One night sleep restriction impairs the cortical oxygenation responses

IntroductionSleep restriction has adverse effects on performance and neurobehavioral function. However, the mechanism of impaired performance and neurobehavioral function has not been studied yet.ObjectivesWe examined the effect of insufficient sleep on cerebral blood flow and cognitive function in 8 healthy adults (mean age 22.4 years).MethodsAll participants were in bed for 8 h (sufficient sleep), and for < 4 h (insufficient sleep). The oxyhemoglobin (oxyHb) level by a word fluency task was measured with a near-infrared spectroscopy recorder on the morning following sufficient and insufficient sleep periods. Wisconsin card sorting test (WCST), continuous performance test (CPT) and N-back test were evaluated on the same days.ResultsThe peak oxyHb level was significantly lower in the left and right frontal lobes after insufficient sleep than after sufficient sleep (left: 0.25 ± 0.10 vs. 0.70 ± 0.29 mmol, P < 0.05; right: 0.23 ± 0.13 vs. 0.73 ± 0.22 mmol, P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the number of words generated during the word fluency task between sufficient and insufficient sleep states. The percentage of correct responses on CPT after insufficient sleep was significantly lower than that after sufficient sleep (86.6 ± 10.2 vs. 96.0 ± 4.9%, P < 0.05). The reaction time of WCST was significantly longer after insufficient sleep than after sufficient sleep (76.6 ± 13.4 vs. 70.6 ± 16.2 sec, P < 0.05).ConclusionsOne night sleep restriction decreased the concentration changes of oxyHb in brain tissue, leading to impaired cognitive function.

Download Full-text

Effect of Levetiracetam on Cognitive Function and Clonic Seizure Frequency in Children with Epilepsy

Current Molecular Medicine ◽

10.2174/1566524019666190729113321 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (9) ◽

pp. 699-703

Author(s):

Shihao Zhou ◽

Qiong Zhan ◽

Xiaomei Wu

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Function ◽

Effective Rate ◽

Clonic Seizure ◽

Conventional Group ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Random Number Table ◽

Clonic Seizures ◽

The Difference ◽

Experimental Group ◽

Executive Ability

Background: This study aimed to explore the clinical effect of levetiracetam in the treatment of children with epilepsy. Methods: 136 children with epilepsy were selected from January 2017 to December 2017. According to the random number table method, they were divided into the experimental group and the conventional group, with 68 cases in each group. The conventional group was treated with valproate, while the experimental group was treated with levetiracetam. The effective rate, the cognitive function and the frequency of clonic seizures in the two groups were compared. Results: There was no significant difference in the total effective rate between the two groups (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in attention, executive ability, abstract and orientation scores between the two groups before treatment (P>0.05). After treatment, the focus of attention (106.54±6.56), executive ability (105.76±6.77), abstract and directional score (106.65±6.57) were significantly higher than that of the conventional group. The difference in the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). After 3 months of treatment, the frequency of myoclonic seizures (9.22±0.95) and the frequency of tonic-clonic seizures (11.68±1.36) were found to be significantly lower than those of the conventional group, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: Levetiracetam is effective in the treatment of children with epilepsy. It can effectively improve the cognitive function of the patients, reduce the frequency of myoclonic seizures and tonic-clonic seizures, and has a high promotion value.

Download Full-text

Saffron for mild cognitive impairment and dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies ◽

10.1186/s12906-020-03102-3 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Zahra Ayati ◽

Guoyan Yang ◽

Mohammad Hossein Ayati ◽

Seyed Ahmad Emami ◽

Dennis Chang

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Clinical Trials ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Daily Living ◽

Randomised Clinical Trials ◽

Disease Assessment ◽

Significant Difference

Abstract Background Saffron (stigma of Crocus sativus L.) from Iridaceae family is a well-known traditional herbal medicine that has been used for hundreds of years to treat several diseases such as depressive mood, cancer and cardiovascular disorders. Recently, anti-dementia property of saffron has been indicated. However, the effects of saffron for the management of dementia remain controversial. The aim of the present study is to explore the effectiveness and safety of saffron in treating mild cognitive impairment and dementia. Methods An electronic database search of some major English and Chinese databases was conducted until 31st May 2019 to identify relevant randomised clinical trials (RCT). The primary outcome was cognitive function and the secondary outcomes included daily living function, global clinical assessment, quality of life (QoL), psychiatric assessment and safety. Rev-Man 5.3 software was applied to perform the meta-analyses. Results A total of four RCTs were included in this review. The analysis revealed that saffron significantly improves cognitive function measured by the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog) and Clinical Dementia Rating Scale-Sums of Boxes (CDR-SB), compared to placebo groups. In addition, there was no significant difference between saffron and conventional medicine, as measured by cognitive scales such as ADAS-cog and CDR-SB. Saffron improved daily living function, but the changes were not statistically significant. No serious adverse events were reported in the included studies. Conclusions Saffron may have the potential to improve cognitive function and activities of daily living in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). However, due to limited high-quality studies there is insufficient evidence to make any recommendations for clinical use. Further clinical trials on larger sample sizes are warranted to shed more light on its efficacy and safety.

Download Full-text

Cognition, structural brain changes and complicated grief. A population-based study

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291714002499 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 45 (7) ◽

pp. 1389-1399 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

H. C. Saavedra Pérez ◽

M. A. Ikram ◽

N. Direk ◽

H. G. Prigerson ◽

R. Freak-Poli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

White Matter ◽

Brain Volume ◽

Complicated Grief ◽

Population Based ◽

Word Fluency ◽

Total Brain Volume ◽

Population Based Study ◽

Total Brain ◽

Fluency Task ◽

Structural Brain

BackgroundSeveral psychosocial risk factors for complicated grief have been described. However, the association of complicated grief with cognitive and biological risk factors is unclear. The present study examined whether complicated grief and normal grief are related to cognitive performance or structural brain volumes in a large population-based study.MethodThe present research comprised cross-sectional analyses embedded in the Rotterdam Study. The study included 5501 non-demented persons. Participants were classified as experiencing no grief (n = 4731), normal grief (n = 615) or complicated grief (n = 155) as assessed with the Inventory of Complicated Grief. All persons underwent cognitive testing (Mini-Mental State Examination, Letter–Digit Substitution Test, Stroop Test, Word Fluency Task, word learning test – immediate and delayed recall), and magnetic resonance imaging to measure general brain parameters (white matter, gray matter), and white matter lesions. Total brain volume was defined as the sum of gray matter plus normal white matter and white matter lesion volume. Persons with depressive disorders were excluded and analyses were adjusted for depressive symptoms.ResultsCompared with no-grief participants, participants with complicated grief had lower scores for the Letter–Digit Substitution Test [Z-score −0.16 v. 0.04, 95% confidence interval (CI) −0.36 to −0.04, p = 0.01] and Word Fluency Task (Z-score −0.15 v. 0.03, 95% CI −0.35 to −0.02, p = 0.02) and smaller total volumes of brain matter (933.53 ml v. 952.42 ml, 95% CI −37.6 to −0.10, p = 0.04).ConclusionsParticipants with complicated grief performed poorly in cognitive tests and had a smaller total brain volume. Although the effect sizes were small, these findings suggest that there may be a neurological correlate of complicated grief, but not of normal grief, in the general population.

Download Full-text

Prototypicality of responses of autistic, language disordered, and normal children in a word fluency task

Child Neuropsychology ◽

10.1080/09297049608401355 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 99-108 ◽

Cited By ~ 50

Author(s):

Michelle Dunn ◽

Hilary Gomes ◽

Mary Joan Sebastian

Keyword(s):

Word Fluency ◽

Normal Children ◽

Fluency Task

Download Full-text

Differential effects of body mass index on domain-specific cognitive outcomes after stroke

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-93714-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Minwoo Lee ◽

Mi Sun Oh ◽

San Jung ◽

Ju-Hun Lee ◽

Chul-Ho Kim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Mass Index ◽

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Frontal Lobe ◽

Body Mass ◽

Cognitive Outcomes ◽

Stroke Survivors ◽

Word Fluency ◽

Domain Specific ◽

Z Scores

AbstractAlthough the obesity paradox is an important modifiable factor in cardiovascular diseases, little research has been conducted to determine how it affects post-stroke cognitive function. We aimed to investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) and domain-specific cognitive outcomes, focusing on the subdivision of each frontal domain function in post-ischemic stroke survivors. A total of 335 ischemic stroke patients were included in the study after completion of the Korean-Mini Mental Status Examination (K-MMSE) and the vascular cognitive impairment harmonization standards neuropsychological protocol at 3 months after stroke. Frontal lobe functions were analyzed using semantic/phonemic fluency, processing speed, and mental set shifting. Our study participants were categorized into four groups according to BMI quartiles. The z-scores of K-MMSE at 3 months differed significantly between the groups after adjustment for initial stroke severity (p = 0.014). Global cognitive function in stroke survivors in the Q1 (the lowest quartile) BMI group was significantly lower than those in Q2 and Q4 (the highest quartile) BMI groups (K-MMSE z-scores, Q1: − 2.10 ± 3.40 vs. Q2: 0.71 ± 1.95 and Q4: − 1.21 ± 1.65). Controlled oral word association test findings indicated that phonemic and semantic word fluency was lower in Q4 BMI group participants than in Q2 BMI group participants (p = 0.016 and p = 0.023 respectively). BMI might differentially affect cognitive domains after ischemic stroke. Although being underweight may negatively affect global cognition post-stroke, obesity could induce frontal lobe dysfunctions, specifically phonemic and semantic word fluency.

Download Full-text

Word Fluency Test Performance in Primary Progressive Aphasia and Primary Progressive Apraxia of Speech

American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology ◽

10.1044/2021_ajslp-21-00058 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Lucia Scheffel ◽

Joseph R. Duffy ◽

Edythe A. Strand ◽

Keith A. Josephs

Keyword(s):

Test Performance ◽

Primary Progressive Aphasia ◽

High Sensitivity ◽

Clinical Group ◽

Apraxia Of Speech ◽

Word Fluency ◽

Progressive Aphasia ◽

Primary Progressive ◽

The Relationship ◽

Fluency Task

Purpose This study compared performance on three-word fluency measures among individuals with primary progressive aphasia (PPA) and primary progressive apraxia of speech (PPAOS), and examined the relationship between word fluency and other measures of language and speech. Method This study included 106 adults with PPA and 30 adults with PPAOS. PPA participants were divided into three clinical subgroups: semantic (svPPA), logopenic (lvPPA), and nonfluent/agrammatic with or without apraxia of speech (nfPPA). Category fluency, letter fluency, and action/verb fluency tasks were administered to all participants. Results The four clinical groups performed abnormally on the word fluency measures, although not to a degree that represented high sensitivity to their PPA or PPAOS diagnosis. All PPA subgroups produced fewer words compared to individuals with PPAOS on all word fluency measures. Moderate correlations were found between word fluency and aphasia severity and naming performance in some of the clinical groups. Conclusions Word fluency measures are often challenging for individuals with PPA and PPAOS, but they are not of equal difficulty, with letter fluency being the most difficult. Differences among word fluency tests also vary to some degree as a function of the clinical group in question, with least impairment in PPAOS. However, the findings of this study do not support statistically significant differences in word fluency task performance among the PPA subgroups. Correlations suggest that word fluency performance in PPA is at least partly related to aphasia severity.

Download Full-text

Reducing the anticholinergic and sedative load in older patients on polypharmacy by pharmacist-led medication review: a randomised controlled trial

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2017-019042 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (7) ◽

pp. e019042 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Helene G van der Meer ◽

Hans Wouters ◽

Lisa G Pont ◽

Katja Taxis

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Function ◽

Side Effects ◽

Medication Review ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Mortality Data ◽

Digit Symbol Substitution Test ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Secondary Outcomes ◽

Randomised Controlled

ObjectiveTo evaluate if a pharmacist-led medication review is effective at reducing the anticholinergic/sedative load, as measured by the Drug Burden Index (DBI).DesignRandomised controlled single blind trial.Setting15 community pharmacies in the Northern Netherlands.Participants157 community-dwelling patients aged ≥65 years who used ≥5 medicines for ≥3 months, including at least one psycholeptic/psychoanaleptic medication and who had a DBI≥1.InterventionA medication review by the community pharmacist in collaboration with the patient’s general practitioner and patient.Primary and secondary outcomes measuresThe primary outcome was the proportion of patients whose DBI decreased by at least 0.5. Secondary outcomes were the presence of anticholinergic/sedative side effects, falls, cognitive function, activities of daily living, quality of life, hospital admission and mortality. Data were collected at baseline and 3 months follow-up.ResultsMean participant age was 75.7 (SD, 6.9) years in the intervention arm and 76.6 (SD, 6.7) years in the control arm, the majority were female (respectively 69.3% and 72.0%). Logistic regression analysis showed no difference in the proportion of patients with a≥0.5 decrease in DBI between intervention arm (17.3%) and control arm (15.9%), (OR 1.04, CI 0.47 to 2.64, p=0.927). Intervention patients scored higher on the Digit Symbol Substitution Test, measure of cognitive function (OR 2.02, CI 1.11 to 3.67, p=0.021) and reported fewer sedative side effects (OR 0.61, CI 0.40 to 0.94, p=0.024) at follow-up. No significant difference was found for other secondary outcomes.ConclusionsPharmacist-led medication review as currently performed in the Netherlands was not effective in reducing the anticholinergic/sedative load, measured with the DBI, within the time frame of 3 months. Preventive strategies, signalling a rising load and taking action before chronic use of anticholinergic/sedative medication is established may be more successful.Trial registration numberNCT02317666.

Download Full-text

The effects of a single session of lumbar spinal manipulative therapy in terms of physical performance test symmetry in asymptomatic athletes: a single-blinded, randomised controlled study.

BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine ◽

10.1136/bmjsem-2018-000389 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. e000389 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Bruno A P Alvarenga ◽

Ricardo Fujikawa ◽

Filipa João ◽

Jerusa P R Lara ◽

António P Veloso

Keyword(s):

Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽

Physical Performance ◽

Performance Test ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Spinal Manipulative Therapy ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Eligibility Criteria ◽

Manipulative Therapy ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Randomised Controlled

Background and aimMusculoskeletal disorders in athletes, including spinal biomechanical dysfunctions, are believed to negatively influence symmetry. Spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) is recognised as a safe and effective treatment for musculoskeletal disorders, but there is little evidence about whether it can be beneficial in symmetry. Therefore, this study aimed to measure the effects of lumbar SMT in symmetry.MethodsForty asymptomatic athletes participated in the study. The randomisation procedure was performed according to the following group allocation: group 1 (SMT) and group 2 (SHAM). Each participant completed a physical activity questionnaire, and also underwent clinical and physical evaluation for inclusion according to eligibility criteria. Statistical significance (P<0.05) between groups and types of therapy were calculated by physical performance tests symmetry (static position, squat and counter movement jump (CMJ), pre- and post-SMT and SHAM. There were 14 trials of three symmetry tests for each participant, for a total of 560 trials.ResultsLumbar SMT produced immediate effects in symmetry in the static position; however, the same effects were not found in squat and CMJ on symmetry 1. Therefore, our results showed a significant difference in pre- (mean 16.3%) and post-lumbar SMT (mean 3.7%) in static symmetry. However, symmetry 2 showed no statistical significant differences for any of the tests and intervention groups. No statistically significant effects in symmetry pre- to post-SHAM were found in any of the tests.ConclusionsStatistically significant differences were found in lumbar SMT, but only for static symmetry. These findings suggest that SMT was effective in producing immediate effects in symmetry in the static position, but none in dynamic tests. Future studies could address our study's limitations.Clinical trials register numberNCT03361592.

Download Full-text

Association of Blood and Urine Parameter Value Change With the Amount of Consumed Water Regime and Sample Sampling in Healthy Individuals

10.21203/rs.3.rs-258592/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Snezana M Jovicic

Keyword(s):

Water Intake ◽

Freezing Point ◽

Freezing Point Depression ◽

Sodium Potassium ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Urine Biomarker ◽

Concentration Changes ◽

The Difference ◽

And Gender

Abstract Background: Understanding the effect of pre-analytical factors is important for data quality of bio-specimens and health status. The study examines the effect of 9-days fluid intake and 2-time sampling on concentration changes of 7-Urine and 17-Blood variables. Material and Method: SPSS software v23.0 applies to data processing. The group of 23 healthy subjects divide based on water intake and gender. Results: A statistically significant difference(p<0.01) between 1st/2nd sampling is confirmed for Freezing point depression, Sodium, Potassium, Creatinine Urea and Urate in Urine and Urea, Urate, Glucose, Hematocrit, Thrombocyte in Blood. The difference between water intake after 1st sampling is confirmed (p<0.01) for Freezing point depression, Sodium, Urate and(p<0.05) for Potassium(p<0.05), Chloride(p<0.05), Creatinine(p<0.05), Urate, Urea in Urine and Potassium(p<0.01) and Chloride(p<0.05) in Blood. Difference between gender exists for Urea(p<0.05) in Urine after 2nd sampling and Urate(P<0.01), Glucose(p<0.01/0.05), Ht(p<0.01/0.05) after 1st and 2nd sampling and MCHC(p<0.01) after 2nd sampling in Blood samples.Conclusion: Water intake increases blood and urine biomarker range after sampling.

Download Full-text