability of cognitive performance level and a good quality of the measurements were also found. The TeLPI has proved to be a unidimensional measure with reduced DIF effects. CONCLUSIONS The present findings contribute to overcome an important gap in the psychometric validity of this instrument and provide good evidence of the overall psychometric validity of TeLPI results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Freitas
- a Centro de Investigação do Núcleo de Estudos e Intervenção Cognitivo Comportamental (CINEICC) , University of Coimbra , Coimbra , Portugal.,b Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC) , University of Coimbra , Coimbra , Portugal.,c Psychological Assessment Lab., Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences , University of Coimbra , Coimbra , Portugal
| | - Gerardo Prieto
- d Departamento de Psicología Básica, Psicobiología y Metodología de las Ciencias del Comportamiento , Universidad de Salamanca , Salamanca , Spain
| | - Mário R Simões
- a Centro de Investigação do Núcleo de Estudos e Intervenção Cognitivo Comportamental (CINEICC) , University of Coimbra , Coimbra , Portugal.,c Psychological Assessment Lab., Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences , University of Coimbra , Coimbra , Portugal
| | - Joana Nogueira
- a Centro de Investigação do Núcleo de Estudos e Intervenção Cognitivo Comportamental (CINEICC) , University of Coimbra , Coimbra , Portugal
| | - Isabel Santana
- b Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC) , University of Coimbra , Coimbra , Portugal.,e Neurology Unit , Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra , Coimbra , Portugal.,f Faculty of Medicine , University of Coimbra , Coimbra , Portugal
| | - Cristina Martins
- c Psychological Assessment Lab., Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences , University of Coimbra , Coimbra , Portugal.,g Faculty of Arts and Humanities , University of Coimbra , Coimbra , Portugal.,h Centre for the Study of General and Applied Linguistics (CELGA-ILTEC) , University of Coimbra , Coimbra , Portugal
| | - Lara Alves
- a Centro de Investigação do Núcleo de Estudos e Intervenção Cognitivo Comportamental (CINEICC) , University of Coimbra , Coimbra , Portugal.,c Psychological Assessment Lab., Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences , University of Coimbra , Coimbra , Portugal
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Jonsdottir IH, Nordlund A, Ellbin S, Ljung T, Glise K, Währborg P, Sjörs A, Wallin A. Working memory and attention are still impaired after three years in patients with stress-related exhaustion. Scand J Psychol 2017; 58:504-509. [DOI: 10.1111/sjop.12394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2017] [Accepted: 08/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Arto Nordlund
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology; University of Gothenburg; Mölndal Sweden
| | | | - Thomas Ljung
- Mid Sweden University and Jämtland County Council; Östersund Sweden
| | | | - Peter Währborg
- Institute of Medicine; University of Gothenburg; Gothenburg Sweden
| | - Anna Sjörs
- Institute of Stress Medicine; Gothenburg Sweden
| | - Anders Wallin
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology; University of Gothenburg; Mölndal Sweden
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The Gothenburg MCI study: Design and distribution of Alzheimer's disease and subcortical vascular disease diagnoses from baseline to 6-year follow-up. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 2016; 36:114-31. [PMID: 26174331 PMCID: PMC4758548 DOI: 10.1038/jcbfm.2015.147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2014] [Revised: 04/16/2015] [Accepted: 05/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
There is a need for increased nosological knowledge to enable rational trials in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related disorders. The ongoing Gothenburg mild cognitive impairment (MCI) study is an attempt to conduct longitudinal in-depth phenotyping of patients with different forms and degrees of cognitive impairment using neuropsychological, neuroimaging, and neurochemical tools. Particular attention is paid to the interplay between AD and subcortical vascular disease, the latter representing a disease entity that may cause or contribute to cognitive impairment with an effect size that may be comparable to AD. Of 664 patients enrolled between 1999 and 2013, 195 were diagnosed with subjective cognitive impairment (SCI), 274 with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 195 with dementia, at baseline. Of the 195 (29%) patients with dementia at baseline, 81 (42%) had AD, 27 (14%) SVD, 41 (21%) mixed type dementia (=AD + SVD = MixD), and 46 (23%) other etiologies. After 6 years, 292 SCI/MCI patients were eligible for follow-up. Of these 292, 69 (24%) had converted to dementia (29 (42%) AD, 16 (23%) SVD, 15 (22%) MixD, 9 (13%) other etiologies). The study has shown that it is possible to identify not only AD but also incipient and manifest MixD/SVD in a memory clinic setting. These conditions should be taken into account in clinical trials.
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Contador I, Bermejo-Pareja F, Del Ser T, Benito-León J. Effects of education and word reading on cognitive scores in a community-based sample of Spanish elders with diverse socioeconomic status. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2015; 37:92-101. [DOI: 10.1080/13803395.2014.989819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Alves L, Simões MR, Martins C, Freitas S, Santana I. Premorbid IQ influence on screening tests' scores in healthy patients and patients with cognitive impairment. J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 2013; 26:117-26. [PMID: 23584853 DOI: 10.1177/0891988713484194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Cognitive screening tests are well-established tools for detecting cognitive impairment, but concerns regarding the influence of premorbid intelligence on patient's performance and cognitive status classification remain. Risk of inaccurate assessment especially affects the elders with high or low premorbid intelligence (who are more likely to be misclassified). The present study examines the influence of premorbid intelligence assessed by the TeLPI (an irregular words reading test) on 2 cognitive screening tests, the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), in healthy participants and patients with cognitive impairments (mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer disease). Results show that premorbid IQ influences the MMSE and the MoCA scores in both the groups, predicting variance from 8.4% to 33.2%, according to test and group analyzed. Hence, we propose that whenever the MMSE or the MoCA is used, premorbid IQ evaluation should also be considered to ensure correct interpretation and classification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Alves
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
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Alves L, Simoes MR, Martins C. The Estimation of Premorbid Intelligence Levels among Portuguese Speakers: The Irregular Word Reading Test (TeLPI). Arch Clin Neuropsychol 2011; 27:58-68. [DOI: 10.1093/arclin/acr103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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