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Background: Mild cognitive impairments have been recorded in cross-sectional studies of women with breast cancer receiving endocrine treatment. More comprehensive studies were warranted because aromatase inhibitors are being used increasingly in both chemoprevention and adjuvant settings. We report findings from the cognitive subprotocol of the International Breast Intervention Study (IBIS II), a double-blind placebo-controlled trial of anastrozole in postmenopausal women at high risk of developing breast cancer. We aimed to study and compare the effect of anastrozole versus placebo on memory and attention in these women., Methods: Between Jan 3, 2003, and Dec 21, 2005, participants were recruited into the cognitive subprotocol from five UK centres. Cognitive assessments were done before randomisation, at 6 months, and at 24 months. 227 of 249 women approached completed a comprehensive set of standardised cognitive tasks at baseline and were randomly assigned to receive anastrozole (1 mg/day for 5 years) or placebo. Psychological morbidity, endocrine symptoms, and self-reported cognitive complaints were also measured. The main outcomes were cognitive task scores at baseline, 6 months, and 24 months. Analyses were done by intention to treat. This study is registered as an International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial, number ISRCTN31488319., Findings: 111 women were assigned to anastrozole and 116 women to placebo. At 6 months, ten women in each group were excluded from analysis, leaving a total of 207 of 227 (91%) women available for further assessments. At 24 months, 24 women were excluded from the anastrozole group and 32 from the placebo group, leaving 151 of 227 (67%) women. We did not note any significant differences between the groups for any of the cognitive tasks. By 6 months, 13 women in both groups reported changes to their memory and this had decreased to five women in the placebo group and three women in the anastrozole group by the 24-month assessment. Significantly more women in the anastrozole group complained of hot flushes at 24 months (23 of 76 [30%] vs 11 of 73 [15%], p=0.032, not corrected for multiple comparison), but this was the only difference in reported endocrine symptoms., Interpretation: These findings show little or no impairment of cognitive performance with the use of anastrozole compared with placebo in postmenopausal women at high risk of developing breast cancer who were able to tolerate endocrine-related side-effects. Future studies assessing cognition should be done within randomised trials with baseline assessments to ascertain the true extent of the putative effects that treatments for breast cancer might have on memory and attention., Funding: Cancer Research UK, London, UK (grant numbers C6280/A3162 and C6280/A6764).

BackgroundOnline cognitive assessments are alternatives to in-clinic assessments.ObjectivesWe evaluated the relationship between online and in-clinic self-reported Everyday Cognition Scale (ECog).MethodsIn 94 Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative and Brain Health Registry (ADNI-BHR) participants, we estimated associations between online and in-clinic Everyday Cognition using Bland-Altman plots and regression. In 472 ADNI participants, we estimated reliability of in-clinic Everyday Cognition completed six months apart using Bland-Altman plots and regression.ResultsOnline Everyday Cognition associations: Mean difference was 0.11 (95% limits of agreement: -0.41 to 0.64). In-clinic Everyday Cognition score increased by 0.81 for each online Everyday Cognition score unit increase (R2=0.60). In-clinic Everyday Cognition reliability: Mean difference was 0.01 (95% limits of agreement: -0.61 to 0.62). In-clinic Everyday Cognition score at enrollment increased by 0.79 for each in-clinic Everyday Cognition score unit increase at six months (R2=0.61).ConclusionOnline Everyday Cognition closely corresponded with in-clinic Everyday Cognition, supporting validity of using online cognitive assessments to more efficiently facilitate Alzheimer's disease research.

Objective: The present study examined how cognitions and emotions characteristic of awaiting uncertain news influenced healthy (diet/exercise) and unhealthy (alcohol use) behaviors in three samples of people awaiting important news.Design: Study 1 examined voting-eligible citizens during the month prior to learning the results of the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Study 2 examined the experience of law graduates across four months while they awaited the results of their bar exam (i.e., the licensing exam they need to pass to practice law). Study 3 examined current or recent PhD students searching for a job on the academic job market.Results: Though the findings were somewhat mixed across studies, they generally suggest a relationship between positive emotions and health-promoting behaviors and between worry and alcohol use, with less consistent relationships between outcome expectations and health behaviors.Conclusion: Taken together, these results offer a promising set of initial findings to understand health behavior in the context of awaiting uncertain news and provide a foundation for future investigations on the topic.

BackgroundHoarding disorder (HD) is a highly debilitating psychiatric disorder that affects 2-6% of adults. Neuropsychological deficits in visual memory, detection, and categorization have been reported in HD. To date, no study has examined the relationship between neurocognitive functioning and treatment for HD. We aim to determine the association between neurocognitive functioning and treatment outcomes, as well as the impact of HD-specific treatment on cognitive functioning.Methods323 individuals with HD were randomized to 20 weeks of peer- or clinician-led group behavioral treatment. 242 participants completed pre- and post-treatment neuropsychological testing covering eight neurocognitive domains. Rates of cognitive impairment (CI) were assessed for each neurocognitive domain. The association of baseline neurocognitive function on treatment response was examined using multiple regression. MANOVA and post-hoc tests were used to determine neurocognitive performance change pre- to post treatment.ResultsSixty-seven percent of participants had CI on ≥1 cognitive domain. There was no significant effect of pre-treatment neurocognitive functioning on treatment outcome. Post-treatment improvements were observed in visual memory, visual detection, decision making, information processing speed, visuospatial processing, attention/working memory (p≤.001). Declines in performance were found in visual reaction time and categorization.LimitationsThis was a non-inferiority trial to examine two treatment types with no normative comparison group. Treatment seeking individuals are more likely to be insightful, motivated, and have other features which limit generalizability.ConclusionsPatterns of cognitive impairment in HD are similar to previous reports. Pre-treatment neurocognitive functioning did not impact treatment response. Neuropsychological functioning improved across multiple domains following targeted treatment.

There has been growing interest in the potential benefits of using human–animal interactions to improve executive functions: cognitive processes that allow individuals to plan, solve problems, and self-regulate behaviour. To date, no comprehensive review has been conducted. The purpose of this study was to evaluate existing literature, adopting broad inclusion criteria. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, 16 papers were identified from peer-reviewed literature. Additional papers were identified from grey literature, including 6 dissertations and 1 thesis. A review of these 23 studies found that human–animal interactions and executive functions are investigated in three main ways: (1) exploring the potential benefits of the human–pet relationship, (2) exploring the impact of an animal’s presence during administration of executive function tests, and (3) evaluating the efficacy of animal-assisted services (e.g., animal-assisted therapy) on executive functions. Five of the included studies reported a significant improvement across all measured domains of executive functions, but effect sizes were underreported. Comparatively, 9 studies reported mixed findings, d = 0.32–0.55, while 8 studies reported no significant results. The overall rigour of the research was limited, with great heterogeneity between the study methodologies and outcome measures used. It is recommended that future studies utilise high-quality research methodologies through the use of randomisation, pre- and postmeasures, and appropriate control conditions, where possible.

Background: Prevalence and risk of poor psychological outcomes following rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) are not well‐established. Methods: Participants in this cross‐sectional, case‐control study (n = 713 survivors, 42.5% female; mean [SD] age, 30.5 [6.6] years; n = 706 siblings, 57.2% female; mean age, 32.8,[7.9] years) completed measures of neurocognition, emotional distress, and health‐related quality of life (HRQOL). Multivariable logistic regression models identified treatments, health behaviors, and chronic conditions associated with impairment. Results: Relative to siblings, more survivors reported neurocognitive impairment (task efficiency: 21.1% vs. 13.7%, emotional regulation: 16.7% vs. 11.0%, memory: 19.3% vs. 15.1%), elevated emotional distress (somatic distress: 12.9% vs. 4.7%, anxiety: 11.7% vs. 5.9%, depression: 22.8% vs. 16.9%) and poorer HRQOL (physical functioning: 11.1% vs. 2.8%, role functioning due to physical problems: 16.8% vs. 8.2%, pain: 17.5% vs. 10.0%, vitality: 22.3% vs. 13.8%, social functioning: 14.4% vs. 6.8%, emotional functioning: 17.1% vs. 10.6%). Cranial radiation increased risk for impaired task efficiency (odds ratio [OR], 2.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14–4.63), whereas chest and pelvic radiation predicted increased risk of physical functioning (OR, 2.68; 95% CI, 1.16–6.21 and OR, 3.44; 95% CI, 1.70–6.95, respectively). Smoking was associated with impaired task efficiency (OR, 2.06; 95% CI, 1.14–3.70), memory (OR, 2.23; 95% CI, 1.26–3.95), anxiety (OR, 2.71; 95% CI, 1.36–5.41) and depression (OR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.01–3.11). Neurologic conditions increased risk of anxiety (OR, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.04–5.10), and hearing conditions increased risk of depression (OR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.05–3.03). Neurologic and hearing conditions, respectively, were associated with impaired memory (OR, 2.44; 95% CI, 1.20–4.95 and OR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.05–3.35) and poor health perception (OR, 2.62; 95% CI, 1.62–1.28 and OR, 2.33; 95% CI, 1.34–4.06). Conclusions: RMS survivors are at significant risk for poor psychological outcomes. Advancing therapies for local control, smoking cessation, and managing chronic medical conditions may mitigate poor outcomes following RMS. Research on psychological outcomes following pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma is scarce, limiting the understanding of the prevalence of and risk factors for neurocognitive impairment, emotional distress, and quality of life among survivors. This study showed that rhabdomyosarcoma survivors are at significant risk for poor psychological outcomes, and advancing therapies for local tumor control, smoking cessation, and managing chronic medical conditions may be important for mitigating risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Correlative evidence suggests that high problem‐solving and foraging abilities in a mate are associated with direct fitness advantages, so it would benefit females to prefer problem‐solving males. Recent work has also shown that females of several bird species who directly observe males prefer those that can solve a novel foraging task over those that cannot. In addition to or instead of direct observation of cognitive skills, many species utilize assessment signals when choosing a mate. Here, we test whether females can select a problem‐solving male over a non‐solving male when presented only with a signal known to be used in mate assessment: song. Using an operant conditioning assay, we compared female zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) preference for the songs of males that could quickly solve a novel foraging task to the songs of males that could not solve the task. Females were never housed with the test subject males whose song they heard, and the only information provided about the males was their song. We found that females elicited more songs of problem‐solving males than of non‐solvers, indicating that song may contain information about a male’s ability to solve a novel foraging task and that naïve females prefer the songs of problem‐solving males.

Abstract Background Huntington’s disease (HD) is associated with a range of cognitive deficits including problems with executive function. In the absence of a disease modifying treatment, cognitive training has been proposed as a means of slowing cognitive decline; however, the impact of cognitive training in HD patient populations remains unclear. The CogTrainHD study assessed the feasibility and acceptability of home-based computerised executive function training, for people impacted by HD. Methods Thirty HD gene carriers were recruited and randomised to either executive function training or non-intervention control groups. Participants allocated to the intervention group were asked to complete executive function training three times a week for 30 min for 12 weeks in their own homes. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants and friends, family or carers, to determine their views on the study. Results 26 out of 30 participants completed the baseline assessments and were subsequently randomised: 13 to the control group and 13 to the intervention group. 23 of the 30 participants were retained until study completion: 10/13 in the intervention group and 13/13 in the control group. 4/10 participants fully adhered to the executive function training. All participants in the control group 13/13 completed the study as intended. Interview data suggested several key facilitators including participant determination, motivation, incorporation of the intervention into routine and support from friends and family members. Practical limitations, including lack of time, difficulty and frustration in completing the intervention, were identified as barriers to study completion. Conclusions The CogTrainHD feasibility study provides important evidence regarding the feasibility and acceptability of a home-based cognitive training intervention for people with HD. Variable adherence to the cognitive training implies that the intervention is not feasible to all participants in its current form. The study has highlighted important aspects in relation to both the study and intervention design that require consideration, and these include the design of games in the executive function training software, logistical considerations such as lack of time, the limited time participants had to complete the intervention and the number of study visits required. Further studies are necessary before computerised executive function training can be recommended routinely for people with HD. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, Registry number NCT02990676 .

Abstract Background Cognitive impairments, especially deficits of executive function, have been well documented as a core and early feature in Huntington’s disease (HD). Cognitive impairments represent considerable burden and can be devastating for people and families affected by HD. Computerised cognitive training interventions that focus on improving executive function present a possible non-pharmacological treatment option. We propose to determine the feasibility, acceptability, and appropriate outcome measures for use in a randomised controlled feasibility study. Methods/design Participants will be randomised into either a computerised cognitive training group or a control group. Those randomised to the training group will be asked to complete a cognitive training intervention based on the HappyNeuron Pro software tasks of executive function, for a minimum of 30 min, three times a week for the 12-week study duration. Participants in the control group will not receive computerised cognitive training but will receive a similar degree of social interaction via equivalent study and home visits. We will explore quantitative outcome measures, including measures of cognitive performance, motor function, questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, as well as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures in a subset of participants. Feasibility will be determined through assessment of recruitment, retention, adherence and acceptability of the intervention. Discussion The results of this study will provide crucial guidance and information regarding the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled study into computerised cognitive training in HD. This study is crucial for the development of larger definitive randomised controlled trials which are powered to determine efficacy and for the development of future cognitive training programmes for people affected by HD. Trial registration The study is registered on clinicaltrials.gov and has the unique identifier NCT02990676.

Background: Practitioner and family experiences of pediatric re/habilitation can be inequitable. The Young Children's Participation and Environment Measure (YC-PEM) is an evidence-based and promising electronic patient-reported outcome measure that was designed with and for caregivers for research and practice. This study examined historically minoritized caregivers' responses to revised YC-PEM content modifications and their perspectives on core intelligent virtual agent functionality needed to improve its reach for equitable service design. Methods: Caregivers were recruited during a routine early intervention (EI) service visit and met five inclusion criteria: (1) were 18 + years old; (2) identified as the parent or legal guardian of a child 0–3 years old enrolled in EI services for 3 + months; (3) read, wrote, and spoke English; (4) had Internet and telephone access; and (5) identified as a parent or legal guardian of a Black, non-Hispanic child or as publicly insured. Three rounds of semi-structured cognitive interviews (55–90 min each) used videoconferencing to gather caregiver feedback on their responses to select content modifications while completing YC-PEM, and their ideas for core intelligent virtual agent functionality. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, cross-checked for accuracy, and deductively and inductively content analyzed by multiple staff in three rounds. Results: Eight Black, non-Hispanic caregivers from a single urban EI catchment and with diverse income levels (Mdn = $15,001–20,000) were enrolled, with children (M = 21.2 months, SD = 7.73) enrolled in EI. Caregivers proposed three ways to improve comprehension (clarify item wording, remove or simplify terms, add item examples). Environmental item edits prompted caregivers to share how they relate and respond to experiences with interpersonal and institutional discrimination impacting participation. Caregivers characterized three core functions of a virtual agent to strengthen YC-PEM navigation (read question aloud, visual and verbal prompts, more examples and/or definitions). Conclusions: Results indicate four ways that YC-PEM content will be modified to strengthen how providers screen for unmet participation needs and determinants to design pediatric re/habilitation services that are responsive to family priorities. Results also motivate the need for user-centered design of an intelligent virtual agent to strengthen user navigation, prior to undertaking a community-based pragmatic trial of its implementation for equitable practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives Among the cognitively impaired, arts engagement is associated with improved neurocognitive symptoms. Less is known about arts engagement as a potentially modifiable lifestyle factor to prevent or slow cognitive decline. Our aim was to evaluate the association between arts event attendance and cognition. Research Design and Methods We used data from the 2014 and 2016 waves of the Health and Retirement Study to evaluate the association between arts event attendance and cognition using multivariable linear regressions. Arts event attendance in 2014 was our exposure of interest and included visiting an art museum or art gallery; attending an arts or crafts fair; attending a live performance (concert, play, or reading); and/or going to a movie theater. Cognitive function in 2016 measured on a 27-point scale by the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status was our main outcome of interest. Results Of the 1,149 participants included in the final analysis, 70.7% attended an arts event. The mean baseline cognitive score was higher among those who attended art events (16.8 [standard deviation { SD }, ±3.8] vs 13.8 [ SD , ±5.0]; p <.001). In our multivariable regressions, those who attended arts events in 2014 exhibited higher cognitive scores in 2016 after controlling for demographic, socioeconomic, health, and baseline cognitive covariates (β, 1.07 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 0.50–1.64]; p <.001). This association was primarily observed in those with lower baseline cognitive function (β, 1.19 [95% CI, 0.33–2.06]; p =.008). Discussion and Implications Arts event attendance may be associated with better cognitive function. Given concerns for residual confounding and reverse causality, this association warrants further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Executive functions are cognitive processing skills associated with planning, problem-solving, decision making, and regulating behaviour. For some individuals these abilities may be impaired, which can have negative long-term impacts. It has been proposed that interacting with animals may provide an opportunity to strengthen these skills. A systematic review was carried out to assess the ways in which interacting with animals may improve executive functions. This review included 23 studies exploring executive functions across three contexts: the human–pet relationship, the presence of an animal, and involvement in an animal-assisted service. There is some evidence to suggest that interacting with an animal may be beneficial for older adults, whilst horseback riding seems particularly beneficial for children; however, the overall methodological rigour is limited. There has been growing interest in the potential benefits of using human–animal interactions to improve executive functions: cognitive processes that allow individuals to plan, solve problems, and self-regulate behaviour. To date, no comprehensive review has been conducted. The purpose of this study was to evaluate existing literature, adopting broad inclusion criteria. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, 16 papers were identified from peer-reviewed literature. Additional papers were identified from grey literature, including 6 dissertations and 1 thesis. A review of these 23 studies found that human–animal interactions and executive functions are investigated in three main ways: (1) exploring the potential benefits of the human–pet relationship, (2) exploring the impact of an animal's presence during administration of executive function tests, and (3) evaluating the efficacy of animal-assisted services (e.g., animal-assisted therapy) on executive functions. Five of the included studies reported a significant improvement across all measured domains of executive functions, but effect sizes were underreported. Comparatively, 9 studies reported mixed findings, d = 0.32–0.55, while 8 studies reported no significant results. The overall rigour of the research was limited, with great heterogeneity between the study methodologies and outcome measures used. It is recommended that future studies utilise high-quality research methodologies through the use of randomisation, pre- and postmeasures, and appropriate control conditions, where possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Sports often involve complex movement patterns, such as turning. Although cognitive load effects on gait patterns are well known, little is known on how it affects biomechanics of turning gait among athletes. Such information could help evaluate how concussion affects turning gait required for daily living and sports. Objective: To determine the effect of a dual task on biomechanics of turning while walking among college athletes. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: University laboratory. Participants: Fifty-three participants performed 5 trials of a 20-m walk under single- and dual-task conditions at self-selected speed with a 180° turn at 10-m mark. The cognitive load included subtraction, spelling words backward, or reciting the months backward. Interventions: Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures: Turn duration, turning velocity, number of steps, SD of turn duration and velocity, and coefficient of variation of turn duration and velocity. Results: Participants turned significantly slower (155.99 [3.71] cm/s vs 183.52 [4.17] cm/s; P <.001) and took longer time to complete the turn (2.63 [0.05] s vs 2.33 [0.04] s; P <.001) while dual tasking, albeit taking similar number of steps to complete the turn. Participants also showed more variability in turning time under the dual-task condition (SD of turn duration = 0.39 vs 0.31 s; P =.004). Conclusions: Overall, college athletes turned slower and showed more variability during turning gait while performing a concurrent cognitive dual-task turning compared with single-task turning. The slower velocity increased variability may be representative of specific strategy of turning gait while dual tasking, which may be a result of the split attention to perform the cognitive task. The current study provides descriptive values of absolute and variability turning gait parameters for sports medicine personnel to use while they perform their concussion assessments on their college athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinical reaction-time (RT) measures are frequently used when examining patients with concussion but do not correlate with functional movement RT. We developed the Standardized Assessment of RT (StART) to emulate the rapid cognitive demands and whole-body movement needed in sport. To assess StART differences across 6 cognitive-motor combinations, examine potential demographic and health history confounders, and provide preliminary reference data for healthy collegiate student-athletes. Prospective, cross-sectional study. Clinical medicine facilities. A total of 89 student-athletes (56 [62.9%] men, 33 [37.1%] women; age = 19.5 ± 0.9 years, height = 178.2 ± 21.7 cm, mass = 80.4 ± 24 kg; no concussion history = 64 [71.9%]). Student-athletes completed health history questionnaires and StART during preseason testing. The StART consisted of 3 movements (standing, single-legged balance, and cutting) under 2 cognitive states (single task and dual task [subtracting by 6's or 7's]) for 3 trials under each condition. The StART trials were calculated as milliseconds between penlight illumination and initial movement. We used a 3 × 2 repeated-measures analysis of variance with post hoc t tests and 95% CIs to assess StART cognitive and movement differences, conducted univariable linear regressions to examine StART performance associations, and reported StART performance as percentiles. All StART conditions differed (P ≤.03), except single-task standing versus single-task single-legged balance (P =.36). Every 1-year age increase was associated with an 18-millisecond (95% CI = 8, 27 milliseconds) slower single-task cutting RT (P <.001). Female athletes had slower single-task (15 milliseconds; 95% CI = 2, 28 milliseconds; P =.02) and dual-task (28 milliseconds; 95% CI = 2, 55 milliseconds; P =.03) standing RT than male athletes. No other demographic or health history factors were associated with any StART condition (P ≥.056). The StART outcomes were unique across each cognitive-motor combination, suggesting minimal subtest redundancy. Only age and sex were associated with select outcomes. The StART composite scores may minimize confounding factors, but future researchers should consider age and sex when providing normative data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinical management of sport-related concussion requires the assessment of various factors, including motor performance. The tandem gait test, a measure of postinjury motor performance, has demonstrated clinical utility but is limited by time availability and test uniformity. To assess intrasession reliability between tandem gait test trials and determine the number of trials necessary for optimal utility and feasibility in clinical decision-making after concussion. Cross-sectional study. Pediatric sport medicine clinic. Adolescent athletes who recently sustained a concussion (n = 44; age = 15.4 ± 1.8 years; 39% females) and were seen for care within 14 days (7.3 ± 3.2 days) of their injury as well as uninjured control participants (n = 73; age = 15.8 ± 1.3 years; 41% females). All individuals completed 3 single-task and 3 dual-task tandem gait trials. We collected test completion time and cognitive performance for each trial and calculated Pearson correlation coefficients between trials and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) to determine intrasession reliability. We also compared performance between groups and calculated area under the curve (AUC) values to identify the ability of each trial to distinguish between groups. Both the concussion and control groups demonstrated high intrasession reliability between tandem gait trials under single- (R ≥ 0.82, ICC ≥ 0.93) and dual- (R ≥ 0.79, ICC ≥ 0.92) task conditions. The greatest group classification values were obtained from the second single-task trial (AUC = 0.89) and first dual-task trial (AUC = 0.83). Test completion time provided excellent between-groups discrimination in single- and dual-task conditions. However, cognitive performance during dual-task trials demonstrated only marginally significant clinical utility (AUC ≤ 0.67). Tandem gait assessments may only require 2 trials under single-task and 1 trial under dual-task conditions to effectively discriminate between concussion and control groups. This approach may improve the feasibility (ie, time requirement) of the test while maintaining excellent discriminatory ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinicians rely on objective concussion assessments that may be influenced by patient characteristics, creating difficulties in isolating the effect of concussion on patient function. The purpose of our study was to identify characteristics associated with performance on the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 5th edition (SCAT5) 10-word recall test following adolescent concussion. We evaluated patients seen for care within 14 days of concussion (n=125; 15.2±1.6 years of age, range=11–18 years; 46% female; 6.9±3.4 days post-concussion). Patient demographic (age, sex, medical and concussion history, etc.), injury (timing of presentation, symptom severity, sport-type, etc.), and clinical test (Modified Balance Error Scoring System [mBESS], tandem gait) characteristics were assessed, in addition to SCAT5 immediate and delayed memory testing using the 10-word recall list. Immediate and delayed recall performance was significantly associated with concussion symptom burden and cognitive accuracy during tandem gait, although effect sizes were notably small. Specific variables such as age, sex, diagnosis of ADD/ADHD, and performance on other clinical assessments were not significantly associated with recall performance after controlling for covariates. Further, the 10-word recall list demonstrates specific advantages over previously used 5-word lists by way of decreased ceiling effects and reduced interference of inherent patient characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Numerous academic, personal, and social challenges create impediments to student success in postsecondary education, causing immense concern relative to retention and graduation. Additionally, higher learning institutions are noticing a shift in the characteristics of the student body as well as a growing student presence in fully online courses. The need to increase student engagement and retention is greater than ever following the sudden disruption to the learning environment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, postsecondary institutions should not merely focus on retention rates but also uphold a commitment to high expectations and quality from students and faculty alike. In order to engage and retain students, faculty must shift the academic environment to adapt and accommodate the evolving characteristics of the modern student (e.g., students over the age of 25 who have competing work/life demands). Framework: We propose a 3-tier framework based on existing evidence regarding the student engagement theory and provide undergraduate student retention strategies. Objective: The objective of this paper is to develop an adaptive student engagement and retention model using the Middle Georgia State University's Program of Health Services Administration (HSA) student demographic data from student and course management systems to provide higher education faculty and students with useful measures to ensure student success throughout their educational endeavors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence of cerebellar dysfunction in schizophrenia has mounted over the past several decades, emerging from neuroimaging, neuropathological, and behavioral studies. Consistent with these findings, cerebellar-dependent delay eyeblink conditioning (dEBC) deficits have been identified in schizophrenia. While repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) is traditionally used to analyze dEBC data, hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) more reliably describes change over time by accounting for the dependence in repeated measures data. This analysis approach is well suited to dEBC data analysis because it has less restrictive assumptions and allows unequal variances. The current study examined dEBC measured with electromyography in a single-cue tone paradigm in an age-matched sample of schizophrenia participants and healthy controls (N=56 per group) using HLM. Subjects participated in 90 trials (10 blocks) of dEBC, during which a 400 ms tone co-terminated with a 50 ms air puff delivered to the left eye. Each block also contained 1 tone-alone trial. The resulting block averages of dEBC data were fitted to a 3-parameter logistic model in HLM, revealing significant differences between schizophrenia and control groups on asymptote and inflection point, but not slope. These findings suggest that while the learning rate is not significantly different compared to controls, associative learning begins to level off later and a lower ultimate level of associative learning is achieved in schizophrenia. Given the large sample size in the present study, HLM may provide a more nuanced and definitive analysis of differences between schizophrenia and controls on dEBC.

Assistance dogs are a very diverse group of working dogs that are trained to assist humans with different types of disabilities in their daily lives. Despite these dogs’ value for humankind, research on their welfare status, cognitive and behavioural capacities, selection criteria for the best fitting individuals, effective training and management practices, and genetic issues are so far lacking. This review highlights the need to address these topics and to promote progress in legal issues around assistance dogs. The topic of assistance dogs is approached comprehensively by outlining the current status of knowledge in three different dimensions: (1) the legal dimension, outlining important legal issues in the EU and Australia; (2) the welfare dimension; and (3) the dimension of research, covering assistance dog selection and training. For each of these three dimensions, we discuss potential approaches that can be implemented in the future in order to support assistance dog working performance, to protect the dogs’ welfare, and to improve our knowledge about them. Additionally, there remain many legal issues, such as the presence of assistance dogs in public areas, the resolution of which would benefit both the assistance dog and the owner with disability.

Introduction: The benefits of completing household chores appear to transfer beyond managing day‐to‐day living. It is possible that chore engagement may improve executive functions, as engagement in chores require individuals to plan, self‐regulate, switch between tasks, and remember instructions. To date, little research has been conducted on household chores and executive functions in children, for whom these skills are still developing. Methods: Parents and guardians (N = 207) of children aged 5–13 years (M = 9.38, SD = 2.15) were asked to complete parent‐report questionnaires on their child's engagement in household chores and their child's executive functioning. Results: Results of the regression model indicated that engagement in self‐care chores (e.g., making self a meal) and family‐care chores (e.g., making someone else a meal) significantly predicted working memory and inhibition, after controlling for the influence of age, gender, and presence or absence of a disability. For families with a pet, there was no significant relationship between engagement in pet‐care chores and executive function skills. Conclusion: We strongly recommend that further research explore the relationship between chores and executive functions. It is possible that parents may be able to facilitate their child's executive function development through encouraging participation in chores, whereas chore‐based interventions (e.g., cooking programmes) may also be used to target deficits in ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Investigations of estimated age of first exposure to repetitive head impacts from collision and contact sports have shown no associations with neurocognitive or neurobehavioral function at the collegiate level, but the effect of career duration may be a more comprehensive factor. Understanding whether longer career duration influences gait performance would provide insights into potential neurological impairment. Purpose: To examine the relationship between career duration of collision sports and single/dual-task gait performance in collegiate student-athletes. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: We recruited 168 male student-athletes from collision sports: football, lacrosse, ice hockey, and wrestling (mean ± SD age, 19.2 ± 1.3 years; height, 184.5 ± 7.2 cm; mass, 94.3 ± 15.9 kg; estimated age of first exposure, 8.6 ± 3.1 years; career duration, 10.6 ± 3.0 years). All participants completed a baseline single- and dual-task gait assessment before the start of their athletic season. Inertial measurement units were used to measure gait speed and stride length. During the dual task, participants were asked to perform working memory cognitive tasks while walking. The dependent variables were single/dual-task gait speed and stride length, cognitive accuracy, and dual-task cost. The relationship between career duration, analyzed as a continuous variable, and the dependent variables was analyzed using a linear regression. Results: There were no significant associations between career duration and single-task gait speed (1.16 ± 0.16 m/s; β = −0.004; P =.35; 95% CI = −0.012 to 0.004; η2 = 0.005) or dual-task gait speed (1.02 ± 0.17 m/s; β = −0.003; P =.57; 95% CI = −0.011 to 0.006; η2 = 0.002). There were also no significant associations between career duration and single/dual-task stride length, cognitive accuracy, or dual-task cost. Conclusion: Career duration among collegiate collision sport athletes was not associated with single- or dual-task gait performance, suggesting that a greater exposure to repetitive head impacts is not detrimental to dynamic postural control at the college level. However, the effects of diminished gait performance over the lifetime remain to be elucidated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]