B-52 Improvements in Cognitive Functioning in Inactive Professional Fighters

Abstract Objective Repetitive head injuries common in combat sports have been associated with increased risk for cognitive dysfunction. Interestingly, the Professional Fighter’s Brain Health Study (PFBHS) team has observed improvements in fighters’ cognitive performance following their transition to inactive fighting status. As this phenomenon was explored, it was hypothesized that fighters’ cognitive performance will initially improve following their discontinuation of fighting. Methods Longitudinal demographic, fighting history, and cognitive functioning data from 31 fighters who discontinued fighting during their participation in the PFBHS. Cognitive functioning was assessed via CNS Vital Signs and C3/iComet computerized batteries. Number of professional fights, as well as inactive fighting status, was determined using published professional online records. Fighters were considered inactive if they had gone two or more years without a professional match. Results Paired-samples t test was conducted to evaluate cognitive functioning in fighters at time 1 (actively fighting) and time 2 (inactive fighting status). When comparing cognitive function at across time points, performance on CNS Vital Signs measures of verbal memory, processing speed, psychomotor speed, and reaction time, as well as C3/iComet measures of set-shifting and complex reaction time, significantly improved at time 2 (all p’s < 0.05). Interestingly, performance did not improve across time points on a C3/iComet measure of processing speed (Trailmaking Test Part A). Conclusions Cognitive performance improved on most measures when fighters transitioned to inactive fighting status. Given the limited sample size, future analysis is necessary to evaluate the relationship between fighting status and cognitive performance in a larger sample size.

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Effects of Blood Pressure on Cognitive Performance: A Systematic Review

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm9010034 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 34 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Giuseppe Forte ◽

Vilfredo De Pascalis ◽

Francesca Favieri ◽

Maria Casagrande

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Cognitive Functioning ◽

Psychiatric Disorders ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Processing Speed ◽

Protective Factor ◽

The Elderly ◽

Early Management ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Co Morbidity

Background: High blood pressure has been associated with an increased risk of developing cognitive impairment. However, this relationship is unclear. This study aims to systematically review the effects of blood pressure on executive functioning, language, memory, attention and processing speed. Methods: The review process was conducted according to the PRISMA-Statement, using the PubMed, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES and MEDLINE databases. Restrictions were made by selecting studies, which included one or more cognitive measures and reported blood pressure recordings. Studies that included participants with medical conditions or people diagnosed with dementia, psychiatric disorders, stroke and head trauma were excluded. The review allows selecting fifty studies that included 107,405 participants. The results were reported considering different cognitive domains separately: global cognitive functioning, attention, processing speed, executive functions, memory and visuospatial abilities. Results: Higher blood pressure appears to influence cognitive performance in different domains in the absence of dementia and severe cardiovascular diseases, such as strokes. This relationship seems to be independent of demographic factors (gender and education), medical co-morbidity (diabetes), and psychiatric disorders (depression). Furthermore, it presents different patterns considering ageing. In the elderly, a sort of “cardiovascular paradox” is highlighted, which allows considering higher blood pressure as a protective factor for cognitive functioning. Conclusions: The results underline that higher blood pressure is associated with a higher risk of cognitive decline in people without dementia or stroke. These findings highlight the need to introduce early management of blood pressure, even in the absence of clinical hypertension, to prevent the risk of a decline of cognitive functioning typically associated with ageing.

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Mathematics Skills and Executive Functions Following Preterm Birth: A Longitudinal Study of 5-to 7- Year Old Children

10.31234/osf.io/j42at ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Julia Anna Adrian ◽

Frank Haist ◽

Natacha Akshoomoff

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Executive Functions ◽

Processing Speed ◽

Spatial Working Memory ◽

Working Memory Capacity ◽

Full Term ◽

Healthy Children ◽

Time Points ◽

Mathematics Skills ◽

Increased Risk

Early mathematics skills are an important predictor of later academic, economic and personal success. Children born preterm, about 10% of the US population, have an increased risk of deficits in mathematics. These deficits may be related to lower levels of executive functions and processing speed. We investigated the development of mathematics skills, working memory, inhibitory control and processing speed of healthy children born very preterm (between 25 and 32 weeks gestational age, n=51) and full-term (n=29). Children were tested annually from ages 5 to 7 years. We found persistent lower overall mathematics skills in the preterm group, driven by differences in more informal skills (e.g. counting) at earlier time points, and by differences in more formal skills (e.g. calculation) at later time points. We did not find significant differences between preterm and full-term born children in spatial working memory capacity or processing speed. However, these cognitive measures were significant predictors of mathematics skills in the preterm but not the full-term group, hinting towards the use of different strategies when solving problems.

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Association between physical frailty and cognition in late-life depression

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2016.01.037 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 33 (S1) ◽

pp. S84-S84

Author(s):

M. Arts ◽

R. Collard ◽

H. Comijs ◽

M. Zuidersma ◽

S. de Rooij ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Cognitive Functioning ◽

Processing Speed ◽

Verbal Memory ◽

Late Life ◽

Interference Control ◽

Late Life Depression ◽

Physical Frailty ◽

Cognitive Frailty ◽

Frailty Criteria

IntroductionCognitive frailty has recently been defined as the co-occurrence of physical frailty and cognitive impairment. Late-life depression is associated with both physical frailty and cognitive impairment, especially processing speed and executive functioning.Aim and objectivesIn this study, we investigated the association between physical frailty and cognitive functioning in depressed older persons.MethodsIn a total of 378 patients (> 60 years) with depression according to DSM-IV criteria and a MMSE score of 24 points or higher, the physical frailty phenotype as well as its individual criteria (weight loss, weakness, exhaustion, slowness, low activity) was studied. Cognitive functioning was examined in 4 domains: verbal memory, working memory, interference control, and processing speed.ResultsOf the 378 depressed patients (range 60–90 years; 66.1% women), 61 were classified as robust (no frailty criteria present), 214 as prefrail (1 or 2 frailty criteria present), and 103 as frail (> 3 criteria). Linear regression analyses, adjusted for confounders, showed that the severity of physical frailty was associated with poorer verbal memory, slower processing speed, and decreased working memory, but not with changes in interference control.ConclusionIn late-life depression, physical frailty is associated with poorer cognitive functioning, although not consistently for executive functioning. Future studies should examine whether cognitive impairment in the presence of physical frailty belongs to cognitive frailty and is indeed an important concept to identify a specific subgroup of depressed older patients, who need multimodal treatment strategies integrating physical, cognitive, and psychological functioning.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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0423 Older Age Modifies the Association Between Combined Sleep Disordered Breathing and Sleep Duration with Neurocognitive Decline in Hispanic/Latino Adults

SLEEP ◽

10.1093/sleep/zsaa056.420 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 43 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. A162-A162

Author(s):

S Kaur ◽

W Tarraf ◽

B Wu ◽

M Daviglus ◽

N Shah ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sleep Duration ◽

Processing Speed ◽

Verbal Memory ◽

Sleep Disordered Breathing ◽

Health Study ◽

Linear Regression Models ◽

Short Sleep ◽

Long Sleep ◽

Neurocognitive Decline ◽

Disordered Breathing

Abstract Introduction We aimed to determine if age or sex modifies associations between sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), sleep duration and severe phenotypes of combined SDB/sleep duration with 7-year neurocognitive change (NC) in a diverse sample of U.S. Hispanic/Latinos. Methods We analyzed data of 5,235 adults 50-80 years of age from SOL-INCA, an ancillary to the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos that determines the risk factors for NC. The main outcome was NC after a mean follow-up of 7-years on measures of memory (SEVLT sum and SEVLT recall), language (word fluency), processing speed (DSS) and a cognitive impairment screener. We evaluated the effect of baseline SDB (AHI ≥ 15), sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale, ESS ≥ 10), self-reported sleep duration (i.e. <6 hours, 6-9 hours, ≥ 9 hours), age and sex on NC. Survey linear regression models with interaction terms were used to examine the relationship between SDB, sleep duration, combinations of SDB and sleep duration phenotypes and NC. Depression, vascular risk, sleep medication, and study site were entered into all models as covariates. Results Overall, the mean age was 56.0 years, 54.8% females, 62.2% completed high school, 17.3% had SDB, 6.6% had short sleep,and 14.8% had long sleep. Sleep duration and SDB were not associated with NC. There was a significant interaction between agexSDB+sleep duration on delayed recall (F10,599= 2.40, p=0.01) and processing speed (F10,597= 2.55, p=0.01). Combined SDB + short sleep was associated with decline in processing speed (β=-0.6, 95% CI= [-1.2, -0.1], and combined SDB+long sleep was associated with decline in verbal memory (β=-0.9, 95% CI=[-1.7, -0.2] in adults aged ≥ 65 years. There was no association in participants aged <65 years and no sex differences. Conclusion Age, but not sex, modified the association between SDB and sleep duration with decline on processing speed and verbal memory. Sleep interventions tailored for older adults may be useful in slowing or preventing neurocognitive decline. Support This work is supported by National Institute on Aging (R01AG048642, RF1AG054548, R01AG061022, and R21AG056952).

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Cognitive functioning and predictors thereof in patients with 1–10 brain metastases selected for stereotactic radiosurgery

Journal of Neuro-Oncology ◽

10.1007/s11060-019-03292-y ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 145 (2) ◽

pp. 265-276 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Wietske C. M. Schimmel ◽

Karin Gehring ◽

Patrick E. J. Hanssens ◽

Margriet M. Sitskoorn

Keyword(s):

Information Processing ◽

Brain Metastases ◽

Cognitive Functioning ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Cognitive Flexibility ◽

Verbal Memory ◽

Test Performance ◽

Neuropsychological Test ◽

Cognitive Outcome ◽

Individual Level

Abstract Purpose Information on predictive factors of cognitive functioning in patients with (multiple) brain metastases (BM) selected for radiosurgery may allow for more individual care and may play a role in predicting cognitive outcome after radiosurgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate cognitive performance, and predictors thereof, in patients with 1–10 BM before radiosurgery. Methods Cognition was measured before radiosurgery using a standardized neuropsychological test battery in patients with 1–10 BM (expected survival > 3 months; KPS ≥ 70; no prior BM treatment). Regression formulae were constructed to calculate sociodemographically corrected z scores. Group and individual cognitive functioning was analyzed. Multivariable regression was used to explore potential predictors. Results Patients (N = 92) performed significantly worse than controls (N = 104) on all 11 test variables (medium-large effect sizes for 8 variables). Percentages of impairment were highest for information processing (55.3%), dexterity (43.2%) and cognitive flexibility (28.7%). 62% and 46% of patients had impairments in at least two, or three test variables, respectively. Models including combinations of clinical and psychological variables were predictive of verbal memory, psychomotor speed, information processing and dexterity. Neither number nor volume of metastases predicted patients’ test performance. Conclusions Already before radiosurgery, almost half of the patients suffered from severe cognitive deficits in at least three test variables. At group and individual level, information processing, cognitive flexibility, and dexterity were most affected. These cognitive impairments may impair daily functioning and patients’ ability to make (shared) treatment decisions. Both clinical (symptomatic BM; timing of BM diagnosis) and psychological (mental fatigue) characteristics influenced cognitive performance. Clinical trial information Cognition and Radiation Study A (CAR-Study A; ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02953756; Medical Ethics Committee file number: NL53472.028.15/P1515).

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Earlier Age of First Exposure to Competitive Fighting Has an Adverse Impact on Neuropsychiatric Symptoms and Brain Volume

Neurology ◽

10.1212/01.wnl.0000801920.99534.64 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 98 (1 Supplement 1) ◽

pp. S20.1-S20

Author(s):

Barry Bryant ◽

Bharat Narapareddy ◽

Michael Johnathan Char Bray ◽

Lisa N. Richey ◽

Akshay D. Krieg ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Processing Speed ◽

Neuropsychiatric Symptoms ◽

Brain Mri ◽

Vital Signs ◽

Health Study ◽

Control Group ◽

Brain Health ◽

Brain Volumes ◽

Head Impacts ◽

Younger Age

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to determine whether individuals who began fighting competitively at a younger age experienced adverse brain health outcomes compared to fighters who began competing at an older age.BackgroundEstablished literature has made clear that fighting sports such as boxing and mixed martial arts can lead to head injury. Prior work from this group on the Professional Fighters Brain Health Study (PFBHS) found that exposure to repetitive head impacts is associated with lower brain volumes and decreased processing speed in fighters.Design/MethodsAs part of the PFBHS, current and previously licensed professional fighters were recruited, divided into active and retired cohorts, and matched with a control group that had no prior experience in sports with likely head trauma. This present study examined the relationship between age of first exposure (AFE) to fighting sports and brain structure (MRI regional volume), cognitive performance (CNS Vital Signs, iComet C3), and clinical neuropsychiatric symptoms (PHQ-9, Barratt Impulsiveness Scale).ResultsBrain MRI data showed significant correlations between earlier AFE and smaller bilateral hippocampal and posterior corpus callosum volumes for both retired and active fighters. Earlier AFE in active fighters was correlated with decreased processing speed and decreased psychomotor speed. Retired fighters showed a correlation between earlier AFE and higher measures of depression and impulsivity.ConclusionsThe findings of this study help to inform clinicians, governing bodies, parents, and athletes of the risks associated with beginning to compete in fighting sports at a young age.

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Passive heat acclimation does not modulate processing speed and executive functions during cognitive tasks performed at fixed levels of thermal strain

Applied Physiology Nutrition and Metabolism ◽

10.1139/apnm-2021-0243 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Hadiatou Barry ◽

Philippe Gendron ◽

Christine Gagnon ◽

Louis Bherer ◽

Daniel Gagnon

Keyword(s):

Reaction Time ◽

Executive Functions ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Core Temperature ◽

Processing Speed ◽

Heat Exposure ◽

Thermal Strain ◽

Heat Acclimation ◽

Cognitive Tasks ◽

Time Control

Purpose: This study evaluated if passive controlled hyperthermia heat acclimation (HA) modulates cognitive performance during passive heat stress. Methods: Eight healthy adults (25 ± 4 years) underwent 7 consecutive days of hot water immersion (core temperature ≥38.6°C) and a 7-day time-control period. On days 1 and 7 of HA, participants performed a digital Stroop test at baseline, when core temperature reached 38.6°C, and after 60 minutes at a core temperature ≥38.6°C to evaluate reaction time during tasks targeting processing speed (reading and counting) and executive functions (inhibition and switching). On days 1 and 7 of the time-control intervention, participants performed the Stroop test with equivalent amounts of time separating each task as for HA. Results: During day 1 of HA, reaction time was quicker during the reading (-44 ms [-71, -17], P<0.01) and counting (-39 ms [-76, -2], P=0.04) tasks when rectal temperature reached 38.6°C, but after a further 60 minutes of heat exposure, reaction time only remained quicker during the reading task (-56 ms [-83, -29], P<0.01). Changes in reaction time during heat exposure were unaffected by subsequent HA (interaction, all P≥0.09). Conclusion: Seven days of HA does not modulate processing speed and executive functions during passive heat exposure. Novelty: - Whether heat acclimation (HA) to improve cognitive performance during heat exposure remains understudied. - We tested the hypothesis that HA modulates reaction time during cognitive tasks performed at matched levels of thermal strain. - Despite classical signs of HA, reaction time during heat exposure was unaffected by HA.

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Baseline neurocognitive scores in athletes with attention deficit–spectrum disorders and/or learning disability

Journal of Neurosurgery Pediatrics ◽

10.3171/2013.5.peds12524 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 103-109 ◽

Cited By ~ 73

Author(s):

Scott L. Zuckerman ◽

Young M. Lee ◽

Mitchell J. Odom ◽

Gary S. Solomon ◽

Allen K. Sills

Keyword(s):

Reaction Time ◽

Attention Deficit ◽

Processing Speed ◽

Verbal Memory ◽

Impulse Control ◽

Visual Memory ◽

Special Populations ◽

Motor Processing ◽

Visual Motor ◽

Visual Motor Processing

Object Up to 16% of children in the US between the ages of 3 and 17 years have either attention deficit–spectrum disorder or a learning disability (LD). Sports-related concussions among youth athletes represent a significant public health concern, and neurocognitive testing is a method to evaluate the severity of cognitive impairment and recovery after a sports-related concussion. The goal of this study was to assess baseline neurocognitive differences between athletes with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and/or LD versus those with neither disorder and to establish normative data for these special populations. Methods Between August 2007 and March 2012, 6636 young athletes underwent baseline neurocognitive testing performed using the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) battery. Of these participants, 90 had self-reported LD only, 262 had self-reported ADHD only, and 55 reported both. Those with ADHD and/or LD were matched with 407 participants with no history of ADHD or LD by age, sex, and number of prior concussions. The mean scores and SDs were calculated for each group to obtain normative values. A pairwise comparison between each diagnostic group was done to assess whether LD and/or ADHD diagnostic status predicted participants' baseline neurocognitive scores. Results Participants with ADHD had significantly lower verbal memory, visual memory, and visual motor processing speed scores, along with significantly higher reaction time, impulse control, and symptom scores compared with those without LD or ADHD. Participants with LD had similar results, with significantly lower verbal memory, visual memory, and visual motor processing speed scores, higher reaction time and symptom score, but did not differ in their impulse control score compared with those without LD or ADHD. Participants with both LD and ADHD had a significantly lower visual motor speed score and a significantly higher reaction time and symptom score than those without LD or ADHD, but did not differ with regard to the other composite scores. Conclusions Athletes with ADHD and/or LD have lower baseline ImPACT neurocognitive scores compared with athletes without ADHD and LD. Preliminary normative neurocognitive data for these special populations are provided.

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Cognitive Functioning and Schizotypy: A Four-Years Study

Frontiers in Psychiatry ◽

10.3389/fpsyt.2020.613015 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Penny Karamaouna ◽

Chrysoula Zouraraki ◽

Stella G. Giakoumaki

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Functioning ◽

Response Inhibition ◽

Processing Speed ◽

Control Group ◽

Set Shifting ◽

Ample Evidence ◽

Time Points ◽

Wide Range ◽

Over Time

Although there is ample evidence from cross-sectional studies indicating cognitive deficits in high schizotypal individuals that resemble the cognitive profile of schizophrenia-spectrum patients, there is still lack of evidence by longitudinal/follow-up studies. The present study included assessments of schizotypal traits and a wide range of cognitive functions at two time points (baseline and 4-years assessments) in order to examine (a) their stability over time, (b) the predictive value of baseline schizotypy on cognition at follow-up and (c) differences in cognition between the two time points in high negative schizotypal and control individuals. Only high negative schizotypal individuals were compared with controls due to the limited number of participants falling in the other schizotypal groups at follow-up. Seventy participants (mean age: 36.17; 70% females) were assessed at baseline and follow-up. Schizotypal traits were evaluated with the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire. We found that schizotypal traits decreased over time, except in a sub-group of participants (“schizotypy congruent”) that includes individuals who consistently meet normative criteria of inclusion in either a schizotypal or control group. In these individuals, negative schizotypy and aspects of cognitive-perceptual and disorganized schizotypy remained stable. The stability of cognitive functioning also varied over time: response inhibition, aspects of cued attention switching, set-shifting and phonemic/semantic verbal fluency improved at follow-up. High negative schizotypy at baseline predicted poorer response inhibition and semantic switching at follow-up while high disorganized schizotypy predicted poorer semantic processing and complex processing speed/set-shifting. The between-group analyses revealed that response inhibition, set-shifting and complex processing speed/set-shifting were poorer in negative schizotypals compared with controls at both time points, while maintaining set and semantic switching were poorer only at follow-up. Taken together, the findings show differential stability of the schizotypal traits over time and indicate that different aspects of schizotypy predict a different pattern of neuropsychological task performance during a 4-years time window. These results are of significant use in the formulation of targeted early-intervention strategies for high-risk populations.

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Relationship Between Cognitive Performance and Lower Extremity Biomechanics: Implications for Sports-Related Concussion

Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1177/23259671211032246 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (8) ◽

pp. 232596712110322

Author(s):

Jason M. Avedesian ◽

Tracey Covassin ◽

Shelby Baez ◽

Jennifer Nash ◽

Ed Nagelhout ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Reaction Time ◽

Lower Extremity ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Pearson Correlation ◽

Collegiate Athletes ◽

Neuromuscular Control ◽

Cognitive Test ◽

Injury Incidence ◽

Increased Risk ◽

History Of

Background: Collegiate athletes with prior sports-related concussion (SRC) are at increased risk for lower extremity (LE) injuries; however, the biomechanical and cognitive mechanisms underlying the SRC-LE injury relationship are not well understood. Purpose: To examine the association between cognitive performance and LE land-and-cut biomechanics among collegiate athletes with and without a history of SRC and to determine the association among multiple cognitive testing batteries in the same athlete cohort. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: A cohort of 20 collegiate athletes with prior SRC (9 men, 11 women; mean ± standard deviation [SD] age, 20.5 ± 1.3 years; mean ± SD time since last SRC, 461 ± 263 days) and 20 matched controls (9 men, 11 women; mean ± SD age, 19.8 ± 1.3 years) completed land-and-cut tasks using the dominant and nondominant limbs. LE biomechanical variables and a functional visuomotor reaction time (FVMRT) were collected during each trial. Athletes also completed the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Test (ImPACT) and Senaptec Sensory Station assessments. Results: In the SRC cohort, Pearson correlation coefficients indicated slower FVMRT was moderately correlated with decreased dominant limb ( r = –0.512) and nondominant limb ( r = –0.500) knee flexion, while increased dominant limb knee abduction moment was moderately correlated with decreased ImPACT Visual Memory score ( r = –0.539) and slower ImPACT Reaction Time ( r = 0.515). Most computerized cognitive measures were not associated with FVMRT in either cohort ( P > .05). Conclusion: Decreased reaction time and working memory performance were moderately correlated with decreased sagittal plane knee motion and increased frontal plane knee loading in collegiate athletes with a history of SRC. The present findings suggest a potential unique relationship between cognitive performance and LE neuromuscular control in athletes with a history of SRC injury. Last, we determined that computerized measures of cognitive performance often utilized for SRC management are dissimilar to sport-specific cognitive processes. Clinical Relevance: Understanding the relationship between cognitive performance and LE biomechanics in athletes with prior SRC may inform future clinical management strategies. Future research should prospectively assess cognitive and biomechanical measures, along with LE injury incidence, to identify mechanisms underlying the SRC-LE injury relationship.

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