Working memory span in mild cognitive impairment. Influence of processing speed and cognitive reserve

2013 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 615-625 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Facal ◽  
Onésimo Juncos-Rabadán ◽  
Arturo X. Pereiro ◽  
Cristina Lojo-Seoane
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Memory Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Reserve ◽  
Memory Span ◽  
Amnestic Mci ◽  
Span Tasks ◽  
Subject Factor

ABSTRACTBackground:Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) often includes episodic memory impairment, but can also involve other types of cognitive decline. Although previous studies have shown poorer performance of MCI patients in working memory (WM) span tasks, different MCI subgroups were not studied.Methods:In the present exploratory study, 145 participants underwent extensive cognitive evaluation, which included three different WM span tasks, and were classified into the following groups: multiple-domain amnestic MCI (mda-MCI), single-domain amnestic MCI (sda-MCI), and controls. General linear model was conducted by considering the WM span tasks as the within-subject factor; the group (mda-MCI, sda-MCI, and controls) as the inter-subject factor; and processing speed, vocabulary and age as covariates. Multiple linear regression models were also used to test the influence of processing speed, vocabulary, and other cognitive reserve (CR) proxies.Results:Results indicate different levels of impairment of WM, with more severe impairment in mda-MCI patients. The differences were still present when processing resources and CR were controlled.Conclusions:Between-group differences can be understood as a manifestation of the greater severity and widespread memory impairment in mda-MCI patients and may contribute to a better understanding of continuum from normal controls to mda-MCI patients. Processing speed and CR have a limited influence on WM scores, reducing but not removing differences between groups.

scholarly journals Prevalence of Mild Cognitive Impairment in Mexican Older Adults: Data from the Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Arce Rentería ◽  
Jennifer J. Manly ◽  
Jet M. J. Vonk ◽  
Silvia Mejia Arango ◽  
Alejandra Michaels Obregon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Memory Impairment ◽  
Older Age ◽  
Mexican Population ◽  
Prevalence Rates ◽  
Amnestic Mci ◽  
Low Education ◽  
Health Factors ◽  
Aging Study

ABSTRACTINTRODUCTIONWe estimated the prevalence and risk factors for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and its subtypes in Mexican population using the cognitive aging ancillary study of the Mexican Health and Aging Study.METHODSUsing a robust norms approach and comprehensive neuropsychological criteria, we determined MCI in a sample of adult Mexicans (N=1,807;55-97years). Additionally, we determined prevalence rates using traditional criteria.RESULTSPrevalence of amnestic MCI was 5.9%. Other MCI subtypes ranged 4.3% to 7.7%. MCI with and without memory impairment was associated with older age and rurality. Depression, diabetes and low educational attainment were associated with MCI without memory impairment. Using traditional criteria, prevalence of MCI was lower (2.2% amnestic MCI, other subtypes ranged 1.3%-2.4%).DISCUSSIONOlder age, depression, low education, diabetes, and rurality were associated with increased risk of MCI among older adults in Mexico. Our findings suggest that the causes of cognitive impairment are likely multifactorial and may vary by MCI subtype.Research in ContextSystematic reviewWe reviewed the literature using Google Scholar and PubMed. Few studies have reported prevalence rates for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in Mexican population. These studies have primarily relied on limited cognitive assessments, and diverse MCI criteria. Evaluating the prevalence of MCI with a robust neuropsychological approach can help understand the rates and risk factors associated with MCI across a large and representative sample of the aging Mexican population.InterpretationVarious sociodemographic and health factors such as older age, depression, low education, diabetes, and rurality were significant correlates of MCI and differed by MCI subtype.Future directionsLongitudinal studies will be needed to evaluate the diagnostic stability of MCI over time, and its association with incident dementia. Future work will evaluate the casual path of these sociodemographic and health factors on cognitive impairment to develop effective interventions.

Visual versus Verbal Working Memory in Statistically Determined Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment: On behalf of the Consortium for Clinical and Epidemiological Neuropsychological Data Analysis (CENDA)

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (10) ◽  
pp. 1001-1010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheina Emrani ◽  
Victor Wasserman ◽  
Emily Matusz ◽  
David Miller ◽  
Melissa Lamar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Memory Impairment ◽  
Digit Span ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Verbal Working Memory ◽  
Intracranial Volume ◽  
Adult Intelligence Scale

AbstractObjective:Previous research in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) suggests that visual episodic memory impairment may emerge before analogous verbal episodic memory impairment. The current study examined working memory (WM) test performance in MCI to assess whether patients present with greater visual versus verbal WM impairment. WM performance was also assessed in relation to hippocampal occupancy (HO), a ratio of hippocampal volume to ventricular dilation adjusted for demographic variables and intracranial volume.Methods:Jak et al. (2009) (The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 17, 368–375) and Edmonds, Delano-Wood, Galasko, Salmon, & Bondi (2015) (Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 47(1), 231–242) criteria classify patients into four groups: little to no cognitive impairment (non-MCI); subtle cognitive impairment (SCI); amnestic MCI (aMCI); and a combined mixed/dysexecutive MCI (mixed/dys MCI). WM was assessed using co-normed Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV (WAIS-IV) Digit Span Backwards and Wechsler Memory Scale-IV (WMS-IV) Symbol Span Z-scores.Results:Between-group analyses found worse WMS-IV Symbol Span and WAIS-IV Digit Span Backwards performance for mixed/dys MCI compared to non-MCI patients. Within-group analyses found no differences for non-MCI patients; however, all other groups scored lower on WMS-IV Symbol Span than WAIS-IV Digit Span Backwards. Regression analysis with HO as the dependent variable was statistically significant for WMS-IV Symbol Span performance. WAIS-IV Digit Span Backwards performance failed to reach statistical significance.Conclusions:Worse WMS-IV Symbol Span performance was observed in patient groups with measurable neuropsychological impairment and better WMS-IV Symbol Span performance was associated with higher HO ratios. These results suggest that visual WM may be particularly sensitive to emergent illness compared to analogous verbal WM tests.

Processing Speed and Working Memory Span: Their Differential Role in Superficial and Deep Memory Processes in Schizophrenia

2011 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 485-493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gildas Brébion ◽  
Rodrigo A. Bressan ◽  
Lyn S. Pilowsky ◽  
Anthony S. David
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Visual Memory ◽  
Memory Impairment ◽  
Memory Span ◽  
Memory Deficit ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Independent Variables ◽  
Group Processing ◽  
Two Factors

Previous work has suggested that decrement in both processing speed and working memory span plays a role in the memory impairment observed in patients with schizophrenia. We undertook a study to examine simultaneously the effect of these two factors. A sample of 49 patients with schizophrenia and 43 healthy controls underwent a battery of verbal and visual memory tasks. Superficial and deep encoding memory measures were tallied. We conducted regression analyses on the various memory measures, using processing speed and working memory span as independent variables. In the patient group, processing speed was a significant predictor of superficial and deep memory measures in verbal and visual memory. Working memory span was an additional significant predictor of the deep memory measures only. Regression analyses involving all participants revealed that the effect of diagnosis on all the deep encoding memory measures was reduced to non-significance when processing speed was entered in the regression. Decreased processing speed is involved in verbal and visual memory deficit in patients, whether the task require superficial or deep encoding. Working memory is involved only insofar as the task requires a certain amount of effort. (JINS, 2011, 17, 485–493)

Decreased processing speed might account for working memory span deficit in schizophrenia, and might mediate the associations between working memory span and clinical symptoms

2014 ◽  
Vol 29 (8) ◽  
pp. 473-478 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Brébion ◽  
C. Stephan-Otto ◽  
E. Huerta-Ramos ◽  
J. Usall ◽  
M. Perez del Olmo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Memory Impairment ◽  
Negative Symptoms ◽  
Memory Span ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Verbal Working Memory ◽  
Motor Speed ◽  
Speed Measure ◽  
Cognitive Speed

AbstractObjectiveVerbal working memory span is decreased in patients with schizophrenia, and this might contribute to impairment in higher cognitive functions as well as to the formation of certain clinical symptoms. Processing speed has been identified as a crucial factor in cognitive efficiency in this population. We tested the hypothesis that decreased processing speed underlies the verbal working memory deficit in patients and mediates the associations between working memory span and clinical symptoms.MethodForty-nine schizophrenia inpatients recruited from units for chronic and acute patients, and forty-five healthy participants, were involved in the study. Verbal working memory span was assessed by means of the letter-number span. The Digit Copy test was used to assess motor speed, and the Digit Symbol Substitution Test to assess cognitive speed.ResultsThe working memory span was significantly impaired in patients (F(1,90) = 4.6, P < 0.05). However, the group difference was eliminated when either the motor or the cognitive speed measure was controlled (F(1,89) = 0.03, P = 0.86, and F(1,89) = 0.03, P = 0.88). In the patient group, working memory span was significantly correlated with negative symptoms (r = –0.52, P < 0.0001) and thought disorganisation (r = –0.34, P < 0.025) scores. Regression analyses showed that the association with negative symptoms was no longer significant when the motor speed measure was controlled (β = –0.12, P = 0.20), while the association with thought disorganisation was no longer significant when the cognitive speed measure was controlled (β = –0.10, P = 0.26).ConclusionsDecrement in motor and cognitive speed plays a significant role in both the verbal working memory impairment observed in patients and the associations between verbal working memory impairment and clinical symptoms.

Neurocognitive Deficits and Effects of Cognitive Reserve in Mild Cognitive Impairment

2016 ◽  
Vol 41 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 199-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadeshda Andrejeva ◽  
Maren Knebel ◽  
Vasco Dos Santos ◽  
Janna Schmidt ◽  
Christina Josefa Herold ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Reserve ◽  
Neurocognitive Deficits ◽  
Cognitive Domains ◽  
Amnestic Mci ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Neuropsychological Characteristics ◽  
Executive Deficits ◽  
Multiple Domain

Background/Aims: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a frequent syndrome in the older population, which involves an increased risk to develop Alzheimer's disease (AD). The latter can be modified by the cognitive reserve, which can be operationalized by the length of school education. MCI can be differentiated into four subtypes according to the cognitive domains involved: amnestic MCI, multiple-domain amnestic MCI, non-amnestic MCI and multiple-domain non-amnestic MCI. While neurocognitive deficits are a constituent of the diagnosis of these subtypes, the question of how they refer to the cognitive reserve still needs to be clarified. Methods: We examined neuropsychological deficits in healthy controls, patients with MCI and patients with mild AD (n = 485) derived from a memory clinic. To reduce the number of neuropsychological variables, a factor analysis with varimax rotation was calculated. In a second step, diagnostic groups including MCI subtypes were compared with respect to their clinical and neuropsychological characteristics including cognitive reserve. Results: Most MCI patients showed the amnestic multiple-domain subtype followed by the pure amnestic subtype, while the non-amnestic subtypes were rare. The amnestic subtype displayed a significantly higher level of cognitive reserve and higher MMSE scores than the amnestic multiple-domain subtype, which was in most cases characterized by additional psychomotor and executive deficits. Conclusions: These findings confirm earlier reports revealing that the amnestic multiple-domain subtype is the most frequent one and indicating that a high cognitive reserve may primarily prevent psychomotor and executive deficits in MCI.

Self-Awareness for Memory Impairment in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Longitudinal Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 401-407 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilaria Cova ◽  
Giulia Grande ◽  
Valentina Cucumo ◽  
Roberta Ghiretti ◽  
Laura Maggiore ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Sex Education ◽  
Memory Impairment ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Cox Regression ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Severity Index ◽  
Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Amnestic Mci

Aim: To assess memory impairment insight as a predictor of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: To verify whether the awareness of memory impairment assessed by Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) was associated with the risk of progression to dementia and AD in a cohort of MCI, we used a Cox regression model adjusted for age, sex, education, subtypes of amnestic MCI, Mini-Mental State Examination, Cumulative Illness Rating Scale severity index, and apolipoprotein E genotype. Results: During a follow-up of 27.7 (20.8) months, 205 (63.3%) of 324 patients with amnestic MCI progressed to dementia, including 141 to AD. No association was found in the unadjusted, partially adjusted (for sociodemographic variables), and fully adjusted multivariate Cox analysis between the awareness of memory impairment and the progression to dementia and AD. Discussion: Awareness or anosognosia of memory deficits, identified by GDS, is not useful to predict progression to dementia of patients with amnestic MCI.

scholarly journals Working Memory Training in Amnestic and Non-amnestic Patients With Mild Cognitive Impairment: Preliminary Findings From Genotype Variants on Training Effects

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne S. Hernes ◽  
Marianne M. Flak ◽  
Gro C. C. Løhaugen ◽  
Jon Skranes ◽  
Haakon R. Hol ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Functions ◽  
Memory Function ◽  
Working Memory Training ◽  
Memory Training ◽  
Cognitive Domains ◽  
Amnestic Mci ◽  
Amci Group

Working memory training (WMT) effects may be modulated by mild cognitive impairment (MCI) subtypes, and variations in APOE-epsilon (APOE-ε) and LMX1A genotypes. Sixty-one individuals (41 men/20 women, mean age 66 years) diagnosed with MCI (31 amnestic/30 non-amnestic) and genotyped for APOE-ε and LMX1A completed 4 weeks/20–25 sessions of WMT. Cognitive functions were assessed before, 4 weeks and 16 weeks after WMT. Except for Processing Speed, the non-amnestic MCI group (naMCI) outperformed the amnestic MCI (aMCI) group in all cognitive domains across all time-points. At 4 weeks, working memory function improved in both groups (p &lt; 0.0001), but at 16 weeks the effects only remained in the naMCI group. Better performance was found after training for the naMCI patients with LMX1A-AA genotype and for the APOE-ε4 carriers. Only the naMCI-APOE-ε4 group showed improved Executive Function at 16 weeks. WMT improved working memory and some non-trained cognitive functions in individuals with MCI. The naMCI group had greater training gain than aMCI group, especially in those with LMX1A-AA genotype and among APOE-ε4-carriers. Further research with larger sample sizes for the subgroups and longer follow-up evaluations is warranted.

scholarly journals The association between depressive and cognitive symptoms in amnestic mild cognitive impairment

2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 710-723 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol Hudon ◽  
Sylvie Belleville ◽  
Serge Gauthier
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Memory Impairment ◽  
Cued Recall ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Amnestic Mci ◽  
Verbal Episodic Memory

ABSTRACTBackground: Depressive symptoms are frequently observed in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). However, little is known regarding the cognitive characteristics of this important subgroup.Methods: We examined executive functions (controlled inhibition) and verbal episodic memory in 33 healthy older adults (control group), 18 older adults with amnestic MCI plus subclinical depressive symptoms (a-MCI/D+ group), and 26 older adults with amnestic MCI but no depressive symptoms (a-MCI group).Results: Compared to the a-MCI and control groups, patients with a-MCI/D+ showed poor controlled inhibition. Moreover, in verbal episodic memory these patients recalled fewer words than control participants on immediate free, delayed free, and delayed total (free plus cued) recall. Performance on immediate recall suggested a self-retrieval deficit, but delayed performance also revealed the existence of an encoding impairment. In the a-MCI group, participants exhibited normal performance on the executive task, but pervasive memory impairment; the memory deficit concerned free and total recall on both immediate and delayed tasks, suggesting the existence of encoding and self-retrieval disturbances.Conclusions: This study reveals differences between the pattern of cognitive impairment for a-MCI/D+ and a-MCI subgroups particularly at the level of executive capacities. In terms of memory functioning, the differences between the subgroups were more subtle; more studies are needed in order to better characterize the memory impairment of a-MCI/D+ and a-MCI patients.

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