scholarly journals Cognitive profile of mild behavioral impairment in Brain Health Registry participants

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farzeen Kassam ◽  
Hung-Yu Chen ◽  
Rachel L Nosheny ◽  
Alexander McGirr ◽  
Tirzah Williams ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Test Performance ◽  
Test Scores ◽  
Neuropsychological Test ◽  
Behavioral Assessment ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Brain Health ◽  
Behavioral Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Test Performance ◽  
Health Registry

INTRODUCTION: Dementia assessment includes cognitive and behavioral testing with informant validation. Conventional testing is resource intensive, with uneven access. Online unsupervised assessments could reduce barriers to risk assessment. We interrogated the relationship between informant-rated behavioral changes and neuropsychological test performance in older adults in the Brain Health Registry. METHODS: Participants completed online unsupervised cognitive tests, and informants completed the Mild Behavioral Impairment Checklist via a Study Partner portal. Cognitive performance was evaluated in MBI+/- individuals, as was the association between cognitive scores and MBI symptom severity. RESULTS: Mean age of the 499 participants was 67, 61% of which were female. MBI+ participants had lower working memory and executive function test scores. Lower cognitive test scores associated with greater MBI burden. DISCUSSION: Our findings support the feasibility of remote, informant-reported behavioral assessment and support its validity by demonstrating a relationship to cognitive test performance using online unsupervised assessments for dementia risk assessment.

Examining the range of normal intraindividual variability in neuropsychological test performance

2003 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 864-870 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J. Schretlen ◽  
Cynthia A. Munro ◽  
James C. Anthony ◽  
Godfrey D. Pearlson
Keyword(s):  
Test Performance ◽  
Test Scores ◽  
Neuropsychological Test ◽  
Intraindividual Variability ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Intraindividual Variation ◽  
Adult Participants ◽  
Cerebral Dysfunction ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Cognitive Test Performance

AbstractNeuropsychologists often diagnose cerebral dysfunction based, in part, on marked variation in an individual's cognitive test performance. However, little is known about what constitutes the normal range of intraindividual variation. In this study, after excluding 54 individuals with significant health problems, we derived 32 z-transformed scores from 15 tests administered to 197 adult participants in a study of normal aging. The difference between each person's highest and lowest scores was computed to assess his or her maximum discrepancy (MD). The resulting MD values ranged from 1.6 to 6.1 meaning that the smallest MD shown by any person was 1.6 standard deviations (SDs) and the largest MD shown by any person was 6.1 SDs. Sixty-six percent of participants produced MD values that exceeded 3 SDs. Eliminating each person's highest and lowest test scores decreased their MDs, but 27% of the participants still produced MD values exceeding 3. Although MD values appeared to increase with age, adjusting test scores for age, which is standard in clinical practice, did not correct for this. These data reveal that marked intraindividual variability is very common in normal adults, and underscore the need to base diagnostic inferences on clinically recognizable patterns rather than psychometric variability alone. (JINS, 2003, 9, 864–870.)

Associations between Visual Acuity and Cognitive Decline in Older Adulthood: A 9-Year Longitudinal Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Ashlyn Runk ◽  
Yichen Jia ◽  
Anran Liu ◽  
Chung-Chou H. Chang ◽  
Mary Ganguli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visual Acuity ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Test Performance ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Neuropsychological Test ◽  
Joint Modeling ◽  
Modifiable Risk Factor ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Cognitive Test Performance

Abstract Objective: Emerging evidence suggests low vision may be a modifiable risk factor for cognitive decline. We examined effects of baseline visual acuity (VA) on level of, and change in, cognitive test performance over 9 years. Method: A population-based sample of 1,621 participants (average age 77 years) completed a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation and VA testing at baseline and reassessed at nine subsequent annual visits. Linear regression modeled the association between baseline VA and concurrent cognitive test performance. Joint modeling of a longitudinal sub-model and a survival sub-model to adjust for attrition were used to examine associations between baseline VA and repeated cognitive test performance over time. Results: Better baseline VA was associated cross-sectionally with younger age, male sex, greater than high school education, and higher baseline neuropsychological test scores on both vision-dependent (B coefficient range −0.163 to −0.375, p = .006 to <.001) and vision-independent tests (−0.187 to −0.215, p = .003 to .002). In longitudinal modeling, better baseline VA was associated with slower decline in vision-dependent tests (B coefficient range −0.092 to 0.111, p = .005 to <.001) and vision-independent tests (−0.107 to 0.067, p = .007 to <.001). Conclusions: Higher VA is associated with higher concurrent cognitive abilities and slower rates of decline over 9 years in both vision-dependent and vision-independent tests of memory, language, and executive functioning. Findings are consistent with emerging literature supporting vision impairment in aging as a potentially modifiable risk factor for cognitive decline. Clinicians should encourage patient utilization of vision assessment and correction with the added aim of protecting cognition.

scholarly journals Fitness to drive in older drivers with cognitive impairment

2000 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 480-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
FREDERIEC K. WITHAAR ◽  
WIEBO H. BROUWER ◽  
ADRIAAN H. VAN ZOMEREN
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Test Performance ◽  
Traffic Accidents ◽  
Neuropsychological Test ◽  
Driving Performance ◽  
Older Drivers ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Cognitively Impaired ◽  
Fitness To Drive ◽  
Cognitive Test Performance

This paper is a literature review on assessment of fitness to drive in older drivers with cognitive impairment. Early studies on dementia and driving generally failed to distinguish between safe and unsafe drivers on the basis of cognitive test performance. Predictive studies demonstrated that cognitively impaired persons as a group perform significantly worse than controls on both neuropsychological and driving measures. A high prevalence of cognitive impairment was found in groups of older drivers involved in traffic accidents and crashes. However, a large range in neuropsychological test scores has been found. Low to moderate correlations could be established between neuropsychological test results and on-road driving performance, making it difficult to discriminate between cognitively impaired subjects who are fit or unfit to drive. The review concludes with a discussion of methodological difficulties in the field of dementia and driving, including participant selection, the choice of neuropsychological tests, and the operationalization of driving performance. (JINS, 2000, 6, 480–490.)

How to Correct for Computer Experience in Online Cognitive Testing?

Assessment ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 107319112091109
Author(s):  
Philippe R. Lee Meeuw Kjoe ◽  
Joost A. Agelink van Rentergem ◽  
Ivar E. Vermeulen ◽  
Sanne B. Schagen
Keyword(s):  
Test Performance ◽  
Neuropsychological Test ◽  
Cognitive Testing ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Computer Experience ◽  
Cognitive Test Performance ◽  
Online Tests ◽  
Report Measure ◽  
A Performance

Objective: Since computerized cognitive test performance may be influenced by computer experience, correction for this measure might be needed. This study examined how to correct for computer experience by examining its influence on online and traditional tests. Method: 248 healthy adults completed an online neuropsychological test battery and 70 adults completed traditional equivalents of the tests. Computer experience was assessed by a performance-based and a self-report measure. Regression analyses were applied to examine their influence on the online and traditional tests. Results: After correction for demographics, the performance-based measure was associated with online and traditional, predominantly speed-based, tests. The self-report measure was also associated with speed-based online tests but not with most traditional tests. Conclusions: Correcting computerized neuropsychological tests using a performance-based measure of computer experience would be unwise, because this measure also seems to tap into cognitive functions. A correction using a self-report measure might be better and is appropriate.

scholarly journals Relations Between Acculturation and Cognitive Outcomes in a Sample of Latino Preschool Children

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (7) ◽  
pp. 1247-1247
Author(s):  
M Crossland ◽  
C Lonigan
Keyword(s):  
Early Literacy ◽  
Test Performance ◽  
Test Scores ◽  
Mexican Americans ◽  
English Language ◽  
Cognitive Outcomes ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Impact Performance ◽  
Vocabulary Subtest ◽  
Cognitive Test Performance

Abstract Objective Culture and ethnicity significantly affect cognitive test performance of adults and children. However, no prior studies have examined the effect of acculturation on the cognitive test performance of toddlers. This study examined the relationship between parental acculturation and cognitive test scores among Latino preschoolers. Participants and Method In this study, 1300 Latino toddlers (50% F; M age = 53.7 months, SD = 5.2) completed the Definitional Vocabulary subtest of the Test of Preschool Early Literacy (TOPEL), the Revised Get Ready to Read Screening Tool (GRTR) and, if they spoke Spanish, the Definitional Vocabulary subtest of the Spanish Early Literacy Assessment (SPELA) pre-intervention. Parents completed the Acculturation Scale for Mexican Americans (ARMAS) for a measure of acculturation. Results Exploratory SEM of the ARMAS revealed 4 factors: 2 language preference factors and 2 cultural identity factors. All factors were significantly related to cognitive outcomes (ps &lt; .001) - except for the Latin Identity factor’s relation to the GRTR. English Language Preferences (ELP) and Anglo Identity (AI) factors showed positive associations to tests administered in English; as test scores increased along with ELP and AI. For SPELA, as test scores increased, ELP and AI decreased. For Spanish Language Preferences and Latin Identity factors, relations with test scores were the opposite of those for ELP and AI. Multiple regression analyses showed that both ARMAS language factors uniquely predicted SPELA scores (R2 = .17), and the ELP factor uniquely predicted TOPEL (R2 = .30) and GRTR (R2 = .16) scores. The ARMAS identity factors did not uniquely predict any test score. Conclusions Acculturation does impact performance on cognitive measures. Importantly, language preferences have a larger effect on cognitive outcomes than identity factors. Findings support the need to consider cultural variables when interpreting outcomes on cognitive tests in toddlers, particularly language preferences.

scholarly journals Saliva RNA biomarkers predict concussion duration and detect symptom recovery: a comparison with balance and cognitive testing

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory Fedorchak ◽  
Aakanksha Rangnekar ◽  
Cayce Onks ◽  
Andrea C. Loeffert ◽  
Jayson Loeffert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Test Performance ◽  
Area Under The Curve ◽  
Prediction Rule ◽  
Cognitive Testing ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Clinical Tool ◽  
Post Injury ◽  
Symptom Recovery ◽  
Cognitive Test Performance

Abstract Objective The goals of this study were to assess the ability of salivary non-coding RNA (ncRNA) levels to predict post-concussion symptoms lasting ≥ 21 days, and to examine the ability of ncRNAs to identify recovery compared to cognition and balance. Methods RNA sequencing was performed on 505 saliva samples obtained longitudinally from 112 individuals (8–24-years-old) with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Initial samples were obtained ≤ 14 days post-injury, and follow-up samples were obtained ≥ 21 days post-injury. Computerized balance and cognitive test performance were assessed at initial and follow-up time-points. Machine learning was used to define: (1) a model employing initial ncRNA levels to predict persistent post-concussion symptoms (PPCS) ≥ 21 days post-injury; and (2) a model employing follow-up ncRNA levels to identify symptom recovery. Performance of the models was compared against a validated clinical prediction rule, and balance/cognitive test performance, respectively. Results An algorithm using age and 16 ncRNAs predicted PPCS with greater accuracy than the validated clinical tool and demonstrated additive combined utility (area under the curve (AUC) 0.86; 95% CI 0.84–0.88). Initial balance and cognitive test performance did not differ between PPCS and non-PPCS groups (p > 0.05). Follow-up balance and cognitive test performance identified symptom recovery with similar accuracy to a model using 11 ncRNAs and age. A combined model (ncRNAs, balance, cognition) most accurately identified recovery (AUC 0.86; 95% CI 0.83–0.89). Conclusions ncRNA biomarkers show promise for tracking recovery from mTBI, and for predicting who will have prolonged symptoms. They could provide accurate expectations for recovery, stratify need for intervention, and guide safe return-to-activities.

scholarly journals Digital Technology Differentiates Graphomotor and Information Processing Speed Patterns of Behavior

2021 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stacy L. Andersen ◽  
Benjamin Sweigart ◽  
Nancy W. Glynn ◽  
Mary K. Wojczynski ◽  
Bharat Thyagarajan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Information Processing ◽  
Physical Function ◽  
Digital Technology ◽  
Test Scores ◽  
Neuropsychological Test ◽  
Apoe Genotype ◽  
Digital Data ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Digit Symbol Substitution Test ◽  
Information Processing Speed

Background: Coupling digital technology with traditional neuropsychological test performance allows collection of high-precision metrics that can clarify and/or define underlying constructs related to brain and cognition. Objective: To identify graphomotor and information processing trajectories using a digitally administered version of the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST). Methods: A subset of Long Life Family Study participants (n = 1,594) completed the DSST. Total time to draw each symbol was divided into ‘writing’ and non-writing or ‘thinking’ time. Bayesian clustering grouped participants by change in median time over intervals of eight consecutively drawn symbols across the 90 s test. Clusters were characterized based on sociodemographic characteristics, health and physical function data, APOE genotype, and neuropsychological test scores. Results: Clustering revealed four ‘thinking’ time trajectories, with two clusters showing significant changes within the test. Participants in these clusters obtained lower episodic memory scores but were similar in other health and functional characteristics. Clustering of ‘writing’ time also revealed four performance trajectories where one cluster of participants showed progressively slower writing time. These participants had weaker grip strength, slower gait speed, and greater perceived physical fatigability, but no differences in cognitive test scores. Conclusion: Digital data identified previously unrecognized patterns of ‘writing’ and ‘thinking’ time that cannot be detected without digital technology. These patterns of performance were differentially associated with measures of cognitive and physical function and may constitute specific neurocognitive biomarkers signaling the presence of subtle to mild dysfunction. Such information could inform the selection and timing of in-depth neuropsychological assessments and help target interventions.

Patterns of Cognitive Test Performance As Functions of the Lateral Localization of Cerebral Abnormalities in the Temporal Lobe

1957 ◽  
Vol 103 (433) ◽  
pp. 758-772 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor Meyer ◽  
H. Gwynne Jones
Keyword(s):  
Test Performance ◽  
Right Hemisphere ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Temporal Relationships ◽  
Verbal Tasks ◽  
Specific Locus ◽  
Left And Right ◽  
Spatio Temporal ◽  
Cognitive Test Performance ◽  
Lateral Localization

Various investigations into the effects of brain injury on psychological test performance (Weisenburg and McBride, 1935; Patterson and Zangwill, 1944; Anderson, 1951; McFie and Piercy, 1952; Bauer and Becka, 1954; Milner, 1954) suggest the overall conclusion that patients with left hemisphere lesions are relatively poor at verbal tasks, while those with right-sided lesions do worst at practical tasks, particularly the manipulation of spatial or spatio-temporal relationships. Heilbfun's (1956) study confirmed that verbal deficits result from left-sided lesions but his left and right hemisphere groups produced almost identical scores on spatial tests. In so far as these workers paid attention to the specific sites of the lesions, their findings indicate that the pattern of test performance is a function of the hemisphere in which the lesion occurs rather than of its specific locus.

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