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Spousal bereavement is associated with health declines and increased mortality risk, but its specific impact on physical and cognitive capabilities is less studied. A historical cohort study design was applied including married Tromsø study participants (N=5739) aged 50–70 years with baseline self-reported overall health and health-related factors and measured capability (grip strength, finger tapping, digit symbol coding, and short-term recall) at follow-up. Participants had data from Tromsø4 (1994–1995) and Tromsø5 (2001), or Tromsø6 (2007–2008) and Tromsø7 (2015–2016). Propensity score matching, adjusted for baseline confounders (and baseline capability in a subset), was used to investigate whether spousal bereavement was associated with poorer subsequent capability. Spousal bereavement occurred for 6.2% on average 3.7 years (SD 2.0) before the capability assessment. There were no significant bereavement effects on subsequent grip strength, immediate recall, or finger-tapping speed. Without adjustment for baseline digit symbol coding test performance, there was a negative significant effect on the digit symbol coding test (ATT −1.33; 95% confidence interval −2.57, −0.10), but when baseline digit symbol coding test performance was taken into account in a smaller subsample, using the same set of matching confounders, there was no longer any association (in the subsample ATT changed from −1.29 (95% CI −3.38, 0.80) to −0.04 (95% CI −1.83, 1.75). The results in our study suggest that spousal bereavement does not have long-term effects on the intrinsic capacity components physical or cognition capability to a notable degree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study investigated the risk of diabetes by examining changes in memory, working memory, and processing speed among older adults to provide evidence on how each cognitive domain is associated with the risk of diabetes in older adults. Methods: This study used Health and Retirement Study data and tracked the respondents from 2012 to 2020 (n = 5,748). The Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status-27 includes three cognitive tests (recall, seven subtraction, and counting backward tests) to assess each cognitive domain. A Cox proportional hazard regression was used to calculate the changes in the odds ratio (OR) of diabetes by increasing each cognitive function and the parameter in covariates. Results: We found that the OR of diabetes decreased with increasing universal cognitive function, increasing memory, working memory, and processing speed, and that age increased the OR in all analysis models. Conclusion: The findings of this study contribute to filling gaps in the literature by exploring: (a) the association between each cognitive function and the decline in diabetes risk and (b) the varying patterns of change in diabetes risk with increasing cognitive function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: How cognition is influenced by electroconvulsive treatment (ECT) and major depressive disorder (MDD) is still debated. The development and etiology of neurocognitive impairment in MDD were examined by investigating the cognitive profile following ECT related to the state, scar, and trait perspectives, with the former predicting improvements parallel with depressive symptoms, while the two latter expected persisting impairments. Executive functions (EF) and attention are central to cognition and alterations in these functions could influence other domains like memory. The main aims of the present study were to examine the short and long-term effects of ECT on EF and attention in patients with major depressive disorder by exploiting the rapid antidepressant effect of this treatment. Methods: A case-control longitudinal follow-up design was used to investigate the effects of unilateral brief-pulse ECT on EF and attention in patients with depression (n = 36) compared to untreated healthy controls (n = 16). EF and attention were measured pre-treatment, approximately two weeks, and six months post-treatment. Results: The patient group showed significantly worse performance on most tests compared to healthy controls pre-treatment, and no short- or long-term worsening of EF and attention following ECT was found. Significant improvement was identified in patients' attention, processing speed and inhibition after ECT. Conclusions: The present study showed that there was no cognitive worsening after ECT treatment. An improvement in several of the tests measuring inhibition, attention, and processing speed was parallel to symptom reduction, with the former showing associations to symptom change, suggesting state-related effects from improved mood. Still, the patient group performed significantly worse on most measures both pre-treatment and at the short and long-term follow-ups, indicating prevailing trait or scar effects on cognitive functions and potential lack of practice effects. Clinical trial number: NCT04348825 (14.04.20). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Metabolomic scores based on age (MetaboAge) and mortality (MetaboHealth) are considered indicators of overall health, but their association with cognition in the general population is unknown. Therefore, the association between MetaboAge/MetaboHealth and level and decline in cognition was studied, as were differences between men and women. Methods Data of 2821 participants (50% women, age range 45–75) from the Doetinchem Cohort Study was used. MetaboAge and MetaboHealth were calculated from 1H-NMR metabolomics data at baseline. Cognitive domain scores (memory, flexibility and processing speed) and global cognitive functioning were available over a 10-year period. The association between MetaboAge/MetaboHealth and level of cognitive functioning was studied using linear regressions while for the association between MetaboAge/MetaboHealth and cognitive decline longitudinal linear mixed models were used. Analyses were adjusted for demographics and lifestyle factors. Results Higher MetaboAge, indicating poorer metabolomic ageing, was only associated with lower levels of processing speed in men. Higher MetaboHealth, indicating poorer immune-metabolic health, was associated with lower levels of cognitive functioning for all three domains and global cognitive functioning in both men and women. Only in men, MetaboHealth was also associated with 10-year decline in flexibility, processing speed and global cognition. Metabolites that contributed to the observed associations were in men mainly markers of protein metabolism, and in women mainly markers of lipid metabolism and inflammatory metabolites. Conclusions MetaboHealth, not MetaboAge, was associated with cognitive functioning independent of conventional risk factors. Individual metabolites affect cognitive functioning differently in men and women, suggesting sex-specific pathophysiological pathways underlying cognitive functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children born very low gestational age (VLGA, 29–32 weeks gestational age [GA]) display slower processing speed and altered hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis function, with greater effects in those born extremely low gestational age (ELGA; 24–28 weeks GA). We investigated trajectories of HPA axis activity as indexed by cortisol output and patterns across cognitive assessment at ages 1.5, 3 and 4.5 years, comparing children born ELGA and VLGA and associations with 4.5-year processing speed. In a prospective longitudinal cohort study, infants born very preterm (<33 weeks gestation) returned for developmental assessment at ages 1.5, 3, and 4.5 years. At each age, children completed standardized cognitive testing and saliva samples collected before (Pretest), during (During) and after (End) challenging cognitive tasks were assayed for cortisol. For the total group (n = 188), cortisol area under the curve with respect to ground (AUCg) decreased, while cortisol reactivity to challenge (Pre-test to During) increased from 1.5 to 3 years, remaining stable to 4.5 years. This longitudinal pattern was related to higher Processing Speed (WPPSI-IV) scores at 4.5 years. Children born ELGA displayed higher AUCg than VLGA, particularly at age 3, driven by higher Pre-test cortisol levels. Overall, relative to those born VLGA, children born ELGA displayed greater cortisol responsivity to cognitive challenge. A higher setpoint of cortisol levels at age 3-years in children born ELGA may reflect altered HPA axis regulation more broadly and may contribute to difficulties with information processing in this population, critical for academic and social success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the association between physical activity level, cardiorespiratory fitness, musculoskeletal strength, and driving outcomes in a driving simulator, while accounting for cognitive processing speed. Sixty-nine young drivers completed simulated driving scenarios of varying complexity. They also completed selfreport measures of physical activity, and their processing speed, musculoskeletal strength, and cardiorespiratory fitness were assessed using standardized measures. Participants who were more physically active reacted significantly faster to a braking task while driving on a straight road. The group of participants that was deemed more physically fit based on an indicator of cardiorespiratory fitness were found to crash less often. Low fit participants also presented significantly higher odds of having a crash. Participants with lower grip strength also showed a lower odd of crashing This study supports the notion that physical fitness, particularly cardiorespiratory fitness and strength, is crucial for swift behavioral responses under pressure while driving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rapid automatised naming (RAN) has been found to predict children's reading and arithmetic abilities. However, the underlying mechanisms for its involvement in the two abilities are not clear. This study examines how RAN shared variances with domain‐general and domain‐specific abilities in predicting reading and arithmetic in Chinese children. Methods: One hundred and sixty‐four children (mean age = 8 years 0 months, SD = 4 months) were administered with RAN tasks, word reading and arithmetic tasks and measures of working memory, processing speed, morphological awareness, phonological awareness and number line estimation. Results: RAN mainly shared variance with morphological awareness in predicting word reading, while it shared variance with processing speed and number line estimation in predicting arithmetic calculation. Conclusions: The findings indicated that RAN was related to reading and arithmetic for different reasons. The RAN–reading relationship partly reflected the semantic facilitation of the orthography–phonology links for both RAN stimuli and Chinese characters, while the RAN–arithmetic relationship partly reflected the shared process of retrieving semantic information from long‐term memory embedded in the two tasks. Highlights: What is already known about this topicRapid automatised naming (RAN) is a strong predictor of both reading and arithmetic abilities in children.Some of the abilities were found to overlap with the prediction of RAN on reading and arithmetic.The RAN–reading relationship and the RAN–arithmetic relationship are different. What this paper addsMorphological awareness was found to share significant variance with RAN in predicting word reading.Processing speed and number line estimation were found to share significant variance with RAN in predicting arithmetic calculation.The results indicated different underlying mechanisms for the RAN–reading and RAN–arithmetic relations. Implications for theory, policy or practiceDifferent mechanisms underlie the RAN–reading and RAN–arithmetic relationships in Chinese children.The RAN–reading relationship in Chinese children was partly due to the facilitative effect of semantic information on the orthography–phonology mapping.The RAN–arithmetic relationship in Chinese children may be due to the retrieval efficiency of the semantic‐laden information from long‐term memory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A redundancy gain occurs when perceptually identical stimuli are presented together, resulting in quicker categorization of these paired stimuli than lone stimuli. Similar effects have been reported for paired stimuli within the same conceptual category, particularly if the category is self-related. We recruited 528 individuals across three related studies to investigate whether, during perceptual and conceptual redundancy, such self-bias effects on foreground stimuli are modulated by natural versus urban backgrounds. Here, we highlight our observations pertaining to perceptual and conceptual redundancy effects of the foreground stimuli. In our first experiment, response options were randomised per trial. Results showed reaction time gains for perceptually identical stimuli, but this advantage was not modulated by self/other categorization. However, slower reaction times were observed for conceptually-related stimulus pairs and were influenced by self/other categorization. The second experiment replicated the methods of earlier studies of redundancy and observed comparable results to Experiment 1: a perceptual redundancy gain unmodulated by self/other categorization, yet for conceptual redundancy, no gain/cost but effects of self/other categorization. In the third experiment, self/other categories were substituted with arbitrary A/B categories: Once more, there was a perceptual redundancy gain and no conceptual redundancy gain. Notably, A/B categorisation produced effects equivalent to self/other categorisation. Overall, these findings challenge previous research on the facilitated early processing of conceptually-related stimuli and suggest that self-relatedness may not exert a unique effect on stimulus processing beyond attentional and response preferences during categorization. Our study motivates further research to understand conceptual categorization and redundancy gain effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Postural control is dependent on the central nervous system's accurate interpretation of sensory information to formulate and execute adequate motor actions. Research has shown that cognitive functions are associated with both postural control and fall risk, but specific associations are not established. The aim of this study was to explore how specific components of everyday postural control tasks are associated with both general and specific cognitive functions. Methods: Forty-six community-dwelling older adults reported their age, sex, physical activity level, falls and fall-related concerns. The following cognitive aspects were assessed: global cognition, executive functions, processing speed and intraindividual variability. Postural control was quantified by measuring postural sway in quiet stance, walking at a self-selected pace, and walking while performing a concurrent arithmetical task. Separate orthogonal projections of latent structures models were generated for each postural control outcome using descriptive and cognitive variables as explanatory variables. Results: Longer step length and faster gait speed were related to faster processing speed and less intraindividual variability in the choice reaction test. Moreover, longer step length was also related to less fall-related concerns and less severe fall-related injuries, while faster gait speed was also related to female sex and poorer global cognition. Lower dual-task cost for gait speed was explained by the executive function inhibition and faster processing speed. Postural sway in quiet stance was not explained by cognitive functions. Conclusions: Cognitive functions explained gait speed and step length during normal walking, as well as the decrease of gait speed while performing a concurrent cognitive task. The results suggest that different cognitive processes are important for different postural control aspects. Postural sway in quiet stance, step time and gait variability seem to depend more on physical and automatic processes rather than higher cognitive functions among physically active older people. The relationships between cognitive functions and postural control likely vary depending on the specific tasks and the characteristics of different populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Caspian Journal of Neurological Sciences is the property of Negah Institute for Social Research & Scientific Communication and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Students with reading disabilities form a heterogeneous group: some struggle with accurate and fast reading (dysfluent readers), others with comprehension (poor comprehenders), and some face challenges in both areas (poor readers). Research has indicated a link between executive functioning skills and reading performance; yet, further studies are necessary to fully understand the executive profiles in various types of reading disabilities. The goal of this study was to examine differences in executive functioning among three types of reading disabilities, comparing their performance with that of children without difficulties in either skill (typical readers). Ninety-one students from schools in Portugal participated in the study. The results reveal specific deficits in naming speed and cognitive flexibility in poor readers and dysfluent readers compared to the other groups. Additionally, poor readers exhibited significantly slower processing speed and lower working memory. However, no significant differences were observed in planning. Discriminant function analysis results indicated that the examined executive functions are better at discriminating groups with fluency deficits than those with comprehension difficulties. In conclusion, these results suggest distinct deficit patterns in executive functioning skills across different types of reading disabilities. Taking into account these findings is crucial for effective assessment and intervention with these children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Processing speed is a foundational skill supporting intelligence and executive function, areas often delayed in preterm‐born children. The impact of early‐life nutrition on gray matter facilitating processing speed for this vulnerable population is unknown. Methods: Magnetic resonance imaging and the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence‐IV Processing Speed Index were acquired in forty 5‐year‐old children born preterm with very low birth weight. Macronutrient (grams per kilogram per day) and mother's milk (percentage of feeds) intakes were prospectively collected in the first postnatal month and associations between early‐life nutrition and the primary outcome of brain regions supporting processing speed were investigated. Results: Children had a mean (SD) gestational age of 27.8 (1.8) weeks and 45% were male. Macronutrient intakes were unrelated, but mother's milk was positively related, to greater volumes in brain regions, including total cortical gray matter, cingulate gyri, and occipital gyri. Conclusion: First postnatal month macronutrient intakes showed no association, but mother's milk was positively associated, with volumetric measures of total and regional cortical gray matter related to processing speed in preterm‐born children. This exploratory analysis suggests early‐life mother's milk supports processing speed by impacting structural underpinnings. Further research is needed on this potential strategy to improve preterm outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Published evidence suggests that cognitive impairment during a TGA (transient global amnesia) spell may not be confined to episodic memory. We undertook a systematic review to determine the pattern of cognitive deficits during a TGA episode. As a secondary objective, we aimed to delineate the course of cognitive recovery. Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and Google scholar were systematically searched up to October 2023. Observational controlled studies including 10 or more TGA patients (Hodges and Warlow criteria) were retrieved. Data from case–control, cross-sectional, and cohort studies were reviewed and qualitatively synthesized. Results: Literature search yielded 1302 articles. After the screening of titles and abstracts, 115 full texts were retrieved and 17 of them were included in the present systematic review. During the acute phase, spatiotemporal disorientation, dense anterograde and variable retrograde amnesia, semantic memory retrieval difficulties, and working memory deficits comprised the neuropsychological profile of patients with TGA. Visuospatial abilities, attention and psychomotor speed, semantic memory, confrontation naming, and other measures of executive function (apart from semantic fluency and working memory) were consistently found normal. In the course of recovery, after the resolution of repetitive questioning, the restoration of spatiotemporal orientation follows, working memory and semantic memory retrieval ensue, while episodic memory impairment persists for longer. Meticulous evaluations may reveal subtle residual memory (especially recognition) deficits even after 24 h. Conclusions: Μemory impairment, spatiotemporal disorientation, and working memory deficits constitute the pattern of cognitive impairment during a TGA spell. Residual memory deficits may persist even after 24 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) have increased risk for cognitive dysfunction and high rates of sleep disturbance. Despite associations between glycemia and cognitive performance using cross-sectional and experimental methods few studies have evaluated this relationship in a naturalistic setting, or the impact of nocturnal versus daytime hypoglycemia. Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) may provide insight into the dynamic associations between cognition, affective, and physiological states. The current study couples EMA data with continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) to examine the within-person impact of nocturnal glycemia on next day cognitive performance in adults with T1D. Due to high rates of sleep disturbance and emotional distress in people with T1D, the potential impacts of sleep characteristics and negative affect were also evaluated. Methods: This pilot study utilized EMA in 18 adults with T1D to examine the impact of glycemic excursions, measured using CGM, on cognitive performance, measured via mobile cognitive assessment using the TestMyBrain platform. Multilevel modeling was used to test the within-person effects of nocturnal hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia on next day cognition. Results: Results indicated that increases in nocturnal hypoglycemia were associated with slower next day processing speed. This association was not significantly attenuated by negative affect, sleepiness, or sleep quality. Conclusions: These results, while preliminary due to small sample size, showcase the power of intensive longitudinal designs using ambulatory cognitive assessment to uncover novel determinants of cognitive fluctuation in real world settings, an approach that may be utilized in other populations. Findings suggest reducing nocturnal hypoglycemia may improve cognition in adults with T1D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study determines the effectiveness of a non-digital picture concept programme to treat cognitive deficits in pupils with dyslexia. Using a sample of 38 primary two pupils (aged 7-9 years) in Ebonyi State, Nigeria, a Picture Concept Activity and the traditional method of repetitive passage drill were administered for eight weeks and results were compared. Standard cognitive and reading measures were used and data were analysed with descriptive and inferential statistics. Results show that the experimental participants performed higher than the control group on the overall reading and cognitive proficiency performances. Improved cognitive proficiency was associated with improved reading tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Despite extensive efforts to study individual differences in loneliness and neurocognitive health, little is known about how within-person changes in state loneliness relate to cognitive performance. This study addressed this gap by examining the association between within-person variation in state loneliness and cognitive performance assessed objectively in daily life. Methods Participants were 313 community-dwelling older adults (70–90 years) who reported momentary feelings of loneliness and completed smartphone-based cognitive tests 5 times daily for 14 consecutive days. Mobile cognitive tests assess visual associative memory, processing speed, and spatial memory. Results At the day level, average state loneliness levels were negatively related to cognitive performance on the same day and subsequent day. Consistent with the day-level analysis, momentary assessments of increased loneliness were consistently linked to worse cognitive performance on concurrent assessments. However, moments characterized by lower cognitive performance predicted higher levels of loneliness 3–4 hr later (next occasion), but not vice versa. Discussion The findings suggest a prospective association between loneliness and cognitive performance, with higher daily loneliness negatively associated with cognitive performance on the same day and predicting worse performance the following day. Notably, within a single day, lower cognitive performance at a given moment predicted elevated loneliness later in the day. This highlights a complex, reciprocal relationship—loneliness predicting and being predicted by cognitive performance depending on timescale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) often results in cognitive deficits. Processing speed (PS) deficits are common, exerting a significant impact on daily life. Few studies have examined the efficacy of cognitive rehabilitation specifically for PS deficits in moderate to severe TBI. Objective: Examine the efficacy of Speed of Processing Training (SOPT) in moderate to severe TBI. This protocol is a 10-session behavioral intervention for PS deficits that has been successfully used with other cognitively impaired populations. Methods: This double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial included 46 participants with moderate to severe TBI, 22 randomly assigned to the treatment group and 24 to the placebo-control group. Baseline and followup measures included a task similar to the training task (UFOV), measures of near transfer (neuropsychological measures of processing speed: Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV (WAIS-IV) Symbol Search, WAIS-IV Coding) and measures of far transfer [neuropsychological measures of learning and memory: the California Verbal Learning Test-II (CVLTII), Memory Assessment Scales - Prose Memory (MAS-PM)]. Results: Significant improvement from pre-to post-SOPT was observed on all subtests of the UFOV, which is similar to the training task. There was no significant difference on neuropsychological measures of PS or new learning and memory post-treatment. Neuropsychological assessment 6-months posttreatment showed no significant change in PS ability over time. Monthly booster sessions did not impact performance at the 6-month follow-up. Conclusion: Consistent with the SOPT literature, SOPT improves PS ability as measured by the UFOV, a task similar to the training task, in moderate to severe TBI. However, neither near nor far transfer was noted. That is, no improvement was noted on neuropsychological measures of PS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: People with bipolar disorder (BD) tend to show widespread cognitive impairment compared to healthy controls. Impairments in processing speed (PS), attention and executive function (EF) may represent 'core' impairments that have a role in wider cognitive dysfunction. Cognitive impairments appear to relate to structural brain abnormalities in BD, but whether core deficits are related to particular brain regions is unclear and much of the research on brain‐cognition associations is limited by univariate analysis and small samples. Methods: Euthymic BD patients (n = 56) and matched healthy controls (n = 26) underwent T1‐weighted MRI scans and completed neuropsychological tests of PS, attention and EF. We utilised public datasets to develop normative models of cortical thickness (n = 5977) to generate robust estimations of cortical abnormalities in patients. Canonical correlation analysis was used to assess multivariate brain‐cognition associations in BD, controlling for age, sex and premorbid IQ. Results: BD showed impairments on tests of PS, attention and EF, and abnormal cortical thickness in several brain regions compared to healthy controls. Impairments in tests of PS and EF were most strongly associated with cortical thickness in the left inferior temporal, right entorhinal and right temporal pole areas. Conclusion: Impairments in PS, attention and EF can be observed in euthymic BD and may be related to abnormal cortical thickness in temporal regions. Future research should continue to leverage normative modelling and multivariate methods to examine complex brain‐cognition associations in BD. Future research may benefit from exploring covariance between traditional brain structural morphological metrics such as cortical thickness, cortical volume and surface area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose We evaluated whether plasma Alzheimer disease (AD)–related biomarkers were associated with cancer-related cognitive decline among older breast cancer survivors. Methods We included survivors aged 60-90 years with primary stage 0-III breast cancers (n = 236) and frequency-matched noncancer control paricipant (n = 154) who passed a cognitive screen and had banked plasma specimens. Participants were assessed at baseline (presystemic therapy) and annually for up to 60 months. Cognition was measured using tests of attention, processing speed, and executive function and learning and memory; perceived cognition was measured by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cognitive Function v3 Perceived Cognitive Impairments. Baseline plasma neurofilament light, glial fibrillary acidic protein, β-amyloid 42 and 40 and phosphorylated tau 181 were assayed using single molecule arrays. Mixed models tested associations between cognition and baseline AD biomarkers, time, group (survivor vs control participant), and their 2- and 3-way interactions, controlling for age, race, Wide Range 4 Achievement Test Word Reading score, comorbidity, and body mass index; 2-sided P values of.05 were considered statistically significant. Results There were no group differences in baseline AD-related biomarkers except survivors had higher baseline neurofilament light levels than control participants (P  = .013). Survivors had lower adjusted longitudinal attention, processing speed, and executive function than control participants starting from baseline and continuing over time (P  ≤ .002). However, baseline AD-related biomarker levels were not independently associated with adjusted cognition over time, except control participants had lower attention, processing speed, and executive function scores with higher glial fibrillary acidic protein levels (P  = .008). Conclusion The results do not support a relationship between baseline AD-related biomarkers and cancer-related cognitive decline. Further investigation is warranted to confirm the findings, test effects of longitudinal changes in AD-related biomarkers, and examine other mechanisms and factors affecting cognition presystemic therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Current Psychological Studies is the property of Beni Suef University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), children show reduced processing speed (PS). Evidence suggests that slowed PS after TBI is associated with working memory deficits. Our aim was to investigate several forms of PS and to examine its impact on working and episodic memory performance in children after mTBI. We included data of 64 children after mTBI and 57 healthy control children aged 8–16 years. PS (Color Naming, Coding, Symbol Search, Alertness) was compared between groups 1 week (T1) and 3–6 months (T2) after the injury; working and episodic memory outcome was compared between groups at T2. Alertness at T1 and Color Naming at T1 and T2 were significantly reduced following mTBI compared to controls, although most group differences in PS disappeared when patients with previous impairments and mTBI were excluded. PS was predictive for episodic and working memory performance 3–6 months after injury, whereas group was a significant predictor of working memory. Compared to healthy controls, children after mTBI showed reduced performance in verbal PS, which was associated with working memory. In children who are symptomatic after mTBI, diagnostic screening of PS could be helpful in identifying patients that could profit from speed-improving strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Hispanics/Latinos are the largest racial/ethnic group among underrepresented populations in the U.S. and multiple sociodemographic, cultural, and linguistic factors have been found to impact their performances on cognitive testing. Despite this, few normative data are available for the heterogeneous Spanish-speaking population in the U.S. OBJECTIVE: To generate normative data on the Trail-Making Test (TMT), Bells Test, Symbol-Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), and the Brief Test of Attention (BTA) for Spanish speakers residing in the U.S. METHODS: The sample included 245 Spanish-speaking individuals aged 18– 80 from eight states across the U.S. (California, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, New Jersey, Oregon, Virginia, and Wisconsin). Participants were administered attention and processing speed measures as part of a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. We used a Bayesian regression approach to estimate normative data, including covariates found to be important for predicting performances on measures of attention and processing speed. RESULTS: Sociodemographic factors including education, time in the U.S., acculturation, age, and/or sex had differential effects on the TMT-A, TMT-B, SDMT, and the BTA whereas the Bells Test was not influenced by any of these sociodemographic factors. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that while sex, age, and educational attainment are important factors to consider, language and acculturation can also influence attention and processing speed performances among Spanish speakers in the U.S. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Patients with glioblastomas (GBMs) have poor prognosis despite various treatments; therefore, attention should be paid to maintaining the quality of survival. Neurocognitive deficits can affect the quality of life (QOL) in patients with GBM. Most studies concerning QOL and neurocognitive functions have demonstrated a relationship between QOL and self-reported neurocognitive decline, although this method does not accurately reflect damaged functional domains. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the neurocognitive functions that influence the QOL in patients with GBMs using an objective assessment of neurocognitive functions. Methods: Data from 40 patients newly diagnosed with GBMs were analyzed. All patients completed the assessment of QOL and various neurological and neurocognitive functions including general cognitive function, processing speed, attention, memory, emotion recognition, social cognition, visuospatial cognition, verbal fluency, language, motor function, sensation, and visual field at 6 months postoperatively. QOL was assessed using the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36). In the SF-36, the physical, mental, and role and social component summary (PCS, MCS, and RCS, respectively) scores were calculated. Multiple logistic regression analyses and chi-square tests were used to evaluate the association between SF-36 scores and neurocognitive functions. Results: The MCS was maintained, while the PCS and RCS scores were significantly lower in patients with GBMs than in healthy controls (p = 0.0040 and p < 0.0001, respectively). Among several neurocognitive functions, motor function and processing speed were significantly correlated with PCS and RCS scores, respectively (p = 0.0048 and p = 0.030, respectively). Patients who maintained their RCS or PCS scores had a higher probability of preserving motor function or processing speed than those with low RCS or PCS scores (p = 0.0026). Conclusions: Motor function and processing speed may be predictors of QOL in patients with GBMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reading comprehension is a fundamental skill to be developed from the early stages of reading acquisition and it is essential for both formative and personal learning. This study examines eye-tracking as a useful and complementary tool in the assessment and improvement of implicit reading comprehension. The aim is to understand the role of eye-tracking in implicit reading comprehension and, complementarily, in intervening skills such as vocabulary, rapid automatized naming, and processing speed. In a final sample of 7–8 year-old 67 students, tests for implicit reading comprehension (literal, inferential, and total), eye-tracking measures, vocabulary, rapid automatized naming, processing speed, as well as tests to control for intellectual and attentional levels were administered. The results of the correlational and regression analyses indicate the existence of predictive relationships between (i) implicit reading comprehension and eye-tracking measures, and additionally, (ii) between intervening skills (vocabulary, rapid automatized naming, processing speed) and eye-tracking measures, and (iii) between implicit reading comprehension and intervening skills (vocabulary, rapid automatized naming, processing speed). In summary, better performance in implicit reading comprehension (literal, inferential, and total) is related to and explained by shorter eye movement times in recognition and access to meaning, larger vocabulary, and faster rapid automatized naming and processing speed. Furthermore, eye-tracking measures are better predictors of implicit reading comprehension. These findings provide promising evidence for the contribution of eye-tracking to optimising the level of implicit reading comprehension, which is applied daily in classrooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Core constructs such as working memory, task switching, and processing speed in cognitive psychology research have prominent predictive roles in K12 students' academic performance. Specifically, considerable empirical work shows that variability in such capabilities is linked to differences in numerous academic outcomes. Moreover, there is an increasing awareness and acceptance of the malleability of cognitive abilities. Thus, an emerging strand of research focuses on the use of computerized cognitive training to improve cognitive skills. This project addresses this issue with high-risk students attending community day schools. An in-school cognitive training program implemented (for 30 min per day) at each school site resulted in improvements for working memory, task switching, and processing speed after six total hours of participation. The current results provide evidence for the changeability of what were once thought to be static skills. Equally important, this study highlights the effectiveness of computerized cognitive training and critically extends intervention-based work to a student group that has received little attention. Implications of this work for cognitive research and educational support programs are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In emergency situations, ensuring standardized cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) actions is crucial. However, current automated external defibrillators (AEDs) lack methods to determine whether CPR actions are performed correctly, leading to inconsistent CPR quality. To address this issue, we introduce a novel method called deep-learning-based CPR action standardization (DLCAS). This method involves three parts. First, it detects correct posture using OpenPose to recognize skeletal points. Second, it identifies a marker wristband with our CPR-Detection algorithm and measures compression depth, count, and frequency using a depth algorithm. Finally, we optimize the algorithm for edge devices to enhance real-time processing speed. Extensive experiments on our custom dataset have shown that the CPR-Detection algorithm achieves a mAP0.5 of 97.04%, while reducing parameters to 0.20 M and FLOPs to 132.15 K. In a complete CPR operation procedure, the depth measurement solution achieves an accuracy of 90% with a margin of error less than 1 cm, while the count and frequency measurements achieve 98% accuracy with a margin of error less than two counts. Our method meets the real-time requirements in medical scenarios, and the processing speed on edge devices has increased from 8 fps to 25 fps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we aimed to investigate the different impacts of temporal processing on reading by Chinese children with and without dyslexia. In total, 27 children with dyslexia who had a deficit in rapid automatized naming (RAN) (D_R), 37 children with dyslexia who had deficits in both RAN and phonological awareness (PA) (D_RP), and 40 typically developing children (TD) were recruited in Taiwan. The children were asked to complete non‐verbal intelligence, PA, RAN, Chinese character reading tasks and an auditory temporal order judgement (ATOJ) task. Our results of a multiple regression model showed that the ATOJ accounted for unique variances in the reading differences between the children in the D_R and TD groups; performance was controlled for non‐verbal intelligence, PA and RAN tasks. Theoretically, we provide possible explanations for the controversial findings in the field of Chinese children with dyslexia and, practically, suggest different interventions should be provided for children with dyslexia with different underlying impairments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The ability to remotely monitor cognitive skills is increasing with the ubiquity of smartphones. The Mobile Toolbox (MTB) is a new measurement system that includes measures assessing Executive Functioning (EF) and Processing Speed (PS): Arrow Matching, Shape-Color Sorting, and Number-Symbol Match. The purpose of this study was to assess their psychometric properties. Method: MTB measures were developed for smartphone administration based on constructs measured in the NIH Toolbox® (NIHTB). Psychometric properties of the resulting measures were evaluated in three studies with participants ages 18 to 90. In Study 1 (N = 92), participants completed MTB measures in the lab and were administered both equivalent NIH TB measures and other external measures of similar cognitive constructs. In Study 2 (N = 1,021), participants completed the equivalent NIHTB measures in the lab and then took the MTB measures on their own, remotely. In Study 3 (N = 168), participants completed MTB measures twice remotely, two weeks apart. Results: All three measures exhibited very high internal consistency and strong test-retest reliability, as well as moderately high correlations with comparable NIHTB tests and moderate correlations with external measures of similar constructs. Phone operating system (iOS vs. Android) had a significant impact on performance for Arrow Matching and Shape-Color Sorting, but no impact on either validity or reliability. Conclusions: Results support the reliability and convergent validity of MTB EF and PS measures for use across the adult lifespan in remote, self-administered designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When performing multiple successive visual searches, low-prevalence targets are at elevated risk of being missed. This has important implications for real-world visual search tasks, such as diagnostic medical imaging (e.g., searching for a cancer) and airport baggage security screening (e.g., searching for a weapon), which are characterized by low-prevalence targets and potentially dire consequences of target misses. Previous work on low-prevalence visual search indicates that individuals who spontaneously respond more slowly miss fewer targets, which has been attributed to higher quitting thresholds predicting better performance. Previous aging research indicates that older adults typically respond more slowly across multiple task contexts. This has been attributed to both intrinsic limitations in processing speed and a strategic trade-off to prioritize accuracy with increasing age. Synthesizing these two separate lines of research, here we tested whether older adults had a higher quitting threshold and/or slower processing speed in low-prevalence visual search, and the consequences of these for the magnitude of the low-prevalence visual search detriment. We recruited a large sample (N = 380) across a range of ages (20–80 years) and had them search for targets under low- and high-prevalence conditions. Older adults had both slower processing speed and higher quitting thresholds. Older adults were moderately less susceptible to the low-prevalence detriment, and this relationship was mediated by countervailing effects: slower processing speed exacerbated older adults' low-prevalence detriment, whereas elevated quitting threshold mitigated it. Theoretical implications for cognitive aging and practical implications for professional visual search tasks are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research aims to improve the performance of image recognition methods based on a description in the form of a set of keypoint descriptors. The main focus is on increasing the speed of establishing the relevance of object and etalon descriptions while maintaining the required level of classification efficiency. The class to be recognized is represented by an infinite set of images obtained from the etalon by applying arbitrary geometric transformations. It is proposed to reduce the descriptions for the etalon database by selecting the most significant descriptor components according to the information content criterion. The informativeness of an etalon descriptor is estimated by the difference of the closest distances to its own and other descriptions. The developed method determines the relevance of the full description of the recognized object with the reduced description of the etalons. Several practical models of the classifier with different options for establishing the correspondence between object descriptors and etalons are considered. The results of the experimental modeling of the proposed methods for a database including images of museum jewelry are presented. The test sample is formed as a set of images from the etalon database and out of the database with the application of geometric transformations of scale and rotation in the field of view. The practical problems of determining the threshold for the number of votes, based on which a classification decision is made, have been researched. Modeling has revealed the practical possibility of tenfold reducing descriptions with full preservation of classification accuracy. Reducing the descriptions by twenty times in the experiment leads to slightly decreased accuracy. The speed of the analysis increases in proportion to the degree of reduction. The use of reduction by the informativeness criterion confirmed the possibility of obtaining the most significant subset of features for classification, which guarantees a decent level of accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sleep loss due to short time off between shifts has been proposed as a mechanism contributing to impaired functioning in occupational settings. This laboratory crossover trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05162105, N = 66) compared subjective sleepiness, mood, and cognitive performance on a day shift after an evening shift with only 8 h off between shifts (quick return, QR) to a day shift after another day shift with 16 h off between shifts (control). Results indicated higher subjective sleepiness (Karolinska Sleepiness Scale) during the QR condition compared to the control condition (p < 0.001). No significant differences were found on mood (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule) and cognitive performance (Psychomotor Vigilance- and Digit Symbol Substitution Test) between the conditions. Findings of increased subjective sleepiness corroborate previous field studies. This trial is to our knowledge the first to compare mood and cognitive performance after a QR to a longer shift transition using an experimental design. Future research should explore the effects of accumulated sleep loss associated with QRs (e.g. having several QRs within a short time period) on behavioral outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated how phonological awareness and rapid automatized naming (hereafter, RAN), simultaneously contributed to Chinese reading and arithmetic fluency. Specifically, we proposed a new hypothesized mechanism that processing speed would mediate the relations of RAN with Chinese reading and arithmetic fluency. One hundred and forty-five Chinese children at the fifth grade were administered with a battery of measures, including three phonological processing measures, character reading, and whole number computation, as well as nonverbal IQ, and vocabulary knowledge. Path analyses revealed that phonological awareness and RAN were uniquely related to character reading and arithmetic fluency, while phonological memory was not significantly correlated to either character reading or arithmetic fluency, after controlling for age, nonverbal IQ, and vocabulary knowledge. Further analysis indicated that processing speed demonstrated a mediating effect on the importance of RAN in character reading, rather than in arithmetic fluency. Results underscore the potential importance of phonological awareness and RAN in character reading and arithmetic fluency, and the mediating role of processing speed in RAN to promote Chinese character reading fluency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Importance: Emergency medical services (EMS) providers transiently ascend to high altitude for primary missions and secondary transports in mountainous areas in helicopters that are unpressurised and do not have facilities for oxygen supplementation. The decrease in cerebral oxygen saturation can lead to impairment in attention and reaction time as well as in quality of care during acute exposure to altitude. Objective: The primary aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of oxygen supplementation on cognitive performance in Helicopter EMS (HEMS) providers during acute exposure to altitude. Design, setting, and participants: This interventional, randomized, controlled, double-blind, cross-over clinical trial was conducted in October 2021. Each trial used a simulated altitude scenario equivalent to 4000 m, in which volunteers were exposed to hypobaric hypoxia with a constant rate of ascent of 4 m/s in an environmental chamber under controlled, replicable, and safe conditions. Trials could be voluntarily terminated at any time. Inclusion criteria were being members of emergency medical services and search and rescue services with an age between 18 and 60 years and an American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status class I. Exposures: Each participant conducted 2 trials, one in which they were exposed to altitude with oxygen supplementation (intervention trial) and the other in which they were exposed to altitude with ambient air supplementation (control trial). Main outcomes and measures: Measurements included peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), cerebral oxygenation (ScO2), breathing and heart rates, Psychomotor Vigilance Test (PVT), Digit-Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), n-Back test (2-BACK), the Grooved Pegboard test, and questionnaires on subjective performance, stress, workload, and positive and negative affect. Paired t-tests were used to compare conditions (intervention vs. control). Data were further analyzed using generalized estimating equations (GEE). Results: A total of 36 volunteers (30 men; mean [SD] age, 36 [9] years; mean [SD] education, 17 [4] years) were exposed to the intervention and control trials. The intervention trials, compared with the control trials, had higher values of SpO2 (mean [SD], 97.9 [1.6] % vs. 86 [2.3] %, t-test, p = 0.004) and ScO2 (mean [SD], 69.9 [5.8] % vs. 62.1 [5.2] %, paired t-test, p = 0.004). The intervention trials compared with the control trials had a shorter reaction time (RT) on the PVT after 5 min (mean [SD], 277.8 [16.7] ms vs. 282.5 [15.3] ms, paired t-test, p = 0.006) and after 30 min (mean [SD], 276.9 [17.7] ms vs. 280.7 [15.0] ms, paired t-test, p = 0.054) at altitude. While controlling for other variables, there was a RT increase of 0.37 ms for each % of SpO2 decrease. The intervention trials showed significantly higher values for DSST number of correct responses (with a difference of mean [SD], 1.2 [3.2], paired t-test, p = 0.035). Variables in the intervention trials were otherwise similar to those in the control trials for DSST number of incorrect responses, 2-BACK, and the Grooved Pegboard test. Conclusions and relevance: This randomized clinical trial found that oxygen supplementation improves cognitive performance among HEMS providers during acute exposure to 4000 m altitude. The use of oxygen supplementation may allow to maintain attention and timely reaction in HEMS providers. The impact of repeated altitude ascents on the same day, sleep-deprivation, and additional stressors should be investigated. Trial registration NCT05073406, ClinicalTrials.gov trial registration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Neighborhood socioeconomic status (NSES) has been linked with overall health, and this study will evaluate whether NSES is cross-sectionally associated with cognition in non-Hispanic whites (NHWs) and Mexican Americans (MAs) from the Health and Aging Brain: Health Disparities Study (HABS-HD). Methods: The HABS-HD is a longitudinal study conducted at the University of North Texas Health Science Center. The final sample analyzed (n = 1,312) were 50 years or older, with unimpaired cognition, and underwent an interview, neuropsychological examination, imaging, and blood draw. NSES was measured using the national area deprivation index (ADI) percentile ranking, which considered socioeconomic variables. Executive function and processing speed were assessed by the trail making tests (A and B) and the digit-symbol substitution test, respectively. Linear regression was used to assess the association of ADI and cognitive measures. Results: MAs were younger, more likely to be female, less educated, had higher ADI scores, performed worse on trails B (all p < 0.05), and had lower prevalence of APOE4 + when compared to NHWs (p < 0.0001). A higher percentage of MAs lived in the most deprived neighborhoods than NHWs. For NHWs, ADI did not predict trails B or DSS scores, after adjusting for demographic variables and APOE4. For MAs, ADI predicted trails A, trails B, and DSS after adjusting for demographic covariates and APOE4 status. Conclusion: Our study revealed that living in an area of higher deprivation was associated with lower cognitive function in MAs but not in NHWs, which is important to consider in future interventions to slow cognitive decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) frequently experience visual and oculomotor symptoms that may impact and confound neuropsychological assessments of information processing speed (IPS). In this study, we examined the effect of the psychostimulant methylphenidate on oculomotor function and the association between change in oculomotor speed and change in information processing speed. Methods: We used a repeated measures crossover design in which a sample of 11 participants with MS were randomly assigned to one of two treatment arms: one that received methylphenidate for 4 weeks and another that received a placebo for 4 weeks. After a 7-day washout period, the treatments were crossed over. The King Devick test, the Symbol Digit Modalities Test, and the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test were administered at baseline and after each of the two study arms. Results: We found a significant improvement in oculomotor speed in the methylphenidate condition as compared to placebo. This improvement was significantly correlated with improvement on a visuomotor assessment of IPS (Symbol Digit Modalities Test), but no such association was found for an auditory-verbal assessment of IPS (Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test). Discussion: These findings suggest that individuals with MS experience improved oculomotor speed while taking methylphenidate, which may, in turn, improve performance on assessments of IPS with visuomotor demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Due to the risk of cerebral vascular injury, children and adolescents with high-risk sickle cell disease (SCD) experience neurocognitive decline over time. Haploidentical stem cell transplantation (HISCT) from human leukocyte antigen-matched sibling donors may slow or stop progression of neurocognitive changes. Objectives: The study is to determine if HISCT can ameliorate SCD-associated neurocognitive changes and prevent neurocognitive progression, determine which specific areas of neurocognitive functioning are particularly vulnerable to SCD, and determine if there are age-related differences in neurocognitive functioning over time. Methods: We performed neurocognitive and neuroimaging in SCD recipients following HISCT. Children and adolescents with high-risk SCD who received parental HISCT utilizing CD34+ enrichment and mononuclear cell (T-cell) addback following myeloimmunoablative conditioning received cognitive evaluations and neuroimaging at three time points: pre-transplant, 1 and 2 years post-transplant. Results: Nineteen participants (13.1 ± 1.2 years [3.3-20.0]) received HISCT. At 2 years post-transplant, neuroimaging and cognitive function were stable. Regarding age-related differences pre-transplantation, older children (≥13 years) had already experienced significant decreases in language functioning (p < 0.023), verbal intelligence quotient (p < 0.05), non-verbal intelligence quotient (p < 0.006), and processing speed (p < 0.05), but normalized post-HISCT in all categories. Conclusion: Thus, HISCT has the potential to ameliorate SCD-associated neurocognitive changes and prevent neurocognitive progression. Further studies are required to determine if neurocognitive performance remains stable beyond 2 years post-HISCT. Clinical trial registration: The study was conducted under an investigator IND (14359) (MSC) and registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01461837). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the neurocognitive function of active professional male footballers, determine whether deficits/impairments exist, and investigate the association between previous concussion(s) and neurocognitive function. Methods: An observational cross-sectional study conducted via electronic questionnaires. The CNS Vital Signs online testing system was used to evaluate neurocognitive function. Results: Of the 101 participants, 91 completed the neurocognitive function testing. Neurocognitive function domain deficits or impairments were unlikely in 54.5–89.1%, slight in 5.9–21.8%, moderate in 1.0–9.9%, and likely in 4.0–14.9% of participants. A history of zero concussions found a significant association between the neurocognitive index (Odds Ratio [OR] 0.6; 95% CI 0.2–0.4) and complex attention domain (OR 0.3; 95% CI 0.1–0.9), with 40% and 70% less odds, respectively, of deficit/impairment. Among the 54.5% who reported any number of concussions, there were increased odds of neurocognitive domain deficits/impairments for complex attention (CA) [3.4 times more] and simple attention (SA) [3.1 times more]. Conclusion: In the active professional male footballer, most neurocognitive functions do not have significant deficits/impairments. The odds of neurocognitive function deficit/impairment were significantly increased threefold for CA and SA in those who reported a history of any concussion(s). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Limited resources often hinder regular cognitive assessment of people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) in standard clinical care. A self-administered iPad®-based cognitive screening-tool (Processing Speed Test; PST) might mitigate this problem. Objective: To evaluate the PST in clinical routine. Methods: We investigated the feasibility of the PST in both a quiet and a waiting room setting. We assessed the validity of the PST in comparison with the established Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). We explored associations between processing speed assessments and the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for MS (BICAMS), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameters, and psychological factors. Additionally, we explored the ability of the PST to detect impairment in processing speed compared to the SDMT. Results: The PST was feasible in the waiting room setting. PST and SDMT correlated comparably with the BICAMS, MRI parameters, and psychological variables. Of 172 pwMS, 50 (30.8%) showed cognitive impairment according to the BICAMS; respective values were 47 (27.3%) for the SDMT and 9 (5.2%) for the PST. Conclusions: The PST performed in a waiting room setting correlates strongly with established cognitive tests. It thus may be used to assess processing speed in a resource-efficient manner and complement cognitive assessment in clinical routine. Despite comparable validity of the PST and SDMT, we identified more pwMS with impaired processing speed using normative data of the SDMT compared to the PST and advise caution, that the common cut-off score of – 1.5 SD from the current PST is not appropriate in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Processing speed is a task-independent construct underpinning more complex goal-related abilities. Processing speed is impaired in alcohol dependence (AD) and is linked to relapse, as are the functions it underpins. Reliable measurement of processing speed may allow tracking of AD recovery trajectories and identify patients requiring additional support. Aims: To assess changes in reaction time (RT) from baseline (at the start of a detoxification programme) across early abstinence. Methods: Vibrotactile RT was assessed in early recovery between days 3 and 7 of treatment in 66 individuals with AD (25 females; aged 19–74, 44.60 ± 10.60 years) and against 35 controls tested on one occasion (19 females; 41.00 ± 13.60), using two multivariate multiple regressions. A mixed multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) of available AD data (n = 45) assessed change in RT between timepoints and between treatment settings (outpatient vs inpatient). Results: The group (AD vs control) significantly predicted choice RT at baseline and follow-up but did not significantly predict simple RT or RT variability, which is inconsistent with previous findings. At follow-up, mental fatigue was also predicted by the group, and MANCOVA indicated that this had worsened in inpatients but improved in outpatients. Conclusions: Recovery of RT measures so early in the treatment journey was not in line with previous research which indicates persisting deficits. The interaction between setting and timepoint indicates that despite being typically less medically complex, outpatients require ongoing support and monitoring during their recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychomotor disturbance has been identified as a key feature of psychotic disorders, with motor signs observed in upwards of 66% of unmedicated, first-episode patients. Aberrations in the cerebellum have been directly linked to sensorimotor processing deficits including processing speed, which may underly psychomotor disturbance in psychosis, though these brain-behavior-symptom relationships are unclear, in part due to within-diagnosis heterogeneity across these levels of analysis. In 339 psychosis patients (242 schizophrenia-spectrum, 97 bipolar with psychotic features) and 217 controls, we evaluated the relationship between cerebellar grey matter volume in the Yeo sensorimotor network and psychomotor disturbance (mannerisms and posturing, retardation, excitement of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale [PANSS]), as mediated by processing speed (assessed via the SCIP). Models included intracranial volume, age, sex, and chlorpromazine equivalents as covariates. We observed significant mediation by processing speed, with a small positive effect of the cerebellum on processing speed (ß = 0.172, p = 0.029, d = 0.24) and a medium negative effect of processing speed on psychomotor disturbance (ß = −0.254, p < 0.001, d = 0.60), with acceptable specificity and sensitivity suggesting this model is robust against unmeasured confounding. The current findings suggest a critical role of cerebellar circuitry in a well-established sensorimotor aberration in psychosis (processing speed) and the presentation of related psychomotor phenotypes within psychosis. Establishing such relationships is critical for intervention research, such as TMS. Future work will employ more dimensional measures of psychomotor disturbance and cognitive processes to capture normative and aberrant brain-behavior-symptom relationships and may also determine the magnitude of these relationships within subtypes of psychosis (e.g., disorganized behavior, catatonia). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies suggest that the EEG aperiodic exponent (often represented as a slope in log–log space) is sensitive to individual differences in momentary cognitive skills such as selective attention and information processing speed. However, findings are mixed, and most of the studies have focused on just a narrow range of cognitive domains. This study used an archival dataset to help clarify associations between resting aperiodic features and broad domains of cognitive ability, which vary in their demands on momentary processing. Undergraduates (N = 166) of age 18–52 years completed a resting EEG session as well as a standardized, individually administered assessment of cognitive ability that included measures of processing speed, working memory, and higher‐order visuospatial and verbal skills. A subsample (n = 110) also completed a computerized reaction time task with three difficulty levels. Data reduction analyses revealed strong correlations between the aperiodic offset and slope across electrodes, and a single component accounted for ~60% of variance in slopes across the scalp, in both eyes‐closed and eyes‐open conditions. Structural equation models did not support relations between the slope and specific domains tapping momentary processes. However, secondary analyses indicated that the eyes‐open slope was related to higher overall performance, as represented by a single general ability factor. A latent reaction time variable was significantly inversely related to both eyes‐closed and eyes‐open resting exponents, such that faster reaction times were associated with steeper slopes. These findings support and help clarify the relation of the resting EEG exponent to individual differences in cognitive skills. This study is among the first to examine associations between the EEG aperiodic slope and cognitive performance as assessed by both validated clinical assessments and laboratory tasks in the same cohort. Results replicated prior findings that higher resting slopes are linked to faster reaction times. This association did not extend to individually‐administered tasks of clerical speed, working memory, or higher order visuospatial or verbal skills; however, the slope was related to a single general ability factor in the eyes‐open resting condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Increased intraindividual variability (IIV) of cognitive performance is a marker of cognitive decline in older adults. Whether computerized cognitive training (CCT) and aerobic exercise counteracts cognitive decline by reducing IIV is unknown. We investigated the effects of CCT with or without aerobic exercise on IIV in older adults. Methods: This was a secondary analysis of an 8-week randomized controlled trial. Older adults (aged 65–85 years) were randomized to CCT alone (n = 41), CCT with aerobic exercise (n = 41), or an active control group (n = 42). The CCT group trained using the Fit Brains® platform 3×/week for 1 hr (plus 3×/week of home-based training). The CCT with aerobic exercise group received 15 min of walking plus 45 min of Fit Brains® 3×/week (plus 3×/week of home-based training). The control group received sham exercise and cognitive training (3×/week for 1 hr). We computed reaction time IIV from the Dimensional Change Card Sort Test, Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention Test (Flanker), and Pattern Comparison Processing Speed Test (PACPS). Results: Compared with the control group, IIV reduced in a processing speed task (PACPS) following CCT alone (mean difference [95% confidence interval]: −0.144 [−0.255 to −0.034], p < 0.01) and CCT with aerobic exercise (−0.113 [−0.225 to −0.001], p < 0.05). Attention (Flanker congruent) IIV was reduced only after CCT with aerobic exercise (−0.130 [−0.242 to −0.017], p < 0.05). Conclusions: A CCT program promoted cognitive health via reductions in IIV of cognitive performance and combining it with aerobic exercise may result in broader benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals with mood disorders are predisposed to metabolic dysfunction, while those with metabolic dysregulation such as diabetes and obesity experience more severe depressive symptoms. Both metabolic dysfunction and mood disorders are independently associated with cognitive deficits. Therefore, given their close association, this study aimed to explore the association between metabolic dysfunction in individuals with mood disorders in relation to cognitive outcomes. A comprehensive search comprised of these three domains was carried out; a random-effects meta-analysis pooling mean cognitive outcomes was conducted (PROSPERO ID: CRD42022295765). Sixty-three studies were included in this review; 26 were synthesized in a quantitative meta-analysis. Comorbid metabolic dysregulation was associated with significantly lower global cognition among individuals with mood disorders. These trends were significant within each mood disorder subgroup, including major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and self-report depression/depressive symptoms. Type 2 diabetes was associated with the lowest cognitive performance in individuals with mood disorders, followed by peripheral insulin resistance, body mass index ⩾25 kg/m2, and metabolic syndrome. Significant reduction in scores was also observed among individual cognitive domains (in descending order) of working memory, attention, executive function, processing speed, verbal memory, and visual memory. These findings demonstrate the detrimental effects of comorbid metabolic dysfunction in individuals with mood disorders. Further research is required to understand the underlying mechanisms connecting mood disorders, metabolism, and cognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habituation and dishabituation are the most prevalent measures of infant cognitive functioning, and they have reliably been shown to predict later cognitive outcomes. Yet, the exact mechanisms underlying infant habituation and dishabituation are still unclear. To investigate them, we tested 106 8‐month‐old infants on a classic habituation task and a novel visual learning task. We used a hierarchical Bayesian model to identify individual differences in sustained attention, learning performance, processing speed and curiosity from the visual learning task. These factors were then related to habituation and dishabituation. We found that habituation time was related to individual differences in processing speed, while dishabituation was related to curiosity, but only for infants who did not habituate. These results offer novel insights in the mechanisms underlying habituation and serve as proof of concept for hierarchical models as an effective tool to measure individual differences in infant cognitive functioning. Research Highlights: We used a hierarchical Bayesian model to measure individual differences in infants' processing speed, learning performance, sustained attention, and curiosity.Faster processing speed was related to shorter habituation time.High curiosity was related to stronger dishabituation responses, but only for infants who did not habituate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Plasma neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a promising biomarker of neurodegeneration with potential clinical utility in monitoring the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. However, the cross-sectional associations of plasma NfL with measures of cognition and brain have been inconsistent in community-dwelling populations. Methods: We examined these associations in a large community-dwelling sample of early old age men (N = 969, mean age = 67.57 years, range = 61–73 years), who are either cognitively unimpaired (CU) or with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Specifically, we investigated five cognitive domains (executive function, episodic memory, verbal fluency, processing speed, visual-spatial ability), as well as neuroimaging measures of gray and white matter. Results: After adjusting for age, health status, and young adult general cognitive ability, plasma NfL level was only significantly associated with processing speed and white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volume, but not with other cognitive or neuroimaging measures. The association with processing speed was driven by individuals with MCI, as it was not detected in CU individuals. Conclusions: These results suggest that in early old age men without dementia, plasma NfL does not appear to be sensitive to cross-sectional individual differences in most domains of cognition or neuroimaging measures of gray and white matter. The revealed plasma NfL associations were limited to WMH for all participants and processing speed only within the MCI cohort. Importantly, considering cognitive status in community-based samples will better inform the interpretation of the relationships of plasma NfL with cognition and brain and may help resolve mixed findings in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) may affect cognition, but their burden in cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), one of the main causes of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and dementia in the elderly, remains unclear. We investigated NPS, with emphasis on apathy and irritability in sporadic (sCAA) and Dutch-type hereditary (D-)CAA. Methods: We included patients with sCAA and (pre)symptomatic D-CAA, and controls from four prospective cohort studies. We assessed NPS per group, stratified for history of ICH, using the informant-based Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI-Q), Starkstein Apathy scale (SAS), and Irritability Scale. We modeled the association of NPS with disease status, executive function, processing speed, and CAA-burden score on MRI and investigated sex-differences. Results: We included 181 participants: 82 with sCAA (mean[SD] age 72[6] years, 44% women, 28% previous ICH), 56 with D-CAA (52[11] years, 54% women, n = 31[55%] presymptomatic), and 43 controls (69[9] years, 44% women). The NPI-Q NPS-count differed between patients and controls (sCAA-ICH+:adj.β = 1.4[95%CI:0.6–2.3]; sCAA-ICH-:1.3[0.6-2.0]; symptomatic D-CAA:2.0[1.1–2.9]; presymptomatic D-CAA:1.2[0.1–2.2], control median:0[IQR:0–3]), but not between the different CAA-subgroups. Apathy and irritability were reported most frequently: n = 12[31%] sCAA, 19[37%] D-CAA had a high SAS-score; n = 12[29%] sCAA, 14[27%] D-CAA had a high Irritability Scale score. NPS-count was associated with decreased processing speed (adj.β=-0.6[95%CI:-0.8;-0.4]) and executive function (adj.β=-0.4[95%CI:-0.6;-0.1]), but not with radiological CAA-burden. Men had NPS more often than women. Discussion: According to informants, one third to half of patients with CAA have NPS, mostly apathy, even in presymptomatic D-CAA and possibly with increased susceptibility in men. Neurologists should inform patients and caregivers of these disease consequences and treat or refer patients with NPS appropriately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children with gifted intellects often earn lower scores on measures of processing speed than their nongifted counterparts. However, neuropsychological research indicates such a profile of scores is likely not due to a true innate neurocognitive processing speed deficit but is rather a statistical artifact resulting from the interference of common cognitive and behavioral idiosyncrasies inherent to giftedness, such as perfectionism and an aversion to completing paper and pencil tasks. The first aim of this study is to identify and explain the relative underperformance of children with gifted intellects on measures of processing speed. The second aim is to develop a neuropsychologically informed framework for clinically assessing processing speed in children with gifted intellects using alternative measures from the WISC–V. Clinical implications are discussed as they relate to the relative disabling effects of common gifted-related idiosyncrasies on the expression of their otherwise intact neuropsychological capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The acquisition of skills, such as learning to play a musical instrument, involves various phases that make specific demands on the learner. Knowledge of the cognitive and motor contributions during learning phases can be helpful in developing effective and targeted interventions for healthy aging. Eighty-six healthy older participants underwent an extensive cognitive, motoric, and musical test battery. Within one session, one piano-related and one music-independent movement sequence were both learned. We tested the associations between skill performance and cognito-motor abilities with Bayesian mixed models accounting for individual learning rates. Results showed that performance was positively associated with all cognito-motor abilities. Learning a piano-related task was characterized by relatively strong initial associations between performance and abilities. These associations then weakened considerably before increasing exponentially from the second trial onwards, approaching a plateau. Similar performance–ability relationships were detected in the course of learning a music-unrelated motor task. Positive performance–ability associations emphasize the potential of learning new skills to produce positive cognitive and motor transfer effects. Consistent high-performance tasks that demand maximum effort from the participants could be very effective. However, interventions should be sufficiently long so that the transfer potential can be fully exploited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developmental dyslexia and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) co-occur in 15–40% of individuals diagnosed with one disorder. Despite substantial research on the cognitive profiles of preschoolers at risk for either dyslexia or ADHD, studies have neglected children at risk for co-occurring dyslexia and ADHD. Thus, our study compared the cognitive profile of preschoolers at risk for dyslexia with the profile of children at risk for co-occurring dyslexia and ADHD. We assessed 50 preschoolers at dyslexia risk (DR), 50 at dyslexia + ADHD risk (DAR), and 48 without risk (NR) (Mage = 67 months). Our assessment encompassed phonological processing, executive functioning (EF), receptive vocabulary, and processing speed. Principal component analysis revealed two distinct components within the measures of EF, a verbal short-term memory and an EF component. ANOVA revealed that the NR group outperformed risk groups across measures, except for cognitive flexibility and delay of gratification. Notably, the DR and DAR groups did not differ in most measures but showed near-significant differences on the EF component, with the DR group having higher composite scores than the DAR group. In conclusion, ADHD risk did not impact the cognitive performance of children at risk for dyslexia but might amplify EF problems that at-risk preschoolers encounter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Physical activity (PA) represents a promising behavioral approach for managing cognitive dysfunction in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, there is a lack of information on the pattern of free-living PA intensity (e.g., step rate) and its unique association with cognition. Such information is essential for informing clinical trials in MS. Objective: We examined associations among PA volume and intensity with cognitive function in persons with MS, and intensity was derived from steps-based metrics (peak 30-min cadence [Peak-30CAD], and time spent in incremental cadence bands). Methods: We included data from 147 persons with MS who underwent assessments of cognitive function (via Brief International Cognitive Assessment in MS) and wore an ActiGraph GT3X + accelerometer for 7 days. We performed bivariate and partial correlations and regression analyses examining associations among PA metrics and cognitive outcomes. Results: Higher Peak-30CAD was significantly associated with better performance in cognitive processing speed and verbal learning and memory (rs = 0.19–0.38), and the associations remained significant when controlling for daily steps, age, sex, and years of education (p < 0.05). By comparison, daily steps was only correlated with cognitive processing speed (rs = 0.26), and the association was non-significant when controlling for Peak-30CAD and covariates. There were stronger correlations among time spent in higher intensity cadence bands with cognitive performance (rs = 0.18–0.38). Conclusion: Our results highlight the important role of PA intensity for cognition in MS, and may inform future development of focal PA interventions that focusing on step rate patterns for improving cognition in persons with MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]