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Heterogeneous integration technology is revolutionizing the field of chip design by enabling the integration of diverse components and materials into a single package. This technology allows for the combination of various semiconductor technologies, such as silicon, III-V compounds, and MEMS, to enhance performance, functionality, and efficiency. This paper explores the applications of heterogeneous integration technology in chip design, highlighting its advantages, challenges, and future prospects. Through comprehensive analysis and experimental data, we demonstrate the effectiveness of heterogeneous integration in various applications, including high-performance computing, telecommunications, and sensors.Our findings indicate that heterogeneous integration can significantly enhance the computational efficiency and energy utilization of semiconductor devices. The experimental data presented supports the potential of heterogeneous integration technology in achieving higher performance metrics while maintaining energy efficiency. This paper also discusses the key challenges in implementing heterogeneous integration, such as thermal management, manufacturing complexity, and design verification. Future prospects include the development of advanced fabrication techniques and materials to overcome these challenges and fully realize the benefits of heterogeneous integration.

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 Tromso 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 Tromso4 (1994-1995) and Tromso5 (2001), or Tromso6 (2007-2008) and Tromso7 (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.

BACKGROUND: Between 29% and 67% of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder patients have cognitive alterations. OBJECTIVE: To assess the frequency of cognitive impairment in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder in Mexico using the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis. METHODS: We evaluated 40 neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder patients and 40 healthy controls from Mexico. RESULTS: 28 (70.0%) patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder had cognitive impairment in two or more cognitive domains. Student´s T test showed statistically poor performance by neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder patients compared to healthy controls on all three neuropsychological test scores. This significant difference was observed on the Symbols Digit Modalities Test (t = 8.875; p ≤ 0.001); California Verbal Learning Test-II memory (t = 10.418; p ≤ 0.001); and Brief Visuospatial Memory Test Revised (t = 6.123; p ≤ 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that 70% of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder patients exhibited cognitive impairment in two or more cognitive domains. Determining the frequency of cognitive impairment will guide the decision of Neuropsychologists in planning cognitive rehabilitation across various domains.

Introduction: In this study we assessed the contribution of psychopathology, including the two domains of negative symptoms (motivational deficit and expressive deficit), processing speed as an index of neurocognition, and emotion recognition, as an index of social cognition, to poor functional outcomes in people with schizophrenia. Methods: The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale was used to evaluate positive symptoms and disorganization and the Brief Negative Symptom Scale to assess negative symptoms. The Symbol Coding and the Trail Making Test A and B were used to rate processing speed and the Facial Emotion Identification Test to assess emotion recognition. Functional outcome was assessed with the Personal and Social Performance Scale (PSP). Regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of functional outcome. Mediation analyses was used to investigate whether social cognition and negative symptom domains fully or partially mediated the impact of processing speed on functional outcome. Results: One hundred and fifty subjects from 8 different European centers were recruited. Our data showed that the expressive deficit predicted global functioning and together with motivational deficit fully mediated the effects of neurocognition on it. Motivational deficit was a predictor of personal and social functioning and fully mediated neurocognitive impairment effects on the same outcome. Both motivational deficit and neurocognitive impairment predicted socially useful activities, and the emotion recognition domain of social cognition partially mediated the impact of neurocognitive deficits on this outcome. Conclusions: Our results indicate that pathways to functional outcomes are specific for different domains of real-life functioning and that negative symptoms and social cognition mediate the impact of neurocognitive deficits on different domains of functioning. Our results suggest that both negative symptoms and social cognition sh, Introduction: In this study we assessed the contribution of psychopathology, including the two domains of negative symptoms (motivational deficit and expressive deficit), processing speed as an index of neurocognition, and emotion recognition, as an index of social cognition, to poor functional outcomes in people with schizophrenia. Methods: The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale was used to evaluate positive symptoms and disorganization and the Brief Negative Symptom Scale to assess negative symptoms. The Symbol Coding and the Trail Making Test A and B were used to rate processing speed and the Facial Emotion Identification Test to assess emotion recognition. Functional outcome was assessed with the Personal and Social Performance Scale (PSP). Regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of functional outcome. Mediation analyses was used to investigate whether social cognition and negative symptom domains fully or partially mediated the impact of processing speed on functional outcome. Results: One hundred and fifty subjects from 8 different European centers were recruited. Our data showed that the expressive deficit predicted global functioning and together with motivational deficit fully mediated the effects of neurocognition on it. Motivational deficit was a predictor of personal and social functioning and fully mediated neurocognitive impairment effects on the same outcome. Both motivational deficit and neurocognitive impairment predicted socially useful activities, and the emotion recognition domain of social cognition partially mediated the impact of neurocognitive deficits on this outcome. Conclusions: Our results indicate that pathways to functional outcomes are specific for different domains of real-life functioning and that negative symptoms and social cognition mediate the impact of neurocognitive deficits on different domains of functioning. Our results suggest that both negative symptoms and social cognition should be targeted by psyc

Introduction: In this study we assessed the contribution of psychopathology, including the two domains of negative symptoms (motivational deficit and expressive deficit), processing speed as an index of neurocognition, and emotion recognition, as an index of social cognition, to poor functional outcomes in people with schizophrenia. Methods: The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale was used to evaluate positive symptoms and disorganization and the Brief Negative Symptom Scale to assess negative symptoms. The Symbol Coding and the Trail Making Test A and B were used to rate processing speed and the Facial Emotion Identification Test to assess emotion recognition. Functional outcome was assessed with the Personal and Social Performance Scale (PSP). Regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of functional outcome. Mediation analyses was used to investigate whether social cognition and negative symptom domains fully or partially mediated the impact of processing speed on functional outcome. Results: One hundred and fifty subjects from 8 different European centers were recruited. Our data showed that the expressive deficit predicted global functioning and together with motivational deficit fully mediated the effects of neurocognition on it. Motivational deficit was a predictor of personal and social functioning and fully mediated neurocognitive impairment effects on the same outcome. Both motivational deficit and neurocognitive impairment predicted socially useful activities, and the emotion recognition domain of social cognition partially mediated the impact of neurocognitive deficits on this outcome. Conclusions: Our results indicate that pathways to functional outcomes are specific for different domains of real-life functioning and that negative symptoms and social cognition mediate the impact of neurocognitive deficits on different domains of functioning. Our results suggest that both negative symptoms and social cognition sh, Introduction: In this study we assessed the contribution of psychopathology, including the two domains of negative symptoms (motivational deficit and expressive deficit), processing speed as an index of neurocognition, and emotion recognition, as an index of social cognition, to poor functional outcomes in people with schizophrenia. Methods: The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale was used to evaluate positive symptoms and disorganization and the Brief Negative Symptom Scale to assess negative symptoms. The Symbol Coding and the Trail Making Test A and B were used to rate processing speed and the Facial Emotion Identification Test to assess emotion recognition. Functional outcome was assessed with the Personal and Social Performance Scale (PSP). Regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of functional outcome. Mediation analyses was used to investigate whether social cognition and negative symptom domains fully or partially mediated the impact of processing speed on functional outcome. Results: One hundred and fifty subjects from 8 different European centers were recruited. Our data showed that the expressive deficit predicted global functioning and together with motivational deficit fully mediated the effects of neurocognition on it. Motivational deficit was a predictor of personal and social functioning and fully mediated neurocognitive impairment effects on the same outcome. Both motivational deficit and neurocognitive impairment predicted socially useful activities, and the emotion recognition domain of social cognition partially mediated the impact of neurocognitive deficits on this outcome. Conclusions: Our results indicate that pathways to functional outcomes are specific for different domains of real-life functioning and that negative symptoms and social cognition mediate the impact of neurocognitive deficits on different domains of functioning. Our results suggest that both negative symptoms and social cognition should be targeted by psyc

Background: Verbal fluency (VF) has been associated with several cognitive functions, but the cognitive processes underlying verbal fluency deficits in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) are controversial. Further knowledge about VF could be useful in clinical practice, because these tasks are brief, applicable, and reliable in MS patients. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the cognitive processes related to VF and to develop machine-learning algorithms to predict those patients with cognitive deficits using only VF-derived scores. Methods: Two hundred participants with MS were enrolled and examined using a comprehensive neuropsychological battery, including semantic and phonemic fluencies. Automatic linear modeling was used to identify the neuropsychological test predictors of VF scores. Furthermore, machine-learning algorithms (support vector machines, random forest) were developed to predict those patients with cognitive deficits using only VF-derived scores. Results: Neuropsychological tests associated with attention-executive functioning, memory, and language were the main predictors of the different fluency scores. However, the importance of memory was greater in semantic fluency and clustering scores, and executive functioning in phonemic fluency and switching. Machine learning algorithms predicted general cognitive impairment and executive dysfunction, with F1-scores over 67–71%. Conclusions: VF was influenced by many other cognitive processes, mainly including attention-executive functioning, episodic memory, and language. Semantic fluency and clustering were more explained by memory function, while phonemic fluency and switching were more related to executive functioning. Our study supports that the multiple cognitive components underlying VF tasks in MS could serve for screening purposes and the detection of executive dysfunction., Depto. de Psicobiología y Metodología en Ciencias del Comportamiento, Fac. de Psicología, TRUE, pub

BACKGROUND: Cognitive development after schizophrenia onset can be shaped by interventions such as cognitive remediation, yet no study to date has investigated whether patterns of early behavioral development may predict later cognitive changes following intervention. We therefore investigated the extent to which premorbid adjustment trajectories predict cognitive remediation gains in schizophrenia. METHODS: In a total sample of 215 participants (170 first-episode schizophrenia participants and 45 controls), we classified premorbid functioning trajectories from childhood through late adolescence using the Cannon-Spoor Premorbid Adjustment Scale. For the 62 schizophrenia participants who underwent 6 months of computer-assisted, bottom-up cognitive remediation interventions, we identified MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery scores for which participants demonstrated mean changes after intervention, then evaluated whether developmental trajectories predicted these changes. RESULTS: Growth mixture models supported three premorbid functioning trajectories: stable-good, deteriorating, and stable-poor adjustment. Schizophrenia participants demonstrated significant cognitive remediation gains in processing speed, verbal learning, and overall cognition. Notably, participants with stable-poor trajectories demonstrated significantly greater improvements in processing speed compared to participants with deteriorating trajectories. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to our knowledge to characterize the associations between premorbid functioning trajectories and cognitive remediation gains after schizophrenia onset, indicating that 6 months of bottom-up cognitive remediation appears to be sufficient to yield a full standard deviation gain in processing speed for individuals with early, enduring functioning difficulties. Our findings highlight the connection between trajectories of premorbid and postmorbid functioning in schizophrenia and emphasize the utility of considering the

INTRODUCTION: We are developing the California Cognitive Assessment Battery (CCAB) to provide neuropsychological assessments to patients who lack test access due to cost, capacity, mobility, and transportation barriers. METHODS: The CCAB consists of 15 non-verbal and 17 verbal subtests normed for telemedical assessment. The CCAB runs on calibrated tablet computers over cellular or Wi-Fi connections either in a laboratory or in participants homes. Spoken instructions and verbal stimuli are delivered through headphones using naturalistic text-to-speech voices. Verbal responses are scored in real time and recorded and transcribed offline using consensus automatic speech recognition which combines the transcripts from seven commercial ASR engines to produce timestamped transcripts more accurate than those of any single ASR engine. The CCAB is designed for supervised self-administration using a web-browser application, the Examiner. The Examiner permits examiners to record observations, view subtest performance in real time, initiate video chats, and correct potential error conditions (e.g., training and performance failures, etc.,) for multiple participants concurrently. RESULTS: Here we describe (1) CCAB usability with older (ages 50 to 89) participants; (2) CCAB psychometric properties based on normative data from 415 older participants; (3) Comparisons of the results of at-home vs. in-lab CCAB testing; (4) We also present preliminary analyses of the effects of COVID-19 infection on performance. Mean z-scores averaged over CCAB subtests showed impaired performance of COVID+ compared to COVID- participants after factoring out the contributions of Age, Education, and Gender (AEG). However, inter-cohort differences were no longer significant when performance was analyzed with a comprehensive model that factored out the influences of additional pre-existing demographic factors that distinguished COVID+ and COVID- cohorts (e.g., vocabulary, depression, race, etc.,). In con

Syftet med den aktuella studien var att undersöka om det finns något samband mellanfysisk aktivitet och kognitiv aktivitet kopplat till den kognitiva förmågan i åldersgruppen 65+.Det har studerats om det finns något samband mellan olika mängd på fysisk aktivitet (mycketansträngande, måttligt ansträngande, promenader) samt stillasittande och den kognitivaförmågan (exekutiva funktioner, analytiskt tänkande, bearbetningshastighet). Totalt deltog 30personer, varav 63% kvinnor, i åldrarna 65 till 84 år (M = 73,93, SD = 5.85) som rekryteradesvia offentliga mötesplatser för åldersgruppen samt via personliga kontakter. Deltagarnabesvarade frågeformulär med bakgrundsfrågor (kön, ålder, utbildningsnivå) samt ettsjälvskattningsformulär om fysiska aktivitetsvanor (International Physical ActivitiesQuestionnaire, IPAQ) och ett självskattningsformulär om kognitiva aktivitetsvanor (FloridaCognitive Activities Scale, FCAS). Efter detta fick deltagarna genomföra de fyrakognitionstesterna; Trail Making Test A (TMT A), Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT)som mäter bearbetningshastigheten, Trail Making Test B (TMT B) som mäter exekutivfunktion samt Cognitive Reflection Test (CRT) som mäter analytiskt tänkande.Resultatet visade på signifikant samband mellan ålder och bearbetningshastighet samtexekutiv funktion. Signifikant samband fanns även mellan kognitiv aktivitet ochbearbetningshastighet samt exekutiv funktion. Signifikant samband kunde även identifierasmellan promenader och analytiskt tänkande. Inga signifikanta resultat kunde hittas förresterande variabler och kognitiv förmåga.Resultatet från aktuell studie tyder på att högre grad av kognitiv aktivitet har ettsamband med bearbetningshastighet och exekutiva funktioner. Resultatet visar även attpromenader är relaterat till analytiskt tänkande. Ålder visade sig signifikant ha ett sambandmed bearbetningshastighet och exekutiva funktioner., The purpose of the current study was to investigate whether there is any relationshipbetween physical activity and cognitive activity linked to cognitive ability in the age group65+. The study investigated whether there is any relationship between different amounts ofphysical activity (very strenuous, moderately strenuous, walking) as well as sedentary timeand cognitive ability (executive functions, analytical thinking, processing speed). A total of 30people participated, of which 63% were women, aged between 65 to 84 years (M = 73.93, SD= 5.85), who were recruited via public meeting places for the age group as well as viapersonal contacts. The participants answered questionnaires with background questions(gender, age, level of education) as well as a self-assessment questionnaire on physicalactivity habits (International Physical Activities Questionnaire, IPAQ) and a self-assessmentquestionnaire on cognitive activity habits (Florida Cognitive Activities Scale, FCAS). Afterthis, the participants had to complete the four cognitive tests; Trail Making Test A (TMT A),Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) which measures processing speed, Trail Making TestB (TMT B) which measures executive function and the Cognitive Reflection Test (CRT)which measures analytical thinking.The results showed a significant relationship between age and processing speed aswell as executive function. There was also a significant relationship between cognitiveactivity and processing speed as well as executive function. A significant relationship couldalso be identified between walking and analytical thinking. No significant results could befound for the remaining variables and cognitive ability.The results from the current study indicate that a higher degree of cognitive activityhas a relationship with processing speed and executive functions. The result also shows thatwalking is related to analytical thinking. Age was found to be significantly related toprocessing speed and executive functions.

The human structural brain network, or connectome, has a rich-club organization with a small number of brain regions showing high network connectivity, called hubs. Hubs are centrally located in the network, energy costly, and critical for human cognition. Aging has been associated with changes in brain structure, function, and cognitive decline, such as processing speed. At a molecular level, the aging process is a progressive accumulation of oxidative damage, which leads to subsequent energy depletion in the neuron and causes cell death. However, it is still unclear how age affects hub connections in the human connectome. The current study aims to address this research gap by constructing structural connectome using fiber bundle capacity (FBC). FBC is derived from Constrained Spherical Deconvolution (CSD) modeling of white-matter fiber bundles, which represents the capacity of a fiber bundle to transfer information. Compared to the raw number of streamlines, FBC is less bias for quantifying connection strength within biological pathways. We found that hubs exhibit longer-distance connections and higher metabolic rates compared to peripheral brain regions, suggesting that hubs are biologically costly. Although the landscape of structural hubs was relatively age-invariant, there were wide-spread age effects on FBC in the connectome. Critically, these age effects were larger in connections within hub compared to peripheral brain connections. These findings were supported by both a cross-sectional sample with wide age-range (N = 137) and a longitudinal sample across 5 years (N = 83). Moreover, our results demonstrated that associations between FBC and processing speed were more concentrated in hub connections than chance level, and FBC in hub connections mediated the age-effects on processing speed. Overall, our findings indicate that structural connections of hubs, which demonstrate greater energy demands, are particular vulnerable to aging. The vulnerability may con

The human structural brain network, or connectome, has a rich-club organization with a small number of brain regions showing high network connectivity, called hubs. Hubs are centrally located in the network, energy costly, and critical for human cognition. Aging has been associated with changes in brain structure, function, and cognitive decline, such as processing speed. At a molecular level, the aging process is a progressive accumulation of oxidative damage, which leads to subsequent energy depletion in the neuron and causes cell death. However, it is still unclear how age affects hub connections in the human connectome. The current study aims to address this research gap by constructing structural connectome using fiber bundle capacity (FBC). FBC is derived from Constrained Spherical Deconvolution (CSD) modeling of white-matter fiber bundles, which represents the capacity of a fiber bundle to transfer information. Compared to the raw number of streamlines, FBC is less bias for quantifying connection strength within biological pathways. We found that hubs exhibit longer-distance connections and higher metabolic rates compared to peripheral brain regions, suggesting that hubs are biologically costly. Although the landscape of structural hubs was relatively age-invariant, there were wide-spread age effects on FBC in the connectome. Critically, these age effects were larger in connections within hub compared to peripheral brain connections. These findings were supported by both a cross-sectional sample with wide age-range (N = 137) and a longitudinal sample across 5 years (N = 83). Moreover, our results demonstrated that associations between FBC and processing speed were more concentrated in hub connections than chance level, and FBC in hub connections mediated the age-effects on processing speed. Overall, our findings indicate that structural connections of hubs, which demonstrate greater energy demands, are particular vulnerable to aging. The vulnerability may con

BackgroundBrain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin that plays an important role in regulating synaptic activity and plasticity.ObjectiveGiven that type-2 diabetes (T2DM) increases the risk of cognitive decline, and studies have suggested lower BDNF levels may be a risk factor of diabetic neurovascular complications, we sought to investigate total white matter hyperintensities (WMH) as a moderator of the effect of BDNF on hippocampal volume and cognition.MethodsOlder adults without dementia from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (N = 454 including 49 with T2DM and 405 without diabetes) underwent neuropsychological evaluation, magnetic resonance imaging to quantify hippocampal and WMH volumes, and blood draw to assess BDNF.ResultsAdjusting for age, sex, and APOE ɛ4 carrier status, there was a significant interaction between total WMH and BDNF on bilateral hippocampal volume in the non-T2DM group (t = 2.63, p = 0.009). Examination of main effect models with a dichotomous high/low BNDF group revealed a significant main effect for low BDNF (t = -4.98, p < 0.001), such that as WMH increased, bilateral hippocampal volume decreased. There was also a significant interaction between total WMH and BDNF on processing speed in the non-T2DM group (t = 2.91, p = 0.004). There was a significant main effect for low BDNF (t = -3.55, p < 0.001) such that as WMH increased, processing speed decreased. The interactions were not significant in the T2DM group.ConclusionThese results further elucidate the protective role that BDNF plays on cognition, as well as the cognitive effects of WMH.

The human structural brain network, or connectome, has a rich-club organization with a small number of brain regions showing high network connectivity, called hubs. Hubs are centrally located in the network, energy costly, and critical for human cognition. Aging has been associated with changes in brain structure, function, and cognitive decline, such as processing speed. At a molecular level, the aging process is a progressive accumulation of oxidative damage, which leads to subsequent energy depletion in the neuron and causes cell death. However, it is still unclear how age affects hub connections in the human connectome. The current study aims to address this research gap by constructing structural connectome using fiber bundle capacity (FBC). FBC is derived from Constrained Spherical Deconvolution (CSD) modeling of white-matter fiber bundles, which represents the capacity of a fiber bundle to transfer information. Compared to the raw number of streamlines, FBC is less bias for quantifying connection strength within biological pathways. We found that hubs exhibit longer-distance connections and higher metabolic rates compared to peripheral brain regions, suggesting that hubs are biologically costly. Although the landscape of structural hubs was relatively age-invariant, there were wide-spread age effects on FBC in the connectome. Critically, these age effects were larger in connections within hub compared to peripheral brain connections. These findings were supported by both a cross-sectional sample with wide age-range (N = 137) and a longitudinal sample across 5 years (N = 83). Moreover, our results demonstrated that associations between FBC and processing speed were more concentrated in hub connections than chance level, and FBC in hub connections mediated the age-effects on processing speed. Overall, our findings indicate that structural connections of hubs, which demonstrate greater energy demands, are particular vulnerable to aging. The vulnerability may con

The human structural brain network, or connectome, has a rich-club organization with a small number of brain regions showing high network connectivity, called hubs. Hubs are centrally located in the network, energy costly, and critical for human cognition. Aging has been associated with changes in brain structure, function, and cognitive decline, such as processing speed. At a molecular level, the aging process is a progressive accumulation of oxidative damage, which leads to subsequent energy depletion in the neuron and causes cell death. However, it is still unclear how age affects hub connections in the human connectome. The current study aims to address this research gap by constructing structural connectome using fiber bundle capacity (FBC). FBC is derived from Constrained Spherical Deconvolution (CSD) modeling of white-matter fiber bundles, which represents the capacity of a fiber bundle to transfer information. Compared to the raw number of streamlines, FBC is less bias for quantifying connection strength within biological pathways. We found that hubs exhibit longer-distance connections and higher metabolic rates compared to peripheral brain regions, suggesting that hubs are biologically costly. Although the landscape of structural hubs was relatively age-invariant, there were wide-spread age effects on FBC in the connectome. Critically, these age effects were larger in connections within hub compared to peripheral brain connections. These findings were supported by both a cross-sectional sample with wide age-range (N = 137) and a longitudinal sample across 5 years (N = 83). Moreover, our results demonstrated that associations between FBC and processing speed were more concentrated in hub connections than chance level, and FBC in hub connections mediated the age-effects on processing speed. Overall, our findings indicate that structural connections of hubs, which demonstrate greater energy demands, are particular vulnerable to aging. The vulnerability may con

The human structural brain network, or connectome, has a rich-club organization with a small number of brain regions showing high network connectivity, called hubs. Hubs are centrally located in the network, energy costly, and critical for human cognition. Aging has been associated with changes in brain structure, function, and cognitive decline, such as processing speed. At a molecular level, the aging process is a progressive accumulation of oxidative damage, which leads to subsequent energy depletion in the neuron and causes cell death. However, it is still unclear how age affects hub connections in the human connectome. The current study aims to address this research gap by constructing structural connectome using fiber bundle capacity (FBC). FBC is derived from Constrained Spherical Deconvolution (CSD) modeling of white-matter fiber bundles, which represents the capacity of a fiber bundle to transfer information. Compared to the raw number of streamlines, FBC is less bias for quantifying connection strength within biological pathways. We found that hubs exhibit longer-distance connections and higher metabolic rates compared to peripheral brain regions, suggesting that hubs are biologically costly. Although the landscape of structural hubs was relatively age-invariant, there were wide-spread age effects on FBC in the connectome. Critically, these age effects were larger in connections within hub compared to peripheral brain connections. These findings were supported by both a cross-sectional sample with wide age-range (N = 137) and a longitudinal sample across 5 years (N = 83). Moreover, our results demonstrated that associations between FBC and processing speed were more concentrated in hub connections than chance level, and FBC in hub connections mediated the age-effects on processing speed. Overall, our findings indicate that structural connections of hubs, which demonstrate greater energy demands, are particular vulnerable to aging. The vulnerability may con

The human structural brain network, or connectome, has a rich-club organization with a small number of brain regions showing high network connectivity, called hubs. Hubs are centrally located in the network, energy costly, and critical for human cognition. Aging has been associated with changes in brain structure, function, and cognitive decline, such as processing speed. At a molecular level, the aging process is a progressive accumulation of oxidative damage, which leads to subsequent energy depletion in the neuron and causes cell death. However, it is still unclear how age affects hub connections in the human connectome. The current study aims to address this research gap by constructing structural connectome using fiber bundle capacity (FBC). FBC is derived from Constrained Spherical Deconvolution (CSD) modeling of white-matter fiber bundles, which represents the capacity of a fiber bundle to transfer information. Compared to the raw number of streamlines, FBC is less bias for quantifying connection strength within biological pathways. We found that hubs exhibit longer-distance connections and higher metabolic rates compared to peripheral brain regions, suggesting that hubs are biologically costly. Although the landscape of structural hubs was relatively age-invariant, there were wide-spread age effects on FBC in the connectome. Critically, these age effects were larger in connections within hub compared to peripheral brain connections. These findings were supported by both a cross-sectional sample with wide age-range (N = 137) and a longitudinal sample across 5 years (N = 83). Moreover, our results demonstrated that associations between FBC and processing speed were more concentrated in hub connections than chance level, and FBC in hub connections mediated the age-effects on processing speed. Overall, our findings indicate that structural connections of hubs, which demonstrate greater energy demands, are particular vulnerable to aging. The vulnerability may con

The human structural brain network, or connectome, has a rich-club organization with a small number of brain regions showing high network connectivity, called hubs. Hubs are centrally located in the network, energy costly, and critical for human cognition. Aging has been associated with changes in brain structure, function, and cognitive decline, such as processing speed. At a molecular level, the aging process is a progressive accumulation of oxidative damage, which leads to subsequent energy depletion in the neuron and causes cell death. However, it is still unclear how age affects hub connections in the human connectome. The current study aims to address this research gap by constructing structural connectome using fiber bundle capacity (FBC). FBC is derived from Constrained Spherical Deconvolution (CSD) modeling of white-matter fiber bundles, which represents the capacity of a fiber bundle to transfer information. Compared to the raw number of streamlines, FBC is less bias for quantifying connection strength within biological pathways. We found that hubs exhibit longer-distance connections and higher metabolic rates compared to peripheral brain regions, suggesting that hubs are biologically costly. Although the landscape of structural hubs was relatively age-invariant, there were wide-spread age effects on FBC in the connectome. Critically, these age effects were larger in connections within hub compared to peripheral brain connections. These findings were supported by both a cross-sectional sample with wide age-range (N=137) and a longitudinal sample across 5 years (N=83). Moreover, our results demonstrated that associations between FBC and processing speed were more concentrated in hub connections than chance level, and FBC in hub connections mediated the age-effects on processing speed. Overall, our findings indicate that structural connections of hubs, which demonstrate greater energy demands, are particular vulnerable to aging. The vulnerability may contrib

Syftet med den aktuella studien var att undersöka om det finns något samband mellanfysisk aktivitet och kognitiv aktivitet kopplat till den kognitiva förmågan i åldersgruppen 65+.Det har studerats om det finns något samband mellan olika mängd på fysisk aktivitet (mycketansträngande, måttligt ansträngande, promenader) samt stillasittande och den kognitivaförmågan (exekutiva funktioner, analytiskt tänkande, bearbetningshastighet). Totalt deltog 30personer, varav 63% kvinnor, i åldrarna 65 till 84 år (M = 73,93, SD = 5.85) som rekryteradesvia offentliga mötesplatser för åldersgruppen samt via personliga kontakter. Deltagarnabesvarade frågeformulär med bakgrundsfrågor (kön, ålder, utbildningsnivå) samt ettsjälvskattningsformulär om fysiska aktivitetsvanor (International Physical ActivitiesQuestionnaire, IPAQ) och ett självskattningsformulär om kognitiva aktivitetsvanor (FloridaCognitive Activities Scale, FCAS). Efter detta fick deltagarna genomföra de fyrakognitionstesterna; Trail Making Test A (TMT A), Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT)som mäter bearbetningshastigheten, Trail Making Test B (TMT B) som mäter exekutivfunktion samt Cognitive Reflection Test (CRT) som mäter analytiskt tänkande.Resultatet visade på signifikant samband mellan ålder och bearbetningshastighet samtexekutiv funktion. Signifikant samband fanns även mellan kognitiv aktivitet ochbearbetningshastighet samt exekutiv funktion. Signifikant samband kunde även identifierasmellan promenader och analytiskt tänkande. Inga signifikanta resultat kunde hittas förresterande variabler och kognitiv förmåga.Resultatet från aktuell studie tyder på att högre grad av kognitiv aktivitet har ettsamband med bearbetningshastighet och exekutiva funktioner. Resultatet visar även attpromenader är relaterat till analytiskt tänkande. Ålder visade sig signifikant ha ett sambandmed bearbetningshastighet och exekutiva funktioner., The purpose of the current study was to investigate whether there is any relationshipbetween physical activity and cognitive activity linked to cognitive ability in the age group65+. The study investigated whether there is any relationship between different amounts ofphysical activity (very strenuous, moderately strenuous, walking) as well as sedentary timeand cognitive ability (executive functions, analytical thinking, processing speed). A total of 30people participated, of which 63% were women, aged between 65 to 84 years (M = 73.93, SD= 5.85), who were recruited via public meeting places for the age group as well as viapersonal contacts. The participants answered questionnaires with background questions(gender, age, level of education) as well as a self-assessment questionnaire on physicalactivity habits (International Physical Activities Questionnaire, IPAQ) and a self-assessmentquestionnaire on cognitive activity habits (Florida Cognitive Activities Scale, FCAS). Afterthis, the participants had to complete the four cognitive tests; Trail Making Test A (TMT A),Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) which measures processing speed, Trail Making TestB (TMT B) which measures executive function and the Cognitive Reflection Test (CRT)which measures analytical thinking.The results showed a significant relationship between age and processing speed aswell as executive function. There was also a significant relationship between cognitiveactivity and processing speed as well as executive function. A significant relationship couldalso be identified between walking and analytical thinking. No significant results could befound for the remaining variables and cognitive ability.The results from the current study indicate that a higher degree of cognitive activityhas a relationship with processing speed and executive functions. The result also shows thatwalking is related to analytical thinking. Age was found to be significantly related toprocessing speed and executive functions.

This study investigated the longitudinal relationship between children's domain-general cognitive constraints underlying phonological and sentence processing development in a big sample of typically developing children. 104 children were tested on non-linguistic processing speed, phonological skills (phonological short term memory, phonological knowledge, phonological working memory), and sentence processing abilities (sentence repetition and receptive grammar) in 1(st) grade (aged 6 to 6.5) and one year later. A cross-lagged structural equation model showed that non-linguistic processing speed was a concurrent predictor of phonological skills, and that phonology had a powerful effect on the child's sentence processing abilities concurrently and longitudinally, providing clear evidence for the role of domain-general processes in the developmental pathway of language. These findings support a cascaded cognitive view of language development and pose important challenges for evaluation and intervention strategies in childhood.

IntroductionWe investigated associations between neighborhood racial/ethnic segregation and cognitive change.MethodsWe used data (n = 1712) from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Racial/ethnic segregation was assessed using Getis-Ord (Gi*) z-scores based on American Community Survey Census tract data (higher Gi* = greater spatial clustering of participant's race/ethnicity). Global cognition and processing speed were assessed twice, 6 years apart. Adjusted multilevel linear regression tested associations between Gi* z-scores and cognition. Effect modification by race/ethnicity, income, education, neighborhood socioeconomic status, and neighborhood social support was tested.ResultsParticipants were on average 67 years old; 43% were White, 11% Chinese, 29% African American/Black, 17% Hispanic; 40% had high neighborhood segregation (Gi* > 1.96). African American/Black participants with greater neighborhood segregation had greater processing speed decline in stratified analyses, but no interactions were significant.DiscussionSegregation was associated with greater processing speed declines among African American/Black participants. Additional follow-ups and comprehensive cognitive batteries may further elucidate these findings.HighlightsA study of neighborhood racial/ethnic segregation and change in cognition. Study was based on a racially and geographically diverse, population-based cohort of older adults. Racial/ethnic segregation (clustering) was measured by the Getis-ord (Gi*) statistic. We saw faster processing speed decline among Black individuals in segregated neighborhoods.

Background and Hypothesis Familial high-risk (FHR) studies examining longitudinal associations between neurocognition and psychotic experiences are currently lacking. We hypothesized neurocognitive impairments at age 7 to be associated with increased risk of psychotic experiences from age 7 to 11 in children at familial high risk of schizophrenia (FHR-SZ) or bipolar disorder (FHR-BP) and population-based controls (PBC), and further, impaired functioning in some neurocognitive functions to be associated with greater risk of psychotic experiences in children at FHR-SZ or FHR-BP relative to PBC. Study Design Neurocognition was assessed at age 7 (early childhood) and psychotic experiences from age 7 to 11 (middle childhood) in 449 children from the Danish High Risk and Resilience Study. The neurocognitive assessment covered intelligence, processing speed, attention, visuospatial and verbal memory, working memory, and set-shifting. Psychotic experiences were assessed through face-to-face interviews with the primary caregiver and the child. Study Results Set-shifting impairments at age 7 were associated with greater risk of psychotic experiences from age 7 to 11 in children at FHR-SZ. Children at FHR-BP and PBC showed no differential associations. Working memory and visuospatial memory impairments were related to increased risk of psychotic experiences across the cohort. However, adjusting for concurrent psychopathology attenuated these findings. Conclusions Early childhood neurocognitive impairments are risk markers of middle childhood psychotic experiences, of which impaired set-shifting appears to further increase the risk of psychotic experiences in children at FHR-SZ. More research is needed to examine longitudinal associations between neurocognitive impairments and psychotic experiences in FHR samples.

Background Several batteries have been developed for the cognitive assessment of people with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, all these tests have some limitations in general clinical practice and from a cross-cultural perspective. In this study, we aimed to validate a novel cognitive screening test, the Cross-Cultural Dementia screening test (CCD), in pwMS. Methods Seventy-five participants with relapsing-remitting MS and 75 healthy controls were enrolled and completed a comprehensive neuropsychological battery and the CCD. Intergroup comparisons, effect sizes, and correlations with previously validated tests were calculated for a majority and a pilot study of a minority sample. ROC curves were estimated, and random forest classification models were developed. Results There were statistically significant differences between cognitively impaired MS (MS-CI) group and healthy controls, and between MS-CI and non-cognitively impaired MS group in all subtests of CCD with medium to large effect sizes. Correlations with standardized neuropsychological tests were moderate to high, supporting concurrent validity. These results were replicated in the minority sample. The random forest models showed a very accurate classification using the CCD. This test showed good psychometric properties compared with SDMT. Conclusions Our study validates the CCD for cognitive impairment screening in MS, showing advantages over other routinely used cognitive tests., Instituto de Salud Carlos III, European Commission, Depto. de Psicobiología y Metodología en Ciencias del Comportamiento, Depto. de Arquitectura de Computadores y Automática, Depto. de Medicina, Fac. de Psicología, Fac. de Informática, Fac. de Medicina, TRUE, pub

OBJECTIVES: Late Life Depression (LLD) is associated with persistent cognitive dysfunction even after depression symptoms improve. The present study was designed to examine cognitive outcomes associated with the pattern of depression severity change during psychotherapy intervention for LLD. METHODS: 96 community-dwelling adults ages 65-91 with major depressive disorder completed 12 sessions of Problem-Solving Therapy at the University of California, San Francisco. Nonlinear trajectories of depression severity ratings using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale were computed from multiple time points collected throughout the weekly psychotherapy intervention. Performance on measures of cognition (information processing speed, executive functioning, verbal learning, memory) was assessed at baseline and post-treatment. Linear mixed-effects models examined associations between nonlinear depression severity trajectories and post-treatment change in cognitive performance. RESULTS: Broadly, different patterns of depression change during treatment were associated with improved cognition post-treatment. Greater and more consistent interval improvements in depression ratings were differentially associated with improvements in aspects of verbal learning, memory, and executive function post-treatment, while no associations were found with information processing speed. CONCLUSIONS: The heterogeneity of depression trajectories associated with improved cognitive outcomes suggests that the temporal pattern of depression response may impact specific cognitive processes distinctly. Results suggest that use of nonlinear depression severity trajectories may help to elucidate complex associations between the time course of depression response and cognitive outcomes of psychotherapy in LLD. These findings have important implications for identifying treatment targets to enhance clinical and cognitive outcomes of psychotherapy in LLD.

Syftet med studien var att undersöka eventuella skillnader i grundläggande kognitiva förmågor mellan högpresterande idrottare och amatörer. I denna kvantitativa tvärsnittsstudie samlades datan in från deltagare som rekryterades från ett idrottsgymnasium, en elitklubb och ett antal från personliga kontakter via ett bekvämlighetsurval. 39 deltagare deltog i studien i åldrarna 15-39, 21 högpresterande idrottare (M= 20.48, SD= 5.77) och 18 amatörer (M= 19.44, SD= 4.79). De grundläggande kognitiva förmågorna mättes med fyra kognitiva test: Trail Making Test, The Sustained Attention to Response Task, The Semantic And Phonemic Fluency Test och Digit Symbol Substitution Test. Dessa valdes ut för att mäta uppmärksamhet, bearbetningshastighet och exekutiva funktioner. Resultatet visade en statistisk signifikant skillnad mellan högpresterande idrottare och amatörer i den grundläggande kognitiva förmågan bearbetningshastighet där gruppen av högpresterande idrottare nådde högre värden i mätningarna. Inga signifikanta skillnader uppdagades i de grundläggande kognitiva förmågorna uppmärksamhet och exekutiva funktioner. Studiens resultat indikerar på att framtida forskning bör ta hänsyn till typ av idrott hos atleten i en urvalsprocess för en tydligare jämförelse. Frågan kring skillnader i grundläggande kognitiva förmågor är mer komplex än en uppdelning mellan högpresterande idrottare och amatörer., The purpose of this study was to investigate possible differences in basic cognitive ability between high-performing and amateur athletes. In this quantitative cross-sectional study the data was collected from participants that were recruited from a highschool, an elite club and through personal contacts. 39 Participants participated in the study ages 15-39, 21 high-performing athletes (M= 20.48, SD= 5.77) and 18 amateur athletes (M=19.44, SD= 4.79). The basic cognitive abilities were measured with four tests: Trail Making Test, The Sustained Attention to Response Task, The Semantic And Phonemic Fluency Test and Digit Symbol Substitution Test. These were selected to measure attention, processing speed, and executive functions. The results showed a statistically significant difference between high-performing athletes and amateur athletes in the basic cognitive ability processing speed where the high-performing athletes showed a higher processing speed than amateur athletes. No significant differences were detected in the basic cognitive abilities of attention and executive functions. The results of the study indicate that future research should take into consideration the type of sport the athlete is involved in for a selection process with a clearer comparison. The differences in basic cognitive abilities is more complex than the comparison between high-performing and amateur athletes.

Syftet med studien var att undersöka om regelbunden fysisk aktivitet respektive kognitiv aktivitet hade samband med kognitiva funktioner i åldersgruppen 65+. Mer specifikt har sambandet mellan regelbunden fysisk aktivitet i termer av total träningsmängd, träningsintensitet (mycket/måttligt ansträngande och promenader) samt total tid stillasittande och de kognitiva funktionerna; exekutiva funktioner, bearbetningshastighet och analytiskt tänkande studerats. 28 individer i åldrarna 65–85 (M = 75.52, SD = 5.15) deltog i studien, varav 14 var kvinnor och 14 var män. Deltagarna rekryterades på lokala gym samt öppna mötesplatser och besvarade ett frågeformulär med bakgrundsfrågor (kön, ålder, utbildningsnivå), deras fysiska aktivitetsvanor (International Physical Activities Questionnaire, IPAQ) samt kognitionsvanor (Florida Cognitive Activities Scale, FCAS). Efter att ha besvarat frågorna genomförde deltagarna kognitiva test som mäter tre olika kognitiva funktioner; exekutiv funktion (via Trail Making Test B, TMT B), bearbetningshastighet (via Trail Making Test A, TMT A, samt Symbol Digit Modalities Test, SDMT) och analytiskt tänkande (via Cognitive Reflection Test, CRT). Modell 2 med prediktorerna total fysisk aktivitet och kognitiv aktivitet var signifikant och förklarade 36% av variansen i TMT A. Modell 3 med prediktorn mycket ansträngande fysisk aktivitet var signifikant och förklarade 11% av variansen i CRT rätt. Modell 7 med prediktorerna mycket ansträngande fysisk aktivitet, måttligt ansträngande fysisk aktivitet och promenader var signifikant och förklarade 25% av variansen i CRT rätt. Positivt signifikanta samband hittades för kognitiv aktivitet och bearbetningshastighet, samt för promenader och analytiskt tänkande. Negativt signifikant samband hittades mellan mycket ansträngande fysisk aktivitet och analytiskt tänkande. Inga signifikanta resultat hittades för de exekutiva funktionerna. Resultaten från föreliggande studie tyder på att en högre grad av kognitiv akt, The purpose of the study was to examine the association between regular physical and cognitive activity and cognitive functioning in an older population. More specifically the association between regular physical activity in terms of total amount of exercise, exercise intensity (vigorous / moderate strenuous and walks), plus total amount of time spent sitting during a day and the cognitive functions; executive function, processing speed and analytical thinking. Twenty-eight participants between 65-85 years of age (MD = 75.52, SD = 5.15) partook in the present study, of which 14 were women and 14 were men. The participants were recruited at local gyms and public meeting places and answered a questionnaire including background questions (gender, age, educational level), their physical activity habits (International Physical Activities Questionnaire, IPAQ) and cognitive activity habits (Florida Cognitive Activities Scale, FCAS). After answering the questions, the participants performed cognitive tests to measure the three cognitive functions; executive function (through Trail Making Test B, TMT B), processing speed (through Trail Making Test A, TMT A, and Symbol Digit Modalities Test, SDMT) and analytical thinking (through Cognitive Reflection Test, CRT). Model 2 with the predictors' total physical activity and cognitive activity was significant and explained 36% of the variance in TMT A. Model 3 with the predictor vigorous strenuous physical activity was significant and explained 11% of the variance in CRT Correct. Model 7 with the predictors' vigorous strenuous physical activity, moderate strenuous physical activity and walks was significant and explained 25% of the variance in CRT Correct. Positive significant associations were found between cognitive activity and processing speed, as well as between walks and analytical thinking. Finally negative significant associations between vigorous strenuous activity and analytical thinking was found. No significant results w

ObjectivesThe relationship between wisdom and fluid intelligence (Gf) is poorly understood, particularly in older adults. We empirically tested the magnitude of the correlation between wisdom and Gf to help determine the extent of overlap between these two constructs.DesignCross-sectional study with preregistered hypotheses and well-powered analytic plan (https://osf.io/h3pjx).SettingMemory and Aging Center at the University of California San Francisco, located in the USA.Participants141 healthy older adults (mean age = 76 years; 56% female).MeasurementsWisdom was quantified using a well-validated self-report-based scale (San Diego Wisdom Scale or SD-WISE). Gf was assessed via composite measures of processing speed (Gf-PS) and executive functioning (Gf-EF). The relationships of SD-WISE scores to Gf-PS and Gf-EF were tested in bivariate correlational analyses and multiple regression models adjusted for demographics (age, sex, and education). Exploratory analyses evaluated the relationships between SD-WISE and age, episodic memory performance, and dorsolateral and ventromedial prefrontal cortical volumes on magnetic resonance imaging.ResultsWisdom showed a small, positive association with Gf-EF (r = 0.181 [95% CI 0.016, 0.336], p = .031), which was reduced to nonsignificance upon controlling for demographics, and no association with Gf-PS (r = 0.019 [95% CI -0.179, 0.216], p = .854). Wisdom demonstrated a small, negative correlation with age (r = -0.197 [95% CI -0.351, -0.033], p = .019), but was not significantly related to episodic memory or prefrontal volumes.ConclusionsOur findings indicate that most of the variance in wisdom (>95%) is unaccounted for by Gf. The independence of wisdom from cognitive functions that reliably show age-associated declines suggests that it may hold unique potential to bolster decision-making, interpersonal functioning, and other everyday activities in older adults.

Syftet med studien var att undersöka om regelbunden fysisk aktivitet respektive kognitiv aktivitet hade samband med kognitiva funktioner i åldersgruppen 65+. Mer specifikt har sambandet mellan regelbunden fysisk aktivitet i termer av total träningsmängd, träningsintensitet (mycket/måttligt ansträngande och promenader) samt total tid stillasittande och de kognitiva funktionerna; exekutiva funktioner, bearbetningshastighet och analytiskt tänkande studerats. 28 individer i åldrarna 65–85 (M = 75.52, SD = 5.15) deltog i studien, varav 14 var kvinnor och 14 var män. Deltagarna rekryterades på lokala gym samt öppna mötesplatser och besvarade ett frågeformulär med bakgrundsfrågor (kön, ålder, utbildningsnivå), deras fysiska aktivitetsvanor (International Physical Activities Questionnaire, IPAQ) samt kognitionsvanor (Florida Cognitive Activities Scale, FCAS). Efter att ha besvarat frågorna genomförde deltagarna kognitiva test som mäter tre olika kognitiva funktioner; exekutiv funktion (via Trail Making Test B, TMT B), bearbetningshastighet (via Trail Making Test A, TMT A, samt Symbol Digit Modalities Test, SDMT) och analytiskt tänkande (via Cognitive Reflection Test, CRT). Modell 2 med prediktorerna total fysisk aktivitet och kognitiv aktivitet var signifikant och förklarade 36% av variansen i TMT A. Modell 3 med prediktorn mycket ansträngande fysisk aktivitet var signifikant och förklarade 11% av variansen i CRT rätt. Modell 7 med prediktorerna mycket ansträngande fysisk aktivitet, måttligt ansträngande fysisk aktivitet och promenader var signifikant och förklarade 25% av variansen i CRT rätt. Positivt signifikanta samband hittades för kognitiv aktivitet och bearbetningshastighet, samt för promenader och analytiskt tänkande. Negativt signifikant samband hittades mellan mycket ansträngande fysisk aktivitet och analytiskt tänkande. Inga signifikanta resultat hittades för de exekutiva funktionerna. Resultaten från föreliggande studie tyder på att en högre grad av kognitiv akt, The purpose of the study was to examine the association between regular physical and cognitive activity and cognitive functioning in an older population. More specifically the association between regular physical activity in terms of total amount of exercise, exercise intensity (vigorous / moderate strenuous and walks), plus total amount of time spent sitting during a day and the cognitive functions; executive function, processing speed and analytical thinking. Twenty-eight participants between 65-85 years of age (MD = 75.52, SD = 5.15) partook in the present study, of which 14 were women and 14 were men. The participants were recruited at local gyms and public meeting places and answered a questionnaire including background questions (gender, age, educational level), their physical activity habits (International Physical Activities Questionnaire, IPAQ) and cognitive activity habits (Florida Cognitive Activities Scale, FCAS). After answering the questions, the participants performed cognitive tests to measure the three cognitive functions; executive function (through Trail Making Test B, TMT B), processing speed (through Trail Making Test A, TMT A, and Symbol Digit Modalities Test, SDMT) and analytical thinking (through Cognitive Reflection Test, CRT). Model 2 with the predictors' total physical activity and cognitive activity was significant and explained 36% of the variance in TMT A. Model 3 with the predictor vigorous strenuous physical activity was significant and explained 11% of the variance in CRT Correct. Model 7 with the predictors' vigorous strenuous physical activity, moderate strenuous physical activity and walks was significant and explained 25% of the variance in CRT Correct. Positive significant associations were found between cognitive activity and processing speed, as well as between walks and analytical thinking. Finally negative significant associations between vigorous strenuous activity and analytical thinking was found. No significant results w

Both domain-general (e.g., working memory, executive functions) and domain-specific (e.g., number processing, phonological processing) cognitive factors have been found to predict learning in different age groups. Likewise, research has shown that various affective factors, such as different emotions (e.g., anxiety), self-concept, and interest, need to be considered when investigating individual differences in learning. However, few studies have investigated both cognitive and affective factors simultaneously in relation to learning. In particular, there is a lack of studies investigating the interplay (i.e., moderation and mediation) between cognitive and affective factors on learning. The goal of this Research Topic is to deepen our knowledge on the relations between learning and both cognitive and affective factors in different age groups. We aim to provide a broad scope of emerging areas in research on cognitive and affective factors, especially related to academic learning (e.g., mathematics, reading, and other school subjects). Studies focusing simultaneously looking at the interplay of these constructs, as well as longitudinally, are of great interest. Further, we are interested in innovative study designs and recent advances in methodology in this field. To promote quality education for all and equity in education, cognitive and affective factors related to aspects of learning ranging from pre-school to tertiary provision, and inclusion of individuals with special educational needs, are of interest.

Both domain-general (e.g., working memory, executive functions) and domain-specific (e.g., number processing, phonological processing) cognitive factors have been found to predict learning in different age groups. Likewise, research has shown that various affective factors, such as different emotions (e.g., anxiety), self-concept, and interest, need to be considered when investigating individual differences in learning. However, few studies have investigated both cognitive and affective factors simultaneously in relation to learning. In particular, there is a lack of studies investigating the interplay (i.e., moderation and mediation) between cognitive and affective factors on learning. The goal of this Research Topic is to deepen our knowledge on the relations between learning and both cognitive and affective factors in different age groups. We aim to provide a broad scope of emerging areas in research on cognitive and affective factors, especially related to academic learning (e.g., mathematics, reading, and other school subjects). Studies focusing simultaneously looking at the interplay of these constructs, as well as longitudinally, are of great interest. Further, we are interested in innovative study designs and recent advances in methodology in this field. To promote quality education for all and equity in education, cognitive and affective factors related to aspects of learning ranging from pre-school to tertiary provision, and inclusion of individuals with special educational needs, are of interest.

Speeded Matching (SpM) is a new processing speed match-to-sample test within the NIH Toolbox Cognitive Battery. It was designed to developmentally extend feasibility to younger children or individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD). SpM reduces cognitive demands to tapping an identical match as opposed to judging and indicating whether two stimuli are identical. In this study, we piloted SpM among 148 participants with fragile X syndrome, Down syndrome, or other intellectual disabilities (chronological age mean = 17.8 years, sd = 5.4; nonverbal mental age mean = 65 months, sd = 19.4). SpM had a high feasibility (96%) and internal consistency (rxx = 0.98). It converged well with other measures of processing speed, fluid cognition, and nonverbal mental age and diverged appropriately from crystallized cognitive skills. The correlation between nonverbal mental age and SpM in the IDD sample was not significantly different than the correlation between chronological age and SpM in a separate sample of 118 neurotypical children (age mean = 3.9 years sd = 0.8). This study provides initial evidence for the reliability and validity of the new SpM task, which may be appropriate as an outcome measure of processing speed for future clinical trials. It is more feasible than tasks designed for adults; it is brief, easy to administer, and engaging for young children and older individuals with lower mental ages associated with IDD.

ObjectiveChronic inflammation and vascular dysfunction (e.g., chronic endothelial activation) are related yet dissociable mechanisms of HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment (NCI), even among those on antiretroviral therapy (ART). However, how these mechanisms differentially contribute to domain-specific deficits in people with and without HIV (PWH, PWoH) is unclear. We empirically-derived profiles of NCI and examined relationships with peripheral inflammatory and vascular biomarkers.MethodsParticipants were 84 virally-suppressed PWH and 126 PWoH who underwent neuropsychological testing and blood draw. Cluster analysis identified subgroups based on domain deficit scores. ANOVAs examined HIV serostatus and cluster group differences in composite plasma biomarker z-scores of inflammation (IL-6, CXCL10/IP-10, CCL2/MCP-1) and vascular injury (VCAM-1, ICAM-1, uPAR). Confirmatory regressions examined the interaction of HIV and biomarker z-scores on domain-specific T-scores, controlling for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and psychosocial factors.ResultsCluster analysis identified three groups: Unimpaired (n = 129), Learning/Recall (n = 52, isolated learning/recall deficits), Dysexecutive/Slow (n = 29, executive function, working memory, processing speed, and motor deficits). PWH had higher odds of Dysexecutive/Slow membership, which related to CVD risk and higher vascular dysfunction, but not inflammation, in PWH. Vascular biomarkers moderated adverse HIV effects on executive function, processing speed, and working memory such that PWH had lower T-scores only when vascular dysfunction was high.ConclusionsIn PWH with controlled disease, peripheral markers of endothelial dysfunction and vascular permeability are selectively associated with an empirically-derived subgroup that exhibits domain deficits commonly impacted by cerebrovascular disease. Findings support the presence of a vascular NCI subgroup of PWH who may benefit from interventio

Cellulose nanofibril (CNF) hybrid materials show great promise as sustainable alternatives to oil-based plastics owing to their abundance and renewability. Nonetheless, despite the enormous success achieved in preparing CNF hybrids at the laboratory scale, feasible implementation of these materials remains a major challenge due to the time-consuming and energy-intensive extraction and processing of CNFs. Here, we describe a scalable materials processing platform for rapid preparation (<10 min) of homogeneously distributed functional CNF-gibbsite and CNF-graphite hybrids through a pH-responsive self-assembly mechanism, followed by their application in gas barrier, flame retardancy, and energy storage materials. Incorporation of 5 wt % gibbsite results in strong, transparent, and oxygen barrier CNF-gibbsite hybrid films in 9 min. Increasing the gibbsite content to 20 wt % affords them self-extinguishing properties, while further lowering their dewatering time to 5 min. The strategy described herein also allows for the preparation of freestanding CNF-graphite hybrids (90 wt % graphite) that match the energy storage performance (330 mA h/g at low cycling rates) and processing speed (3 min dewatering) of commercial graphite anodes. Furthermore, these ecofriendly electrodes can be fully recycled, reformed, and reused while maintaining their initial performance. Overall, this versatile concept combines a green outlook with high processing speed and material performance, paving the way toward scalable processing of advanced ecofriendly hybrid materials., QC 20230502

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is considered a neurodevelopmental disorder, whose prevalence has increased in recent years, showing in some cases deficits in the cognitive area, with processing speed (PS) being one of the affected variables. Therefore, the present study aims to: 1) compare the scores obtained in relation to the PS variable between students aged 6 to 11 with ASD and their peers with neurotypical development in Metropolitan Lima; and 2) establish the PS profile of the included students with ASD. For this, 30 children aged 6 to 11 attending to regular basic education institutions (RBE) in Metropolitan Lima were sampled, 15 with neurotypical development and 15 included with ASD. For the first objective, a case-control design (CCD) was used, while the second objective was a selective non-probabilistic cross-sectional design. Results showed a lower performance by the group with ASD in the PS tasks evaluated, compared to their neurotypical peers, as well as differences were found among the children in the group with ASD, which could be associated with the variety of skills that the tasks involved chores., El Trastorno del Espectro Autista (TEA) es considerado como un trastorno del neurodesarrollo, cuya prevalencia se ha incrementado en los últimos años, evidenciándose en algunos casos déficits en el área cognitiva, siendo la velocidad de procesamiento (VP) una de las variables afectadas. Por tal motivo, el presente estudio tiene como objetivos: 1) comparar los puntajes obtenidos en relación con la variable de VP entre alumnos de 6 a 11 años incluidos con TEA y sus pares con desarrollo neurotípico de Lima Metropolitana; y 2) establecer el perfil de VP de los alumnos con TEA incluidos. Para ello, se tuvo como muestra a 30 niños de 6 a 11 años pertenecientes a instituciones educativas de básica regular (EBR) de Lima Metropolitana, siendo 15 con desarrollo neurotípico y 15 incluidos con TEA. Para el primer objetivo, se utilizó un diseño caso-control (DCC); mientras que, en el segundo objetivo fue selectivo no probabilístico transversal. Los resultados mostraron un desempeño inferior por parte del grupo con TEA en las tareas de VP evaluadas, en comparación con sus pares neurotípicos, así mismo, se encontraron diferencias entre los niños del grupo con TEA, lo que podría estar asociado a la variedad de habilidades que evaluaban las tareas.

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.

Both domain-general (e.g., working memory, executive functions) and domain-specific (e.g., number processing, phonological processing) cognitive factors have been found to predict learning in different age groups. Likewise, research has shown that various affective factors, such as different emotions (e.g., anxiety), self-concept, and interest, need to be considered when investigating individual differences in learning. However, few studies have investigated both cognitive and affective factors simultaneously in relation to learning. In particular, there is a lack of studies investigating the interplay (i.e., moderation and mediation) between cognitive and affective factors on learning. The goal of this Research Topic is to deepen our knowledge on the relations between learning and both cognitive and affective factors in different age groups. We aim to provide a broad scope of emerging areas in research on cognitive and affective factors, especially related to academic learning (e.g., mathematics, reading, and other school subjects). Studies focusing simultaneously looking at the interplay of these constructs, as well as longitudinally, are of great interest. Further, we are interested in innovative study designs and recent advances in methodology in this field. To promote quality education for all and equity in education, cognitive and affective factors related to aspects of learning ranging from pre-school to tertiary provision, and inclusion of individuals with special educational needs, are of interest.

Syftet med studien var att undersöka eventuella skillnader i grundläggande kognitiva förmågor mellan högpresterande idrottare och amatörer. I denna kvantitativa tvärsnittsstudie samlades datan in från deltagare som rekryterades från ett idrottsgymnasium, en elitklubb och ett antal från personliga kontakter via ett bekvämlighetsurval. 39 deltagare deltog i studien i åldrarna 15-39, 21 högpresterande idrottare (M= 20.48, SD= 5.77) och 18 amatörer (M= 19.44, SD= 4.79). De grundläggande kognitiva förmågorna mättes med fyra kognitiva test: Trail Making Test, The Sustained Attention to Response Task, The Semantic And Phonemic Fluency Test och Digit Symbol Substitution Test. Dessa valdes ut för att mäta uppmärksamhet, bearbetningshastighet och exekutiva funktioner. Resultatet visade en statistisk signifikant skillnad mellan högpresterande idrottare och amatörer i den grundläggande kognitiva förmågan bearbetningshastighet där gruppen av högpresterande idrottare nådde högre värden i mätningarna. Inga signifikanta skillnader uppdagades i de grundläggande kognitiva förmågorna uppmärksamhet och exekutiva funktioner. Studiens resultat indikerar på att framtida forskning bör ta hänsyn till typ av idrott hos atleten i en urvalsprocess för en tydligare jämförelse. Frågan kring skillnader i grundläggande kognitiva förmågor är mer komplex än en uppdelning mellan högpresterande idrottare och amatörer., The purpose of this study was to investigate possible differences in basic cognitive ability between high-performing and amateur athletes. In this quantitative cross-sectional study the data was collected from participants that were recruited from a highschool, an elite club and through personal contacts. 39 Participants participated in the study ages 15-39, 21 high-performing athletes (M= 20.48, SD= 5.77) and 18 amateur athletes (M=19.44, SD= 4.79). The basic cognitive abilities were measured with four tests: Trail Making Test, The Sustained Attention to Response Task, The Semantic And Phonemic Fluency Test and Digit Symbol Substitution Test. These were selected to measure attention, processing speed, and executive functions. The results showed a statistically significant difference between high-performing athletes and amateur athletes in the basic cognitive ability processing speed where the high-performing athletes showed a higher processing speed than amateur athletes. No significant differences were detected in the basic cognitive abilities of attention and executive functions. The results of the study indicate that future research should take into consideration the type of sport the athlete is involved in for a selection process with a clearer comparison. The differences in basic cognitive abilities is more complex than the comparison between high-performing and amateur athletes.

Both domain-general (e.g., working memory, executive functions) and domain-specific (e.g., number processing, phonological processing) cognitive factors have been found to predict learning in different age groups. Likewise, research has shown that various affective factors, such as different emotions (e.g., anxiety), self-concept, and interest, need to be considered when investigating individual differences in learning. However, few studies have investigated both cognitive and affective factors simultaneously in relation to learning. In particular, there is a lack of studies investigating the interplay (i.e., moderation and mediation) between cognitive and affective factors on learning. The goal of this Research Topic is to deepen our knowledge on the relations between learning and both cognitive and affective factors in different age groups. We aim to provide a broad scope of emerging areas in research on cognitive and affective factors, especially related to academic learning (e.g., mathematics, reading, and other school subjects). Studies focusing simultaneously looking at the interplay of these constructs, as well as longitudinally, are of great interest. Further, we are interested in innovative study designs and recent advances in methodology in this field. To promote quality education for all and equity in education, cognitive and affective factors related to aspects of learning ranging from pre-school to tertiary provision, and inclusion of individuals with special educational needs, are of interest.

Both domain-general (e.g., working memory, executive functions) and domain-specific (e.g., number processing, phonological processing) cognitive factors have been found to predict learning in different age groups. Likewise, research has shown that various affective factors, such as different emotions (e.g., anxiety), self-concept, and interest, need to be considered when investigating individual differences in learning. However, few studies have investigated both cognitive and affective factors simultaneously in relation to learning. In particular, there is a lack of studies investigating the interplay (i.e., moderation and mediation) between cognitive and affective factors on learning. The goal of this Research Topic is to deepen our knowledge on the relations between learning and both cognitive and affective factors in different age groups. We aim to provide a broad scope of emerging areas in research on cognitive and affective factors, especially related to academic learning (e.g., mathematics, reading, and other school subjects). Studies focusing simultaneously looking at the interplay of these constructs, as well as longitudinally, are of great interest. Further, we are interested in innovative study designs and recent advances in methodology in this field. To promote quality education for all and equity in education, cognitive and affective factors related to aspects of learning ranging from pre-school to tertiary provision, and inclusion of individuals with special educational needs, are of interest.

In this paper, the results of the neuropsychological diagnostics of 605 conditionally healthy children aged 4–17 years are compared with their birth order. The condition of 4 daily life activities, 14 higher mental functions, and the overall neurocognitive development level were assessed. It was found that the first and only children are characterized by an increased processing speed and a decreased level of executive functions compared to subsequent children (junior siblings). Factor analysis of neuropsychological diagnostics results shows that the processing speed and the executive functions are included in one factor with opposite signs (they are negatively related). Apparently, birth order affects the development of the brain’s inhibitory system., В работе сопоставлены результаты нейропсихологической диагностики 605 условно здоровых детей в возрасте 4–17 лет с их порядком рождения. Оценивались состояние четырех бытовых функций, 14 высших психических функций (ВПФ) и общий уровень нейрокогнитивного развития. Обнаружено, что первые и единственные дети характеризуются повышенным темпом работы и сниженным уровнем регуляторных функций по сравнению с последующими детьми. Факторный анализ результатов нейропсихологической диагностики показывает, что темп работы и регуляторные функции входят в один фактор с противоположными знаками. Высказано предположение о том, что порядок рождения влияет на развитие тормозной системы мозга.

We examined the joint effects of depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II)) and systemic inflammation (plasma C-reactive protein (CRP)) on longitudinal profiles of neurocognition in a cohort of 143 people with HIV (PWH) on antiretroviral therapy. Global neurocognition, processing speed, motor skills, and attention/working memory all worsened as CRP increased but only among PWH who, on average, exhibited moderate to severe depressive symptoms (BDI-II > 22). Findings suggest that some PWH with chronically elevated depressive symptoms may have an inflammatory subtype of depression and a particular vulnerability to neurocognitive changes that may respond to drugs targeting inflammation or its neural sequelae.

ObjectivesThe relationship between wisdom and fluid intelligence (Gf) is poorly understood, particularly in older adults. We empirically tested the magnitude of the correlation between wisdom and Gf to help determine the extent of overlap between these two constructs.DesignCross-sectional study with preregistered hypotheses and well-powered analytic plan (https://osf.io/h3pjx).SettingMemory and Aging Center at the University of California San Francisco, located in the USA.Participants141 healthy older adults (mean age = 76 years; 56% female).MeasurementsWisdom was quantified using a well-validated self-report-based scale (San Diego Wisdom Scale or SD-WISE). Gf was assessed via composite measures of processing speed (Gf-PS) and executive functioning (Gf-EF). The relationships of SD-WISE scores to Gf-PS and Gf-EF were tested in bivariate correlational analyses and multiple regression models adjusted for demographics (age, sex, and education). Exploratory analyses evaluated the relationships between SD-WISE and age, episodic memory performance, and dorsolateral and ventromedial prefrontal cortical volumes on magnetic resonance imaging.ResultsWisdom showed a small, positive association with Gf-EF (r = 0.181 [95% CI 0.016, 0.336], p = .031), which was reduced to nonsignificance upon controlling for demographics, and no association with Gf-PS (r = 0.019 [95% CI -0.179, 0.216], p = .854). Wisdom demonstrated a small, negative correlation with age (r = -0.197 [95% CI -0.351, -0.033], p = .019), but was not significantly related to episodic memory or prefrontal volumes.ConclusionsOur findings indicate that most of the variance in wisdom (>95%) is unaccounted for by Gf. The independence of wisdom from cognitive functions that reliably show age-associated declines suggests that it may hold unique potential to bolster decision-making, interpersonal functioning, and other everyday activities in older adults.

Purpose The brain can utilise medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) as an alternative fuel to glucose, and research has shown that MCT ingestion improves cognitive function in diseased and/or elderly individuals. The aim of this study is to determine if these improvements can also be observed in young, healthy adults. Furthermore, we aim to establish the ideal dosage and timeframe necessary for an effect. Methods Participants were divided equally into three groups of 10 (Placebo (0 g), 12 g and 18 g MCT/day) and were supplemented for 4 weeks. The supplement had a C8:C10 ratio of 30:70. Participants visited the laboratory once a week for 5 weeks (baseline, test weeks 1–4) to undergo a battery of cognitive tests; Trail Making, Digit Span, Spatial Span, Covert Shift of Attention, and Rapid Visual Information Processing. Results After 2–3 weeks of supplementation, MCT ingestion enhanced performance in cognitive tasks, including: Trail Making A/B and Digit Span Forwards/Backwards (ps0.05). There were also null results in tasks measuring attention and reaction time (ps>0.05). Conclusions MCT ingestion improved cognitive performance after 2–3 weeks, with minimal difference between taking 12 g and 18 g MCT/day groups, suggesting a possible dose-response threshold at 12 g MCT/day when supplementing over a short period.

Background Substantial evidence supports the existence of neurocognitive endophenotypes in bipolar disorder (BD), but very few longitudinal studies have included unaffected relatives. In a 5-year, follow-up, family study, we have recently suggested that deficits in manual motor speed and visual memory could be endophenotype candidates for BD. We aimed to explore whether this also applies to processing speed. Methods A sample of 348 individuals, including 163 BD patients, 65 unaffected first-degree relatives (BD-Rel) and 120 genetically unrelated healthy controls (HC), was assessed with the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) on two occasions over a 2-year period (T1, T2). DSST values were controlled for age, years of education, occupational status, and subsyndromic mood symptoms. Differences between groups were evaluated with ANCOVAs. Results At T1 BD performed significantly worse than HC (p < 0.001; Cohen's d = 1.38) and BD-Rel (p < 0.001; Cohen's d = 0.82). BD-Rel showed an intermediate performance with significant differences with HC (p < 0.01; Cohen's d = 0.50). Similarly, at T2 BD performed significantly worse than HC (p < 0.001; Cohen's d = 1.44) and BD-Rel (p < 0.01; Cohen's d = 0.51). BD-Rel performance was intermediate and significantly lower than that of HC (p < 0.01; Cohen's d = 0.97). A Repeated Measures ANOVA revealed no significant between-group differences in performance over time (p > 0.05). Conclusions The results of this longitudinal, family study suggest that impaired processing speed may represent a suitable cognitive endophenotype for BD. Further research on the field is required to confirm these preliminary findings.

We examined the joint effects of depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II)) and systemic inflammation (plasma C-reactive protein (CRP)) on longitudinal profiles of neurocognition in a cohort of 143 people with HIV (PWH) on antiretroviral therapy. Global neurocognition, processing speed, motor skills, and attention/working memory all worsened as CRP increased but only among PWH who, on average, exhibited moderate to severe depressive symptoms (BDI-II > 22). Findings suggest that some PWH with chronically elevated depressive symptoms may have an inflammatory subtype of depression and a particular vulnerability to neurocognitive changes that may respond to drugs targeting inflammation or its neural sequelae.

Background Substantial evidence supports the existence of neurocognitive endophenotypes in bipolar disorder (BD), but very few longitudinal studies have included unaffected relatives. In a 5-year, follow-up, family study, we have recently suggested that deficits in manual motor speed and visual memory could be endophenotype candidates for BD. We aimed to explore whether this also applies to processing speed. Methods A sample of 348 individuals, including 163 BD patients, 65 unaffected first-degree relatives (BD-Rel) and 120 genetically unrelated healthy controls (HC), was assessed with the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) on two occasions over a 2-year period (T1, T2). DSST values were controlled for age, years of education, occupational status, and subsyndromic mood symptoms. Differences between groups were evaluated with ANCOVAs. Results At T1 BD performed significantly worse than HC (p < 0.001; Cohen's d = 1.38) and BD-Rel (p < 0.001; Cohen's d = 0.82). BD-Rel showed an intermediate performance with significant differences with HC (p < 0.01; Cohen's d = 0.50). Similarly, at T2 BD performed significantly worse than HC (p < 0.001; Cohen's d = 1.44) and BD-Rel (p < 0.01; Cohen's d = 0.51). BD-Rel performance was intermediate and significantly lower than that of HC (p < 0.01; Cohen's d = 0.97). A Repeated Measures ANOVA revealed no significant between-group differences in performance over time (p > 0.05). Conclusions The results of this longitudinal, family study suggest that impaired processing speed may represent a suitable cognitive endophenotype for BD. Further research on the field is required to confirm these preliminary findings.

ObjectiveThis study examined rates of objective cognitive and functional impairments and associations between cognitive performance and performance-based functional capacity in a well-characterized sample of adults experiencing homelessness.MethodsOne hundred participants completed a brief neuropsychological and functional capacity assessment and self-report questionnaires. Cognitive impairment rates were determined by comparing mean scores with published normative data, as well as by examining frequency of scores >1 SD below the mean. Pearson correlations were used to examine associations between cognitive and functional capacities.ResultsOverall, 65% of the study participants had scores in the cognitively impaired range on a brief cognitive screening test, 30% had impaired processing speed, and 11% met cognitive criteria for intellectual disability. Furthermore, 48% of the sample met functional impairment criteria, and poorer cognitive performance was strongly associated with poorer performance-based functional capacity (p<0.001).ConclusionsCognitive and functional impairments are common among sheltered adults experiencing homelessness, underscoring the need for routine objective cognitive screening and rehabilitation services.

Background Substantial evidence supports the existence of neurocognitive endophenotypes in bipolar disorder (BD), but very few longitudinal studies have included unaffected relatives. In a 5-year, follow-up, family study, we have recently suggested that deficits in manual motor speed and visual memory could be endophenotype candidates for BD. We aimed to explore whether this also applies to processing speed. Methods A sample of 348 individuals, including 163 BD patients, 65 unaffected first-degree relatives (BD-Rel) and 120 genetically unrelated healthy controls (HC), was assessed with the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) on two occasions over a 2-year period (T1, T2). DSST values were controlled for age, years of education, occupational status, and subsyndromic mood symptoms. Differences between groups were evaluated with ANCOVAs. Results At T1 BD performed significantly worse than HC (p < 0.001; Cohen's d = 1.38) and BD-Rel (p < 0.001; Cohen's d = 0.82). BD-Rel showed an intermediate performance with significant differences with HC (p < 0.01; Cohen's d = 0.50). Similarly, at T2 BD performed significantly worse than HC (p < 0.001; Cohen's d = 1.44) and BD-Rel (p < 0.01; Cohen's d = 0.51). BD-Rel performance was intermediate and significantly lower than that of HC (p < 0.01; Cohen's d = 0.97). A Repeated Measures ANOVA revealed no significant between-group differences in performance over time (p > 0.05). Conclusions The results of this longitudinal, family study suggest that impaired processing speed may represent a suitable cognitive endophenotype for BD. Further research on the field is required to confirm these preliminary findings.

Growing evidence indicates that cognitive slowness in fibromyalgia patients constitutes one of the main concerns. This slowing, together with the physical and affective symptomatology that characterises them, significantly affects their quality of life. The main objective of the present study was to design and apply a cognitive training program to test its effects on the improvement of speed processing information (SPI) in fibromyalgia, and how this improvement influences other clinical symptoms in patients with fibromyalgia. 22 patients took part of this rehabilitation program. It consisted of 8 sessions including several types of tasks: cancellation, visual search, association, and verbal fluency tasks. Before starting the training program, an individualized neuropsychological assessment of the SPI was performed through standardized tests. Additionally, different self-reported clinical questionnaires were applied to assess physical (pain and fatigue) and affective (anxiety, depression, catastrophic thoughts, and impact of the disease on instrumental activities) symptomatology. This evaluation was administered again once the program was completed, as well as five months later, as a follow-up. ANOVAs showed a significant improvement in all neuropsychological assessment tests. In addition, both the depressive states and the impact of the disease on the instrumental activities were improved. These effects remained stable after five months. The application of this neuropsychological rehabilitation program has shown to be effective for improving SPI processes in patients with fibromyalgia. Moreover, this improvement of IPV had a direct impact on depressive symptomatology and instrumental activities of daily living, suggesting a strong relationship between cognitive and affective symptoms in the course of the disease., La evidencia creciente considera que el enlentecimiento cognitivo en los pacientes con fibromialgia constituye uno de sus principales problemas. Este enlentecimiento, unido a la sintomatología física y afectiva que les caracteriza, afecta de manera significativa a su calidad de vida. El objetivo principal del presente estudio fue diseñar y aplicar un programa de estimulación cognitiva para comprobar sus efectos sobre la mejora de la velocidad de procesamiento de información (VPI), y como esta mejora, influye sobre otros síntomas clínicos en pacientes con fibromialgia. 22 pacientes formaron parte del programa. El pro-grama estuvo compuesto por 8 sesiones, que incluyeron tareas de cancelación, rastreo visual, asociación y fluidez verbal. De manera previa al inicio del programa, se realizó una evaluación neuropsicológica individualizada de la VPI a través de distintas pruebas estandarizadas. Adicionalmente, se aplicaron distintos cuestionarios clínicos autoinformados para evaluar la sintomatología física (dolor y fatiga) y psicológica (ansiedad, depresión, pensamientos catastróficos e impacto de la enfermedad sobre las actividades instrumentales). Dicha evaluación se volvió a aplicar al finalizar el programa, así como cinco meses después, a modo de seguimiento. Los resultados de los ANOVAs mostraron una mejora significativa en todas las pruebas de evaluación neuropsicológica aplicadas. Además, la sintomatología depresiva y el impacto de la enfermedad sobre las actividades instrumentales de la vida diaria también se vieron mejoradas. Estos resultados se mantuvieron estables cinco meses después del programa. La aplicación del presente programa de estimulación cognitiva ha mostrado ser efectivo para la mejora de la VPI en pacientes con fibromialgia. Además, esta mejora de la VPI en las pacientes, tuvo un impacto directo sobre la sintomatología depresiva y las actividades instrumentales de la vida diaria, lo que sugiere una estrecha relación entre los síntomas cognitivos y

Background Substantial evidence supports the existence of neurocognitive endophenotypes in bipolar disorder (BD), but very few longitudinal studies have included unaffected relatives. In a 5-year, follow-up, family study, we have recently suggested that deficits in manual motor speed and visual memory could be endophenotype candidates for BD. We aimed to explore whether this also applies to processing speed. Methods A sample of 348 individuals, including 163 BD patients, 65 unaffected first-degree relatives (BD-Rel) and 120 genetically unrelated healthy controls (HC), was assessed with the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) on two occasions over a 2-year period (T1, T2). DSST values were controlled for age, years of education, occupational status, and subsyndromic mood symptoms. Differences between groups were evaluated with ANCOVAs. Results At T1 BD performed significantly worse than HC (p < 0.001; Cohen's d = 1.38) and BD-Rel (p < 0.001; Cohen's d = 0.82). BD-Rel showed an intermediate performance with significant differences with HC (p < 0.01; Cohen's d = 0.50). Similarly, at T2 BD performed significantly worse than HC (p < 0.001; Cohen's d = 1.44) and BD-Rel (p < 0.01; Cohen's d = 0.51). BD-Rel performance was intermediate and significantly lower than that of HC (p < 0.01; Cohen's d = 0.97). A Repeated Measures ANOVA revealed no significant between-group differences in performance over time (p > 0.05). Conclusions The results of this longitudinal, family study suggest that impaired processing speed may represent a suitable cognitive endophenotype for BD. Further research on the field is required to confirm these preliminary findings.

Background Substantial evidence supports the existence of neurocognitive endophenotypes in bipolar disorder (BD), but very few longitudinal studies have included unaffected relatives. In a 5-year, follow-up, family study, we have recently suggested that deficits in manual motor speed and visual memory could be endophenotype candidates for BD. We aimed to explore whether this also applies to processing speed. Methods A sample of 348 individuals, including 163 BD patients, 65 unaffected first-degree relatives (BD-Rel) and 120 genetically unrelated healthy controls (HC), was assessed with the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) on two occasions over a 2-year period (T1, T2). DSST values were controlled for age, years of education, occupational status, and subsyndromic mood symptoms. Differences between groups were evaluated with ANCOVAs. Results At T1 BD performed significantly worse than HC (p < 0.001; Cohen's d = 1.38) and BD-Rel (p < 0.001; Cohen's d = 0.82). BD-Rel showed an intermediate performance with significant differences with HC (p < 0.01; Cohen's d = 0.50). Similarly, at T2 BD performed significantly worse than HC (p < 0.001; Cohen's d = 1.44) and BD-Rel (p < 0.01; Cohen's d = 0.51). BD-Rel performance was intermediate and significantly lower than that of HC (p < 0.01; Cohen's d = 0.97). A Repeated Measures ANOVA revealed no significant between-group differences in performance over time (p > 0.05). Conclusions The results of this longitudinal, family study suggest that impaired processing speed may represent a suitable cognitive endophenotype for BD. Further research on the field is required to confirm these preliminary findings.