scholarly journals Differences in Executive Function Among Patients With Schizophrenia, Their Unaffected First-Degree Relatives, and Healthy Participants

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (11) ◽  
pp. 731-737
Author(s):  
Yuzuru Kataoka ◽  
Takamitsu Shimada ◽  
Yoko Koide ◽  
Hiroaki Okubo ◽  
Takashi Uehara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Executive Function ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Wisconsin Card Sorting Test ◽  
Intermediate Phenotype ◽  
Clinical Variable ◽  
Card Sorting ◽  
First Degree Relatives ◽  
Duration Of Illness ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Perseverative Errors

Abstract Background Patients with schizophrenia (SCZ) display impaired executive functions compared with healthy controls (HCs). Furthermore, unaffected first-degree relatives (FRs) of patients with SCZ independently perform worse executive functions than do HCs. However, few studies have investigated the differences in executive functions assessed among patients with SCZ, FRs, and HCs, and the findings are inconsistent. Methods We investigated diagnostic differences in executive functions, namely (1) numbers of categories achieved (CA), (2) total errors (TE), and (3) percentage of perseverative errors of Nelson types (%PEN), using the Wisconsin card sorting test among patients with SCZ (n = 116), unaffected FRs (n = 62), and HCs (n = 146) at a single institute. Correlations between these executive functions and clinical variables were investigated. Results Significant differences existed in all executive functions among diagnostic groups (CA, F2,319 = 15.5, P = 3.71 × 10–7; TE, F2,319 = 16.2, P = 2.06 × 10–7; and %PEN, F2,319 = 21.3, P = 2.15 × 10–9). Patients with SCZ had fewer CA and more TE and %PEN than those of HCs (CA, Cohen’s d = −0.70, P = 5.49 × 10–8; TE, d = 0.70, P = 5.62 × 10–8; and %PEN, d = 0.82, P = 2.85 × 10−10) and FRs (TE, d = 0.46, P = 3.73 × 10–3 and %PEN, d = 0.38, P = .017). Of the 3 executive functions, CA and %PEN of FRs were intermediately impaired between patients with SCZ and HCs (CA, d = −0.41, P = .011 and %PEN, d = 0.41, P = .012). In contrast, no significant difference in TE existed between FRs and HCs (d = 0.22, P = .18). Although CA and TE were affected by the duration of illness (P < .017), %PEN was not affected by any clinical variable in patients with SCZ (P > .017). Conclusions Executive function, particularly %PEN, could be a useful intermediate phenotype for understanding the genetic mechanisms implicated in SCZ pathophysiology.

Dopaminergic Genes Polymorphisms and Prefrontal Cortex Efficiency Among Obese People - Whether Gender is a Differentiating Factor?

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 405-418
Author(s):  
Maciej Bieliński ◽  
Natalia Lesiewska ◽  
Roman Junik ◽  
Anna Kamińska ◽  
Andrzej Tretyn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Tandem Repeats ◽  
Wisconsin Card Sorting Test ◽  
Variable Number ◽  
Card Sorting ◽  
Obese People ◽  
Perseverative Errors ◽  
Wisconsin Card Sorting ◽  
Sorting Test

Background:Obesity is a chronic condition associated with poorer cognitive functioning. Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) is a useful tool for evaluating executive functions. In this study, we assessed the association between dopaminergic gene polymorphisms: DAT1 (SLC6A3), COMTVal158Met, DRD4 (48-bp variable number of tandem repeats - VNTR) and WCST parameters to investigate the functions of the frontal lobes in obese individuals.Objective:To find the significant correlations between polymorphisms of DAT1, COMTVal158Met, DRD4 and executive functions in obese subjects.Methods:The analysis of the frequency of individual alleles was performed in 248 obese patients (179 women, 69 men). Evaluation of the prefrontal cortex function (operating memory and executive functions) was measured with the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). Separate analyzes were performed in age subgroups to determine different activities and regulation of genes in younger and older participants.Results:Scores of WCST parameters were different in the subgroups of women and men and in the age subgroups. Regarding the COMT gene, patients with A/A and G/A polymorphisms showed significantly better WCST results in WCST_P, WCST_CC and WCST_1st. Regarding DAT1 men with L/L and L/S made less non-perseverative errors, which was statistically significant. In DRD4, significantly better WCST_1st results were found only in older women with S allele.Conclusion:Obtained results indicate the involvement of dopaminergic transmission in the regulation of prefrontal cortex function. Data analysis indicates that prefrontal cortex function may ensue, from different elements such as genetic factors, metabolic aspects of obesity, and hormonal activity (estrogen).

scholarly journals Clinical and neuropsychological assessment of executive function in a sample of children and adolescents with idiopathic epilepsy

2014 ◽  
Vol 72 (12) ◽  
pp. 954-959 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Bandeira de Lima ◽  
Fernanda Moreira ◽  
Marleide da Mota Gomes ◽  
Heber Maia-Filho
Keyword(s):  
Academic Performance ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Clinical Data ◽  
Wisconsin Card Sorting Test ◽  
Idiopathic Epilepsy ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Seizure Type ◽  
Card Sorting

Objective To compare the executive functions of children and adolescents with idiopathic epilepsy with a control group and to correlate with clinical data, intelligence and academic performance. Method Cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study. Thirty-one cases and thirty-five controls were evaluated by the WCST (Wisconsin Card Sorting Test).The results were compared with clinical data (seizure type and frequency, disease duration and number of antiepileptic drugs used), IQ (WISC-III) and academic performance (APT). Results Patients with epilepsy had poorer executive function scores. There was no positive linear correlation between test scores and epilepsy variables. There was a positive association between academic performance and some executive function results. Conclusion Children with well controlled idiopathic epilepsy may show deficits in executive functions in spite of clinical variables. Those deficits may influence academic performance.

scholarly journals ANK3 Gene Polymorphism Rs10994336 Influences Executive Functions by Modulating Methylation in Patients With Bipolar Disorder

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lili Tang ◽  
Juan Liu ◽  
Yue Zhu ◽  
Jia Duan ◽  
Yifan Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Epigenetic Modification ◽  
Association Studies ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Wisconsin Card Sorting Test ◽  
Genome Wide Association Studies ◽  
Card Sorting ◽  
Significant Difference

Background: A large body of evidence suggests that epigenetic modification including DNA methylation plays a critical role in BD's pathogenesis while the identification of methylation quantitative trait loci (meQTLs) shed light on the interpretation of the function of genetic variants in non-coding regions. The intronic single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs10994336 within the ANK3 has emerged as one of the most replicated risk variants for bipolar disorder (BD) in genome-wide association studies. Whether rs10994336 functions as a meQTL to mediate the association between genotype and phenotype remains unclear.Method: A total of 154 patients with BD and 181 healthy controls (HC) were recruited. The genotypes of rs10994336 and methylation levels of CpG sites within ANK3 were tested. Executive functions were assessed using a computerized version of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST).Results: Bipolar disorder patients with the risk-T allele of rs10994336 scored lower on tests of executive function compared to homozygous CC carriers, after controlling for age, gender, and education level. No significant difference was found in HC individuals. The risk-T allele is associated with a lower methylation level of CpG site cg02172182 in HC after multiple corrections and replicated in the BD group in the same direction. Further mediation analysis revealed that the cg02172182 methylation significantly mediated the association between the polymorphism rs10994336 and PE index of WCST in patients with BD.Conclusion: Our study suggests that BD-related genetic variant rs10994336 in ANK3 impacts executive functions by modulating ANK3 methylation, supporting the theory that methylation acts as a mediator between genotype and phenotype.

scholarly journals Lack of executive function deficits among adult ADHD individuals from a Brazilian clinical sample

2009 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eloisa Saboya ◽  
Gabriel Coutinho ◽  
Daniel Segenreich ◽  
Vanessa Ayrão ◽  
Paulo Mattos
Keyword(s):  
Executive Function ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Adult Adhd ◽  
Clinical Sample ◽  
Digit Span ◽  
Wisconsin Card Sorting Test ◽  
Adhd Group ◽  
Card Sorting ◽  
Control Subjects ◽  
Executive Function Deficits

Abstract Executive function deficits have been previously documented in individuals with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Objective: The current study aimed to compare measures of executive functions among a clinical sample of adults with ADHD and normal control subjects, matched for age, gender and education. Methods: Twenty-three self-referred adults diagnosed with ADHD according to DSM-IV criteria, and twenty-five control subjects were assessed using a neuropsychological battery which included the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Tower of Hanoi, Digit Span, Trail Making Test (A and B), Stroop Test and Raven's Progressive Matrices. Results: The ADHD group did not differ significantly from the control subjects on any of the measures assessed. Conclusion: Measures of executive functions using this test battery were unable to discriminate between adults with ADHD and control subjects in this clinical sample.

Executive Function Deficits in Patients after Cerebellar Neurosurgery

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monika Mak ◽  
Ernest Tyburski ◽  
Łukasz Madany ◽  
Andrzej Sokołowski ◽  
Agnieszka Samochowiec
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Response Times ◽  
Digit Span ◽  
Wisconsin Card Sorting Test ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Card Sorting ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Regulatory Processes ◽  
Perseverative Errors

AbstractThe cerebellum has long been perceived as a structure responsible for the human motor function. According to the contemporary approach, however, it plays a significant role in complex behavior regulatory processes. The aim of this study was to describe executive functions in patients after cerebellar surgery. The study involved 30 patients with cerebellar pathology. The control group comprised 30 neurologically and mentally healthy individuals, matched for sex, age, and number of years of education. Executive functions were measured by the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), Stroop Color Word Test (SCWT), Trail Making Test (TMT), and working memory by the Digit Span. Compared to healthy controls, patients made more Errors and Perseverative errors in the WCST, gave more Perseverative responses, and had a lower Number of categories completed. The patients exhibited higher response times in all three parts of the SCWT and TMT A and B. No significant differences between the two groups were reported in their performance of the SCWT and TMT with regard to the measures of absolute or relative interference. The patients had lower score on the backward Digit Span. Patients with cerebellar pathology may exhibit some impairment within problem solving and working memory. Their worse performance on the SCWT and TMT could, in turn, stem from their poor motor–somatosensory control, and not necessarily executive deficits. Our results thus support the hypothesis of the cerebellum’s mediating role in the regulation of the activity of the superordinate cognitive control network in the brain. (JINS, 2016, 22, 47–57)

Relationship between executive functions and adherence to antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infected patients

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S368-S369 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Hernández Huerta ◽  
C. Parro Torres ◽  
A. Madoz Gúrpide ◽  
E. Ochoa Mangado ◽  
M.J. Pérez Elias
Keyword(s):  
Antiretroviral Therapy ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Hospital Pharmacy ◽  
Wisconsin Card Sorting Test ◽  
Poor Adherence ◽  
Card Sorting ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Perseverative Errors ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Competing Interest

IntroductionHIV-related damage of the central nervous system is manifested in varying severity of neurocognitive disturbances. Research on measures of executive functioning has confirmed that HIV infection is associated with progressive difficulties in these abilities. Moreover, several studies in recent years have shown that an impaired cognitive function confers a higher risk of poor adherence to antiretroviral therapy.Objectives/AimsThe aim of this study is to analyze the relationship between executive functions and ART compliance.MethodsWe designed a cross-sectional case-control survey. Cases were defined as HIV-infected patients who missing at least 10% intakes in the last year (reported by hospital pharmacy) and self-reported non-adherence by Simplified Medication Adherence Questionnaire (SMAQ). Controls were defined as HIV-infected patients who accomplishing at least last 95% intakes in the last year (reported by hospital pharmacy), and self-reported adherence by SMAQ. Patients with adherences between 90–95% were not included. Executive functions were evaluated with Wisconsin Sorting Card Test. Linear regression was employed as statistical analysis. Results were adjusted for follow-up years. Wisconsin score was already adjusted for gender, age and education level when data were corrected.ResultsOur sample was compound by 63 patients: 37 controls and 26 cases. A statistical signification (P < 0.05) was found for total correct, total errors, perseverative responses, perseverative errors, conceptual level responses and trials to complete first category score between adherence and non-adherence treatment patients.ConclusionsIn our sample worse executive function score, measured by Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, was linked to poor adherence to antiretroviral treatment in HIV patients.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Moderate Exercise Improves Brain Efficiency for Executive Functions in Young Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 782-785 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huijin Song ◽  
Jin Gu Kim ◽  
Kyung Eun Jang ◽  
Hyunsil Cha ◽  
Sechang Kwon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Executive Function ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Wisconsin Card Sorting Test ◽  
Brain Network ◽  
Behavioral Performance ◽  
Moderate Exercise ◽  
Card Sorting ◽  
Added Benefit ◽  
Sorting Test ◽  
Function Network

This study investigates how moderate and addictive exercise influence the executive function network of the brain using fMRI. Sixty-five healthy participants performed the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) during a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan. Participants were divided into three groups, according to the Korean exercise addiction scale (K-EAS): addictive exercise (AE), moderate exercise (ME), and no exercise (NE). We compared the extracted volumes of activity from the fMRI data between groups and analyzed the correlation between the volumes and the behavioral data. The activated area in the executive function network was significantly smaller in the AE and ME groups than in the NE group. In contrast, there was no difference between the AE and the ME group in the size of the activated area of the executive function network. The groups did not differ in behavioral performance. There was no significant correlation between the behavioral measurements and the activation volumes. A focused reorganization of the executive brain network through exercise may suggest improved neural efficiency for executive functions, and exercise may be helpful in maintaining executive functions and behavioral performance levels. Addictive exercise did not show an added benefit for the efficiency of executive functions.

scholarly journals Executive functions in young patients with unipolar depression

2006 ◽  
Vol 134 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 273-277
Author(s):  
Sanja Totic-Poznanovic ◽  
Dragan Marinkovic ◽  
Dragan Pavlovic ◽  
Gordana Tomic ◽  
Vladimir Paunovic
Keyword(s):  
Executive Functions ◽  
Negative Feedback ◽  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Young Patients ◽  
Unipolar Depression ◽  
Wisconsin Card Sorting Test ◽  
Card Sorting ◽  
Perseverative Errors ◽  
Healthy Control ◽  
Sorting Test

Neuropsychological deficits associated with unipolar depression are seen in a broad range of cognitive domains. Executive deficits may be prominent in depression. Investigation of executive functions in younger adult patients with unipolar depression has been the focus of our study. Twenty-two consecutively depressive inpatients (24-36 years) and 21 healthy control subjects, matched on age, gender, education and verbal IQ were included in the study. Neuropsychological tests for executive functions were applied to all subjects. Unipolar young depressives showed significantly reduced number of completed categories and more trials for completion of the first category on Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). No difference of tasks assessing the short-term memory, total errors on WCST, perseverative and non-perseverative errors, and of both phonemic and semantic conditions of verbal fluency was found between groups. The results suggested that unipolar depressives had specific cognitive style characterized by "negative cognitive set" (stronger negative reaction to negative feedback) and by failure to use negative feedback to improve their performance.

scholarly journals Executive cognitive tests for the evaluation of patients with Parkinson's disease

2008 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 206-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuelle Silva Tavares Sobreira ◽  
Marina Ceres Silva Pena ◽  
José Humberto Silva Filho ◽  
Carolina Pinto Souza ◽  
Guiomar Nascimento Oliveira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Verbal Fluency ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Digit Span ◽  
Wisconsin Card Sorting Test ◽  
Card Sorting ◽  
Perseverative Errors ◽  
Test Category

Abstract Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by changes in movement, which are later followed by cognitive, behavioral and psychological changes. The objective of the present study was to correlate different tests used to examine executive functions in PD patients followed at a specialized outpatient clinic. Methods: Thirty-five patients with idiopathic PD aged 63.0 years on average and with mean schooling of 5.5±4.2 years, were examined using the following tests: Mattis Dementia Rating Scale (MDRS), Scales for Outcomes of Parkinson's Disease-Cognition (SCOPA-COG), Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), Digit Span - Inverse Order (IO) (a subtest of the WAIS III) and Verbal Fluency Test (category animals). Results: Significant correlations were detected between FAB and MDRS Conceptualization (0.814), MDRS Initiation/Perseveration (I/P) and SCOPA-COG Executive Function (0.643), FAB and MDRS I/P (0.601), FAB and Verbal Fluency (0.602), MDRS I/P and MDRS Conceptualization (0.558), Verbal Fluency and MDRS I/P (0.529), MDRS Attention and SCOPA-COG Executive Function (0.495), MDRS Conceptualization and SCOPA-COG Executive Function (0.520), FAB and Digit Span (OI) (0.503), Verbal Fluency and MDRS Conceptualization (0.501), and WCST perseverative errors and FAB (-0.379), WCST perseverative errors and MDRS Conceptualization (0.445), WCST perseverative errors and MDRS I/P (-0.407) and WCST categories completed and MDRS Conceptualization (0.382). Discussion: The results demonstrated strong correlations between most of the tests applied, but no associations were detected between the WCST and the other tests, a fact that may be explained by the heterogeneity of scores obtained in the tests by the patients evaluated. A difficulty of the present study was the lack of a control groups for the establishment of adequate standards for this population.

scholarly journals Memantine augmentation of sertraline in the treatment of symptoms and executive function among patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder: A double-blind placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial

2022 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanaz Askari ◽  
Saba Mokhtari ◽  
Seyed Vahid Shariat ◽  
Behnam Shariati ◽  
Masoomeh Yarahmadi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Wisconsin Card Sorting Test ◽  
P Value ◽  
Card Sorting ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Significant Difference

Abstract Background Medications currently recommended for the treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) usually decrease the severity of the symptoms by 20–30%; however, 40–60% of OCD patients do not achieve a satisfactory response. Our main objective was to investigate the effectiveness of memantine, a non-competitive N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, as an adjunct therapy to sertraline, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), to improve severity of symptoms and executive function among patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Methods Seventy patients with OCD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM–5) criteria, and a Yale-Brown obsessive compulsive scale (Y-BOCS) score of more than 21 were recruited to the study. They received sertraline (100 mg daily initially followed by 200 mg daily after week 4) and either memantine (10 mg twice daily) or placebo in a placebo controlled, double-blinded, parallel-group, clinical trial of 12 weeks. The primary outcome was OCD symptoms measured by the Y-BOCS. Moreover, executive function of participants was measured by the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). Results The total score, and obsession and compulsion subscales of Y-BOCS significantly dropped in both groups with no significant difference between the two groups. However, memantine group showed a greater response in the number of completed categories subscale of the WCST (p value<0.001). We did not observe any major adverse effects in any of the groups. Conclusion Memantine has an acceptable safety and tolerability in patients with OCD and might have a positive effect on their executive function. Nevertheless, the current results don`t support the efficacy of memantine as an adjunctive agent to sertraline for symptoms in patients with OCD. Trial registration The trial was registered at the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials on 04/10/2019 (www.irct.ir; IRCT ID: IRCT20170123032145N4).

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