Slowed processing speed contributes to cognitive deficits in amnestic and non‐amnestic mild cognitive impairment

AbstractIndividuals with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) show deficits on traditional episodic memory tasks and reductions in speed of performance on reaction time tasks. We present results on a novel task, the Cued-Recall Retrieval Speed Task (CRRST), designed to simultaneously measure level and speed of retrieval. A total of 390 older adults (mean age, 80.2 years), learned 16 words based on corresponding categorical cues. In the retrieval phase, we measured accuracy (% correct) and retrieval speed/reaction time (RT; time from cue presentation to voice onset of a correct response) across 6 trials. Compared to healthy elderly adults (HEA, n = 303), those with aMCI (n = 87) exhibited poorer performance in retrieval speed (difference = −0.13; p < .0001) and accuracy on the first trial (difference = −0.19; p < .0001), and their rate of improvement in retrieval speed was slower over subsequent trials. Those with aMCI also had greater within-person variability in processing speed (variance ratio = 1.22; p = .0098) and greater between-person variability in accuracy (variance ratio = 2.08; p = .0001) relative to HEA. Results are discussed in relation to the possibility that computer-based measures of cued-learning and processing speed variability may facilitate early detection of dementia in at-risk older adults. (JINS, 2012, 18, 260–268)

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Phasic alerting increases visual processing speed in amnestic mild cognitive impairment

Neurobiology of Aging ◽

10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2021.01.031 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Marleen Haupt ◽

Steffen Jödecke ◽

Annie Srowig ◽

Natan Napiórkowski ◽

Christoph Preul ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Processing Speed ◽

Visual Processing ◽

Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Visual Processing Speed ◽

Phasic Alerting

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Simultaneous object perception deficits are related to reduced visual processing speed in amnestic mild cognitive impairment

Neurobiology of Aging ◽

10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2017.03.029 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 55 ◽

pp. 132-142 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Adriana L. Ruiz-Rizzo ◽

Peter Bublak ◽

Petra Redel ◽

Timo Grimmer ◽

Hermann J. Müller ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Processing Speed ◽

Visual Processing ◽

Object Perception ◽

Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Visual Processing Speed

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Phasic alerting increases visual processing speed in amnestic mild cognitive impairment

10.31234/osf.io/afvrb ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Marleen Haupt ◽

Steffen Jödecke ◽

Annie Srowig ◽

Natan Napiórkowski ◽

Christoph Preul ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Processing Speed ◽

Visual Processing ◽

Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Temporary Increase ◽

Healthy Older Adults ◽

Visual Processing Speed ◽

Phasic Alerting

External warning cues temporarily increase the brain's sensitivity for upcoming events. Such increased levels of phasic alertness help individuals to flexibly adapt their reactions to the fast-changing requirements of highly complex visual environments. Previous studies reported that both healthy younger and older adults profit from phasic alerting cues. Arguably, such an intact phasic alerting mechanism could be even more relevant in pathologically aging individuals who are characterized by pronounced reductions of general processing capacity. The present study employed a theory of visual attention based whole report paradigm with auditory cues in order to investigate phasic alerting effects in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) on a purely perceptual level. In addition, aMCI patients were compared to a previously reported sample of healthy older adults. The analysis in aMCI patients indicated that their visual processing speed was significantly higher in the cue compared to the no-cue condition. Across groups, auditory alerting cues significantly increased visual processing speed. Further, visual processing speed was reduced in aMCI patients compared to healthy older adults, replicating prior findings. Taken together, the results suggest that the processing system of aMCI patients exhibits general declines but can still flexibly integrate auditory warning signals. Phasic alerting cues facilitate a temporary increase in processing speed, enabling an efficient handling of upcoming sensory information.

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Joint effects of gray matter atrophy and altered functional connectivity on cognitive deficits in amnestic mild cognitive impairment patients

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291714002876 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 45 (9) ◽

pp. 1799-1810 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

C. Xie ◽

F. Bai ◽

B. Yuan ◽

H. Yu ◽

Y. Shi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Regression Analysis ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Functional Connectivity ◽

Episodic Memory ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Gray Matter ◽

Cognitive Deficits ◽

Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Multivariate Linear Regression Analysis

BackgroundGray matter (GM) atrophy and disrupted intrinsic functional connectivity (IFC) are often present in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), which shows high risk of developing into Alzheimer's disease. Little is known, however, about the relationship between GM atrophy and altered IFC, and whether they are related to cognitive decline.MethodA total of 30 aMCI and 26 cognitively normal (CN) subjects were recruited for this study. Optimized voxel-based morphometric and resting-state functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging approaches were performed to measure the GM volumes (GMVs) and atrophy-related IFC, respectively. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to examine the effects of GM atrophy and IFC on cognitive performance across subjects, after controlling for the effects of age, education, gender and group.ResultsCompared with CN subjects, aMCI subjects showed significantly reduced GMVs and decreased IFC in the frontal-parietal and medial temporal lobe systems. Multivariate regression analysis further demonstrated that the GMVs and decreased IFC simultaneously affected the cognitive function. Specifically, GMVs were positively correlated with cognitive performances, including global cognition and episodic memory, and showed a strong trend in correlation between GMVs and non-episodic memory, whilst IFC was positively correlated with the above three cognitive measures, across all subjects. In addition, significant correlation was found between GMVs and altered IFC strength across all subjects.ConclusionsOur findings demonstrated that GMVs and IFC jointly contribute to cognitive performance, and combining quantitative information about GMVs and the strength of functional connectivity may serve as an indicator of cognitive deficits in non-demented elderly.

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Hierarchical cognitive and psychosocial predictors of amnestic mild cognitive impairment

Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society ◽

10.1017/s1355617710000512 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 16 (4) ◽

pp. 721-729 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

S. DUKE HAN ◽

HIDEO SUZUKI ◽

AMY J. JAK ◽

YU-LING CHANG ◽

DAVID P. SALMON ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Processing Speed ◽

Present Model ◽

Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Testable Hypothesis ◽

Psychosocial Predictors ◽

Symptoms Of Depression ◽

Visuomotor Processing ◽

Optimal Data Analysis

AbstractTo identify neuropsychological and psychosocial factors predictive of amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI) among a group of 94 nondemented older adults, we employed a novel nonlinear multivariate classification statistical method called Optimal Data Analysis (ODA) in a dataset collected annually for 3 years. Performance on measures of memory and visuomotor processing speed or symptoms of depression in year 1 predicted aMCI status by year 2. Performance on a measure of learning at year 1 predicted aMCI status at year 3. No other measures significantly predicted incidence of aMCI at years 2 and 3. Results support the utility of multiple neuropsychological and psychosocial measures in the diagnosis of aMCI, and the present model may serve as a testable hypothesis for prospective investigations of the development of aMCI. (JINS, 2010, 16, 721–729.)

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