scholarly journals The Positivity Effect on the Intensity of Experienced Emotion and Memory Performance in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 233-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lina Gorenc-Mahmutaj ◽  
Christina Degen ◽  
Petra Wetzel ◽  
Nadja Urbanowitsch ◽  
Joachim Funke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Emotional Valence ◽  
Positivity Effect ◽  
Healthy Elderly ◽  
Dementia Patients ◽  
Moderate Dementia ◽  
Emotion And Memory ◽  
Experienced Emotion

Aims: We examined the ‘positivity effect' on memory performance in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia patients. Methods: In 109 subjects (28 controls, 32 with MCI, 27 with mild and 32 with moderate dementia), we investigated free recalls (immediate and delayed) and recognition of 12 pictures. Moreover, the emotional valence of the pictures perceived and the emotions evoked in the subjects were evaluated. Results: Patients with mild and moderate dementia recalled fewer pictures than those with MCI or the healthy controls. Across the groups, the positive pictures were better memorized and induced a higher arousal than the negative or neutral ones. Conclusions: Our findings indicate a positivity effect on memory performance and intensity of experience not only in healthy elderly patients but also in those with MCI or mild and moderate dementia. This effect does not refer to the compliance of the patients investigated since they perceived and experienced the pictures in the expected way.

scholarly journals Semantic knowledge for famous names in mild cognitive impairment

2009 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
MICHAEL SEIDENBERG ◽  
LESLIE GUIDOTTI ◽  
KRISTY A. NIELSON ◽  
JOHN L. WOODARD ◽  
SALLY DURGERIAN ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Memory Deficits ◽  
Semantic Knowledge ◽  
Person Identification ◽  
Healthy Elderly ◽  
Amnestic Mci ◽  
Amci Group ◽  
Stored Information

AbstractPerson identification represents a unique category of semantic knowledge that is commonly impaired in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but has received relatively little investigation in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The current study examined the retrieval of semantic knowledge for famous names from three time epochs (recent, remote, and enduring) in two participant groups: 23 amnestic MCI (aMCI) patients and 23 healthy elderly controls. The aMCI group was less accurate and produced less semantic knowledge than controls for famous names. Names from the enduring period were recognized faster than both recent and remote names in both groups, and remote names were recognized more quickly than recent names. Episodic memory performance was correlated with greater semantic knowledge particularly for recent names. We suggest that the anterograde memory deficits in the aMCI group interferes with learning of recent famous names and as a result produces difficulties with updating and integrating new semantic information with previously stored information. The implications of these findings for characterizing semantic memory deficits in MCI are discussed. (JINS, 2009, 15, 9–18.)

Emotional valence and semantic relatedness differentially influence false recognition in mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, and healthy elderly

2009 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 268-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
KATJA BRUECKNER ◽  
STEFFEN MORITZ
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
False Recognition ◽  
False Memories ◽  
Emotional Valence ◽  
Emotional Memory ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Healthy Elderly ◽  
Positive Valence

AbstractThis study examined whether patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) who are at higher risk for later Alzheimer disease (AD) display deficits comparable to patients with diagnosed dementia. We assessed 27 patients with MCI, 36 patients with AD, and 20 healthy older adults with an emotional variant of the Deese–Roediger–McDermott-paradigm. Participants studied four lists that were semantically related to a nonpresented critical theme word. These theme words were either depression-related (i.e., loneliness) or delusion-related (betrayal) or had a positive (holidays) or neutral (window) valence. Despite a normal overall emotional memory and a normal corrected overall false recognition, patients with MCI, as predicted, produced as many false memories as patients with AD. On closer examination, both patient groups showed enhanced false memories to unrelated stimuli and a significant bias to falsely remember stimuli with a positive valence. We conclude that although patients with MCI are not distinguishable from healthy older adults in terms of their overall emotional recognition, positively valenced memories and more specifically false positive memories may represent the signature of a breakdown of emotional memory along the continuum between normal aging and AD. (JINS, 2009, 15, 268–276.)

Digit Span Forward as a Performance Validity Test in Dementia Evaluations: Specificity in Mild Cognitive Impairment, Mild Dementia, and Moderate Dementia

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 837-837
Author(s):  
H Clark ◽  
P Martin ◽  
R Schroeder
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Digit Span ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Performance Validity ◽  
Mild Dementia ◽  
Dementia Patients ◽  
Moderate Dementia ◽  
Neuropsychological Evaluations ◽  
Validity Tests

Abstract Objective Traditional performance validity tests (PVTs) often yield high false positive rates in dementia evaluations. The current study examined the frequency of extremely low scores (≤ 2 percentile) on WAIS-IV Digit Span Forward (DSF) in older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) or dementia to evaluate its possible utility as a PVT in these populations. Method Archival data from outpatient neuropsychological evaluations were analyzed. Individuals who were not diagnosed with a neurocognitive disorder, had missing data, or were believed to be invalidly performing were excluded. Participants (n = 195; mean age = 72.8; mean education = 13.2 years) were classified according to their evaluation diagnosis of MCI (n = 72; mean RBANS Total Score = 86.8) or dementia. Dementia patients were further divided by MoCA score into groups of mild dementia (n = 90; MoCA≥15; mean RBANS Total Score = 71.0) or moderate dementia (n = 33; MoCA < 15; mean RBANS Total Score = 55.9). Frequencies of scaled scores were analyzed to calculate specificity values for each group. Results A WAIS-IV DSF scaled score of ≤4 (≤ 2 percentile) resulted in specificity values of 0.99 and 0.94 in MCI and mild dementia, respectively. Conversely, in moderate dementia, ≥0.90 specificity was achieved only when using a more conservative cutoff of ≤2. Conclusions Low DSF scaled scores occurred infrequently in MCI and mild dementia, indicating strong specificity and potential utility as a PVT in these populations. However, in moderate dementia, low DSF scores were more common, requiring use of a more stringent cutoff. Future research should examine DSF sensitivity to invalid performance, as well as DSF specificity according to specific etiologies of MCI and dementia.

scholarly journals Targeting hippocampal hyperactivity with real-time fMRI neurofeedback: protocol of a single-blind randomized controlled trial in mild cognitive impairment

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharina Klink ◽  
Urs Jaun ◽  
Andrea Federspiel ◽  
Marina Wunderlin ◽  
Charlotte E. Teunissen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Pattern Separation ◽  
Healthy Elderly ◽  
Percent Signal Change ◽  
Single Blind

Abstract Background Several fMRI studies found hyperactivity in the hippocampus during pattern separation tasks in patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI; a prodromal stage of Alzheimer’s disease). This was associated with memory deficits, subsequent cognitive decline, and faster clinical progression. A reduction of hippocampal hyperactivity with an antiepileptic drug improved memory performance. Pharmacological interventions, however, entail the risk of side effects. An alternative approach may be real-time fMRI neurofeedback, during which individuals learn to control region-specific brain activity. In the current project we aim to test the potential of neurofeedback to reduce hippocampal hyperactivity and thereby improve memory performance. Methods In a single-blind parallel-group study, we will randomize n = 84 individuals (n = 42 patients with MCI, n = 42 healthy elderly volunteers) to one of two groups receiving feedback from either the hippocampus or a functionally independent region. Percent signal change of the hemodynamic response within the respective target region will be displayed to the participant with a thermometer icon. We hypothesize that only feedback from the hippocampus will decrease hippocampal hyperactivity during pattern separation and thereby improve memory performance. Discussion Results of this study will reveal whether real-time fMRI neurofeedback is able to reduce hippocampal hyperactivity and thereby improve memory performance. In addition, the results of this study may identify predictors of successful neurofeedback as well as the most successful regulation strategies. Trial registration The study has been registered with clinicaltrials.gov on the 16th of July 2019 (trial identifier: NCT04020744).

Elevated Inflammatory Markers and Arterial Stiffening Exacerbate Tau but Not Amyloid Pathology in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Alexandra L. Clark ◽  
Alexandra J. Weigand ◽  
Kelsey R. Thomas ◽  
Seraphina K. Solders ◽  
Lisa Delano-Wood ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Inflammatory Markers ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Cognitive Testing ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Protein Biomarkers ◽  
Age Related ◽  
T Tau

Background: Age-related cerebrovascular and neuroinflammatory processes have been independently identified as key mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), although their interactive effects have yet to be fully examined. Objective: The current study examined 1) the influence of pulse pressure (PP) and inflammatory markers on AD protein levels and 2) links between protein biomarkers and cognitive function in older adults with and without mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: This study included 218 ADNI (81 cognitively normal [CN], 137 MCI) participants who underwent lumbar punctures, apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotyping, and cognitive testing. Cerebrospinal (CSF) levels of eight pro-inflammatory markers were used to create an inflammation composite, and amyloid-beta 1–42 (Aβ 42), phosphorylated tau (p-tau), and total tau (t-tau) were quantified. Results: Multiple regression analyses controlling for age, education, and APOE ɛ4 genotype revealed significant PP x inflammation interactions for t-tau (B = 0.88, p = 0.01) and p-tau (B = 0.84, p = 0.02); higher inflammation was associated with higher levels of tau within the MCI group. However, within the CN group, analyses revealed a significant PP x inflammation interaction for Aβ 42 (B = –1.01, p = 0.02); greater inflammation was associated with higher levels of Aβ 42 (indicative of lower cerebral amyloid burden) in those with lower PP. Finally, higher levels of tau were associated with poorer memory performance within the MCI group only (p s <  0.05). Conclusion: PP and inflammation exert differential effects on AD CSF proteins and provide evidence that vascular risk is associated with greater AD pathology across our sample of CN and MCI older adults.

scholarly journals Lower functional hippocampal redundancy in mild cognitive impairment

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Langella ◽  
◽  
Muhammad Usman Sadiq ◽  
Peter J. Mucha ◽  
Kelly S. Giovanello ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Resting State ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Potential Mechanism ◽  
Network Efficiency ◽  
Cognitively Normal ◽  
Normal Individuals ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractWith an increasing prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in response to an aging population, it is critical to identify and understand neuroprotective mechanisms against cognitive decline. One potential mechanism is redundancy: the existence of duplicate elements within a system that provide alternative functionality in case of failure. As the hippocampus is one of the earliest sites affected by AD pathology, we hypothesized that functional hippocampal redundancy is protective against cognitive decline. We compared hippocampal functional redundancy derived from resting-state functional MRI networks in cognitively normal older adults, with individuals with early and late MCI, as well as the relationship between redundancy and cognition. Posterior hippocampal redundancy was reduced between cognitively normal and MCI groups, plateauing across early and late MCI. Higher hippocampal redundancy was related to better memory performance only for cognitively normal individuals. Critically, functional hippocampal redundancy did not come at the expense of network efficiency. Our results provide support that hippocampal redundancy protects against cognitive decline in aging.

Abstract 1122‐000036: Demographic and Pharmacological Characteristics of Alzheimer Dementia Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment stratified by Gender

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (S1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Oreoluwa O Coker‐Ayo ◽  
Samuel Nathaniel ◽  
Chika Onuoha ◽  
Nneoma Madubuike ◽  
Lidadi Agbomi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Operating Characteristic ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Roc Curve Analysis ◽  
Alzheimer Dementia ◽  
Dementia Patients ◽  
Specific Factors

Introduction : The role that specific clinical factors play in contributing to gender differences in Alzheimer’s patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is not yet fully understood. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that pharmacological, demographic, and risk factors may contribute to gender difference in Alzheimer’s patients with MCI. Methods : Methods Data collected for 5 years was analyzed using a retrospective data analytical approach on 33,064 Alzheimer patients, including 13,569 men and 19,495 women that presented with MCI. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and multivariate regression models were used to identify specific factors that contribute to gender differences in MCI patients. Results : Results Our records indicate that women that presented with MCI were more likely to be taking Buspirone (OR = 0.767, 95% CI, 0.683‐0.861, P<0.001) while men within this population were more likely to be taking Galantamine (OR = 0.559, 95% CI, 0.382‐0.818, P<0.001). ETOH use was associated with MCI in both men (OR = 0.696, 95% CI, 0.638‐0.760, P<0.001) and women with Alzheimer’s Dementia (OR = 0.484, 95% CI, 0.442‐0.529, P<0.001). Conclusions : Conclusion Our findings reveal gender differences in men and women that presented with MCI. Management strategies should consider identified factors to provide better care for Alzheimer patients with MCI.

scholarly journals Memory-Related Frontal Brainwaves Predict Transition to Mild Cognitive Impairment in Healthy Older Individuals Five Years Before Diagnosis

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Yang Jiang ◽  
Juan Li ◽  
Frederick A. Schmitt ◽  
Gregory A. Jicha ◽  
Nancy B. Munro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Memory Task ◽  
Cognitive Status ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Differentiation Pattern

Background: Early prognosis of high-risk older adults for amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), using noninvasive and sensitive neuromarkers, is key for early prevention of Alzheimer’s disease. We have developed individualized measures in electrophysiological brain signals during working memory that distinguish patients with aMCI from age-matched cognitively intact older individuals. Objective: Here we test longitudinally the prognosis of the baseline neuromarkers for aMCI risk. We hypothesized that the older individuals diagnosed with incident aMCI already have aMCI-like brain signatures years before diagnosis. Methods: Electroencephalogram (EEG) and memory performance were recorded during a working memory task at baseline. The individualized baseline neuromarkers, annual cognitive status, and longitudinal changes in memory recall scores up to 10 years were analyzed. Results: Seven of the 19 cognitively normal older adults were diagnosed with incident aMCI for a median 5.2 years later. The seven converters’ frontal brainwaves were statistically identical to those patients with diagnosed aMCI (n = 14) at baseline. Importantly, the converters’ baseline memory-related brainwaves (reduced mean frontal responses to memory targets) were significantly different from those who remained normal. Furthermore, differentiation pattern of left frontal memory-related responses (targets versus nontargets) was associated with an increased risk hazard of aMCI (HR = 1.47, 95% CI 1.03, 2.08). Conclusion: The memory-related neuromarkers detect MCI-like brain signatures about five years before diagnosis. The individualized frontal neuromarkers index increased MCI risk at baseline. These noninvasive neuromarkers during our Bluegrass memory task have great potential to be used repeatedly for individualized prognosis of MCI risk and progression before clinical diagnosis.

Hippocampal adaptation to face repetition in healthy elderly and mild cognitive impairment

2004 ◽  
Vol 42 (7) ◽  
pp. 980-989 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sterling C. Johnson ◽  
Leslie C. Baxter ◽  
Lana Susskind-Wilder ◽  
Donald J. Connor ◽  
Marwan N. Sabbagh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Healthy Elderly
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