Improving Executive Functioning Contributes to Cognitive Performance and Results in Resilience for Children

2021 ◽  
pp. 191-209
Author(s):  
Laura Nabors ◽  
Samuel Adabla ◽  
Anurag Paul ◽  
Filiberto Toledano-Toledano
Keyword(s):  
Executive Functioning ◽  
Cognitive Performance

scholarly journals Thalamic Volume Mediates Associations Between Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Memory in People With Parkinson’s

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 501-502
Author(s):  
Andrew Petkus ◽  
Megan Gomez ◽  
Dawn Schiehser ◽  
Vincent Filoteo ◽  
Jennifer Hui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Basal Ganglia ◽  
Executive Functioning ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽  
Indirect Effect ◽  
Structural Equation Models ◽  
Intracranial Volume ◽  
Vo2 Max ◽  
Basal Ganglia Structures

Abstract Cognitive deficits occur in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD), and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is associated with both current and future cognitive decline in this disease. The underlying neurobiological factors explaining this relationship, however, are not well known. In this cross-sectional study we examined the associations between CRF and cognitive performance and whether such associations were mediated by grey matter volumes of basal ganglia structures. A total of 33 individuals with PD underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI), CRF evaluation (VO2max), and neuropsychological assessment. Composite scores of episodic memory, executive functioning, attention, language, and visuospatial functioning were generated. Brain MRI morphological measurements was performed with the Freesurfer image analysis suite. Structural equation models were constructed to examine whether sMRI volume estimates of basal ganglia structures, specifically the thalamus and pallidum, mediated associations between VO2 max and cognitive performance while adjusting for age, education, PD disease duration, sex, and intracranial volume. Higher VO2max was associated with better episodic memory (Standardized β=0.390; p=0.009), executive functioning (Standardized β=0.263; p=0.021), and visuospatial performance (β=0.408; p=0.004). Higher VO2max was associated with larger thalamic (Standardized β=0.602; p<0.001) and pallidum (Standardized β=0.539; p<0.001) volumes. Thalamic volume significantly mediated the association between higher VO2max and better episodic memory (indirect effect=0.209) and visuospatial ability (indirect effect=0.178) performance (p<.05). The pallidum did not significantly mediate associations between VO2 max and cognitive outcomes. These results suggest the thalamus plays an important role in the association between CRF episodic memory and visuospatial functioning in individuals with PD.

scholarly journals Online social networking and cognitive performance in older adults: A Greek-Canadian study

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 43
Author(s):  
Stephanie Hatzifilalithis ◽  
Elisavet Chrysochoou ◽  
George Pavlidis ◽  
Ana B. Vivas
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Executive Functioning ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Online Social Networking ◽  
Delayed Recall ◽  
The Social ◽  
Gender Education ◽  
The Relationship

The present study examined the relation between cognitive performance and social networking in older adults from Canada and Greece. The two groups were matched on age, gender, education level, and MMSE scores. Participants reported the amount of both off-line and online networking, as well as the social support received in these contexts. Immediate and delayed recall, speed of processing, and executive functioning were also assessed. Online networking was associated with executive functioning. Interestingly, country context didn’t moderate the relationship, despite differences observed between Greeks and Canadians in executive functioning and online networking. Our findings suggest that online social participation could serve both as a source of social support and as cognitive training, benefiting older adults’ cognitive vitality. The findings are discussed in relation to the characteristics of the specific countries, stressing the need to explore the effects of online social networking and participation on cognitive function in the aging population.

scholarly journals Domains of cognition and their assessment

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 227-237 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Executive Functioning ◽  
Cognitive Control ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Use Of Assessment ◽  
Assessment Strategies ◽  
Neuropsychiatric Conditions

Cognitive performance is typically conceptualized in terms of domains of functioning. These domains are hierarchical in nature, with the bottom referring to more basic sensory and perceptual processes and the top referring to elements of executive functioning and cognitive control. Domains are not independent of each other and executive functioning exerts control over the utilization of more basic processes. Assessments are typically targeted at subdomains of each ability area and careful combination of tasks can reveal patterns of performance consistent with a variety of different neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions. This review covers the general structures of domains, the patterns of impairments across domains seen in common neuropsychiatric conditions, and use of assessment strategies to differentiate, to the extent possible, between different types of conditions manifesting cognitive impairment.

scholarly journals A-166 The Role of Apathy on Executive Functioning After Stroke

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 960-960
Author(s):  
Lopez A ◽  
Lopez Palacios D ◽  
Quintana A ◽  
Gibson D ◽  
Arguelles-Borge S
Keyword(s):  
Executive Functioning ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Verbal Learning ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Trail Making Test ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Test Part ◽  
Trail Making

Abstract Objective This study examined the role of apathy on performance of an executive functioning task. Method The data for this study was derived from the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center’s Uniform Data Set containing neuropsychological information for stroke patients (n = 317) who completed the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Questionnaire (NPI-Q) and the Trail Making Test (Part B). The sample was divided into two groups. One which endorsed feelings of apathy in the last month (n = 102; mean age = 84,SD = 8.33) and a second group which denied feelings of apathy within the last month (n = 215; mean age = 86, SD = 8.02). Results After controlling for depression [as measured by the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)], age, gender, and motor impairment, the results of an ANCOVA showed that those who reported apathy performed significantly slower on the Trail Making Test—Part B than those who did not report it [F(1,312 = 6.01, p = .02]. Conclusions It has previously been found that cognitive performance can be impacted by depression on stroke patients. However, recently, it has been identified that apathy specifically, can have an effect on cognitive domains such as verbal learning, short-term, and long-term memory. The present study further supports that apathy may play a role in overall cognitive performance. Therefore, even if patients do not meet criteria for depression, the presence of apathy should still be taken into account. Future research should examine other possible contributing factors such as processing speed should be taken into account as they could be affecting the scores. Finally, researchers should utilize additional measures of executive functioning as only one was available for this study.

Bilingualism: The good, the bad, and the indifferent

2009 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
ELLEN BIALYSTOK
Keyword(s):  
Executive Functioning ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Executive Control ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Complex Pattern ◽  
Bilingual Children ◽  
Lexical Retrieval ◽  
Linguistic Performance ◽  
Verbal Recall

The present paper summarizes research showing that bilingualism affects linguistic and cognitive performance across the lifespan. The effect on linguistic performance is generally seen as a deficit in which bilingual children control a smaller vocabulary than their monolingual peers and bilingual adults perform more poorly on rapid lexical retrieval tasks. The effect on cognitive performance is to enhance executive functioning and to protect against the decline of executive control in aging. These effects interact to produce a complex pattern regarding the effect of bilingualism on memory performance. Memory tasks based primarily on verbal recall are performed more poorly by bilinguals but memory tasks based primarily on executive control are performed better by bilinguals. Speculations regarding the mechanism responsible for these effects are described.

scholarly journals A-20 Metabolic Syndrome and Executive Functioning in Young, Middle-Aged, and Older Adults

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 879-879
Author(s):  
T Slonim ◽  
L Haase-Alasantro ◽  
C Murphy
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
Executive Functioning ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Test Performance ◽  
Color Word ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Metabolic Status ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Increased Risk

Abstract Objective Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with increased rates of mortality and increased risk for developing dementia. Changes in brain structure and executive functioning have been reported within the literature. However, research examining cognitive performance in individuals with metabolic syndrome focuses primarily on older cohorts. As such, the effect of metabolic syndrome on cognitive functioning earlier in the lifespan is unclear. This research examined neuropsychological test performance and self-report measures in young, middle-aged, and older adults with and without MetS. Method Participants (n = 128) were categorized by age and metabolic status as follows: Young: n = 42, 52.4% Metabolic; Middle-Age: n = 41, 56.1% Metabolic; Older: n = 45, 51.1% Metabolic. Participants were administered the following cognitive assessments as part of a larger study: Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (DKEFS) Color-Word Interference Test and Trail Making. Multivariate analyses of variance were used to examine the relationship between age group, metabolic status, and cognitive performance. Results As expected, older adults performed more poorly than young and middle-aged adults across neurocognitive assessments (p < .05). MetS adults performed more slowly on Color-Word Interference: Inhibition [F(1,114) = 5.26, p = .024, η2 = .05]; however, there were no additional significant differences between groups on cognitive tests in this sample size. Conclusions These findings suggest that aspects of inhibition might be impaired in MetS adults. Future studies aimed at investigating relationships between metabolic risk factors and inhibition may provide insight into effective intervention targets to delay or prevent metabolic syndrome.

scholarly journals Cognitive performance after postoperative pituitary radiotherapy: a dosimetric study of the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex

2012 ◽  
Vol 166 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pauline Brummelman ◽  
Margriet G A Sattler ◽  
Linda C Meiners ◽  
Martin F Elderson ◽  
Robin P F Dullaart ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Executive Functioning ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Test Performance ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Field Technique ◽  
Group A ◽  
Cross Sectional Design ◽  
Cognitive Test Performance

ObjectiveThe hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (PFC) are important for memory and executive functioning and are known to be sensitive to radiotherapy (RT). Radiation dosimetry relates radiation exposure to specific brain areas. The effects of various pituitary RT techniques were studied by relating detailed dosimetry of the hippocampus and PFC to cognitive performance.MethodsIn this cross-sectional design, 75 non-functioning pituitary macroadenoma (NFA) patients (61±10 years) participated and were divided into irradiated (RT+, n=30) and non-irradiated (RT−, n=45) groups. The RT+ group (who all received 25 fractions of 1.8 Gy; total dose: 45 Gy) consisted of three RT technique groups: three-field technique, n=10; four-field technique, n=15; and five-field technique, n=5. Memory and executive functioning were assessed by standardized neuropsychological tests. A reconstruction of the dose distributions for the three RT techniques was made. The RT doses on 30, 50, and 70% of the volume of the left and right hippocampus and PFC were calculated.ResultsCognitive test performance was not different between the four groups, despite differences in radiation doses applied to the hippocampi and PFC. Age at RT, time since RT, and the use of thyroid hormone varied significantly between the groups; however, they were not related to cognitive performance.ConclusionThis study showed that there were no significant differences on cognitive performance between the three-, four-, and five-field RT groups and the non-irradiated patient group. A dose–response relationship could not be established, even with a radiation dose that was higher on most of the volume of the hippocampus and PFC in case of a four-field RT technique compared with the three- and five-field RT techniques.

Effects of an Acute Bout of Exercise on Cognitive Aspects of Stroop Performance

2006 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 285-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin A. Sibley ◽  
Jennifer L. Etnier ◽  
Guy C. Le Masurier
Keyword(s):  
Executive Functioning ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Negative Priming ◽  
Color Word ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Control Period ◽  
Moderate Intensity ◽  
Moderate Intensity Exercise ◽  
Acute Bout ◽  
The Impact

Recent reviews of the literature have demonstrated that exercise has a positive impact on cognitive performance. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of an acute bout of aerobic exercise on executive functioning in college-age adults. For the experimental intervention, the effects of 20 min of self-paced moderate-intensity exercise on a treadmill were compared to the effects of a 20-min sedentary control period. Executive functioning was assessed using Stroop color-word interference and negative priming tests. Results indicated that the bout of exercise led to improved performance on the Stroop color-word interference task but no change in performance on the negative priming task. This finding suggests that exercise may facilitate cognitive performance by improving the maintenance of goal-oriented processing in the brain.

scholarly journals Depression, social support, executive functioning, functionality, and quality of life in institutionalized elderly people

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 288-302
Author(s):  
Anabela Ribeiro ◽  
Beatriz Rosa ◽  
Jorge Oliveira ◽  
Paulo Lopes
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Executive Functioning ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Cognitive Flexibility ◽  
Neuropsychological Tests ◽  
Daily Living

Aim Our aim was to study the executive functioning, functionality, and quality of life of institutionalized old aged persons and to determine the potential roles of self-reported depression and satisfaction with social support on these domains. Method The sample comprised 36 volunteers (13 males and 23 females) aged between 71 and 94 years. The measures used consisted of well-established battery of neuropsychological tests. A comparative study was performed. Results Participants with depressive symptoms shown impaired executive functioning. Cognitive flexibility, functionality in instrumental activities of daily living, and quality of life are more affected in participants with higher levels of depression that also report higher levels of satisfaction with social support. Conclusion This result is intriguing and may highlight the relevance of considering not only depression, but also factors related to social isolation and loneliness in the explanation of cognitive performance, functionality, and quality of life.

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