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Dementia is prevalent among elderly people. As the world population ages, it is projected that the number of people affected by dementia may triple in the next 50 years. Over the last two decades, research has focused on identifying potentially modifiable risk factors in development and progression of dementia, such as vitamin B12 and folate. Results concerning the effects of low folate and vitamin B12 on cognitive performance are mixed. The main objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of vitamin deficiency on cognitive functioning in a clinical sample of elderly individuals with cognitive problems using a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment. A retrospective chart-review was performed on the 102 records of patients from the Geriatrics Clinic at the University of North Texas Health Science Center who presented with cognitive deficits. Charts were reviewed to obtain data on vitamin supplementation, vitamin status, history of chronic conditions and other biochemical data. The available database was used to obtain data on neuropsychological assessment. The study demonstrated mild association between vitamin B12 and folate status and cognitive deficits. There appeared to be a higher cut-off level that is above the traditionally used levels for vitamin B12 and folate deficiency concentrations at which cognitive deficits became more pronounced. Clinical applications, limitations and suggestions for future research were discussed.

Neuropsychological sequelae of pediatric moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) include deficits in a wide range of cognitive domains, with significant impairments evident in some children many years after injury. In addition to cognitive deficits, research with adult and pediatric TBI survivors has documented sleep problems, though the nature and course of these problems in children remains poorly understood. The present study attempted to clarify the presence, nature, long-term pattern, and injury-related predictors of sleep problems, as well as the relationship between sleep and neuropsychological impairment, post moderate-to-severe TBI. It capitalized on archival longitudinal data that had been collected over the course of several years post-injury in a sample of children who sustained moderate-to-severe TBI, as compared to children who sustained only orthopedic injuries. Mixed-model repeated measures analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) indicated substantial divergence between the groups; there were no differences in baseline (pre-injury) sleep problems, but more sleep problems for the TBI group at all post-injury time points. Follow-up analyses revealed that the type of sleep problems reported post-TBI were characteristic of dyssomnias, with no differences between the two groups in parasomnias. Two series of multivariate linear regression analyses were also performed, one attempting to predict sleep problems based on injury characteristic data and the second to predict neuropsychological sequelae by post-injury sleep problems. None of the resulting regression equations were significant. This study is the first to document both short- and long-term sleep problems post pediatric TBI, with a differential impact on dyssomnias and no evidence of abatement even 4-years post-injury. Future research is needed to clarify the contributors to sleep problems post-TBI, as well as the relationship between post-injury sleep problems and daytime functioning.

Although many theorists have speculated that chronic pain may be linked to some sort of central neuropsychological integration deficit, a review of the current literature reveals no empirical support for this theory. This study attempts to assess the severity, if any, of neuropsychological deficits in chronic pain subjects by using a neuropsychological screen developed at the University of North Texas. Also, presented are studies of correlations between the UNT Neuropsych-screen and the MMPI. the Dallas Pain Questionnaire (DPQ), the Dallas Pain Drawing CDPD), and time since injury in order to assess any possible relationships. The subjects in this study consist of 100 volunteers. Of these subjects, 74 were patients of the Spinal and Chronic Pain Center at Medical Arts Hospital in Dallas, Texas and represented the clinical population. The remaining 26 subjects were staff volunteers from the hospital . The results of the study indicate significant differences between chronic pain subjects and non-pain subjects across many areas of neuropsychological functioning, as well as other significant correlations among many of the variables. The implications of this study are elaborated upon, in the discussion section, in detail along with limitations and future research directions.