scholarly journals Disease-Related Factors and Family Functioning As Predictors of Executive Functioning in Preschool Children with Sickle Cell Anaemia: A Preliminary Analysis

Blood ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 124 (21) ◽  
pp. 4941-4941
Author(s):  
Michelle Downes ◽  
Michelle de Haan ◽  
Fenella J. Kirkham ◽  
Banu Kaya ◽  
Paul Telfer
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Executive Functioning ◽  
Family Functioning ◽  
Sickle Cell ◽  
Family Environment ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Family Cohesion ◽  
Typically Developing ◽  
Parent Reports ◽  
And Performance

Abstract Background School children with sickle cell anemia (SCA) score significantly lower on executive functioning tasks involving attention, inhibition, working memory, and processing speed. There has been limited research on the impact of SCA on the executive development of preschool-age children, although recent intervention studies have shown that executive functions are trainable at this early age. Emerging research suggests that executive functioning deficits are detectable in the preschool years in the correct assessment setting. We hypothesized that, in addition to an effect of family environment, children with more severe disease factors, i.e. low hemoglobin, transcranial doppler (TCD) velocities, and more hospital admissions, would perform poorly on executive functioning tasks. Method Ethical approval was obtained from the local National Health Service (NHS) committee. Children with homozygous SCA (HbSS), aged 36-72 months, without co-morbid disorders or history of stroke, were recruited and underwent the Weschler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) toolbox tasks of executive functioning, including the flanker inhibition control and attention test and the pattern comparison processing speed test. They also completed behavioral tasks including scrambled boxes for working memory and picture deletion for selective attention/inhibition. Parents completed the Children’s Behavior Questionnaire (CBQ) and the Family Environment Scale (FES). A group of typically developing comparison children was also recruited. Results Eight children with SCA (4m: 4f; mean age=4.87 years, range=3.58-5.91) and 23 age-matched comparison children participated. In SCA, no associations were found with hemoglobin and performance on neuropsychological tasks or parent reports of behavior. There were trends for associations between TCD velocities and processing speed on the NIH picture comparison task (r=.769, p=.074, N=6),and number of admissions in the past year and performance IQ (r=-.68, p=.06, N=8) and parent-reported levels of attentional focusing (r=-.68, p=.06, N=8). Parent-reported levels of FES family cohesion were related to TCD velocity (r=.92, p=.01, N=6), and NIH toolbox processing speed (r=.86, p=.03, N=6). Greater emphasis on parent-reported FES active–recreational events correlated with FSIQ (r=.78, p=.039, N=7) and working memory (r=.82, p=.025, N=7). No associations or trends were observed between FES family cohesion and processing speed (N=15) or FES active-recreational and FSIQ (N=23)/working memory (N=14) in a comparison group of typically developing children. Inhibition and attention, as measured by the NIH toolbox test and the picture deletion task, were not related to disease-related or family functioning factors in children with SCA but parent reports of activity level and inhibition were related to performance on the picture deletion task. CBQ activity levels and PDTP commissions were also found to be associated (r=.896, p=.006, N=7) as well as CBQ inhibition and PDTP omissions (r= .896, p=.006, N=7). Conclusion This preliminary investigation demonstrates that even at this young age, children with SCA can be investigated for deficits in discrete areas of executive functioning. These findings show the potential benefit of neuropsychological assessment in the identification of children who are at a higher risk of future stroke morbidity. This preliminary evidence, particularly the three-way associations between cerebral blood flow velocity, processing speed, and family cohesion, also suggests that early family interventions in young children with SCA could potentially improve school readiness skills and academic performance in the long-term. Executive functioning skills act as a protective factor in academic attainment and may play an important role in combatting the effects of higher rates of school absences that children with SCA often experience. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Basic numerical processing, calculation, and working memory in children with dyscalculia and/or ADHD symptoms

2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (5) ◽  
pp. 365-375 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jörg-Tobias Kuhn ◽  
Elena Ise ◽  
Julia Raddatz ◽  
Christin Schwenk ◽  
Christian Dobel
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Verbal Working Memory ◽  
Typically Developing ◽  
Cognitive Profiles ◽  
Adhd Symptoms ◽  
Memory Processing ◽  
Numerical Processing ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Neurocognitive Measures

Abstract. Objective: Deficits in basic numerical skills, calculation, and working memory have been found in children with developmental dyscalculia (DD) as well as children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This paper investigates cognitive profiles of children with DD and/or ADHD symptoms (AS) in a double dissociation design to obtain a better understanding of the comorbidity of DD and ADHD. Method: Children with DD-only (N = 33), AS-only (N = 16), comorbid DD+AS (N = 20), and typically developing controls (TD, N = 40) were assessed on measures of basic numerical processing, calculation, working memory, processing speed, and neurocognitive measures of attention. Results: Children with DD (DD, DD+AS) showed deficits in all basic numerical skills, calculation, working memory, and sustained attention. Children with AS (AS, DD+AS) displayed more selective difficulties in dot enumeration, subtraction, verbal working memory, and processing speed. Also, they generally performed more poorly in neurocognitive measures of attention, especially alertness. Children with DD+AS mostly showed an additive combination of the deficits associated with DD-only and A_Sonly, except for subtraction tasks, in which they were less impaired than expected. Conclusions: DD and AS appear to be related to largely distinct patterns of cognitive deficits, which are present in combination in children with DD+AS.


scholarly journals Neurocognitive Development in Perinatally Human Immunodeficiency Virus–infected Adolescents on Long-term Treatment, Compared to Healthy Matched Controls: A Longitudinal Study

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malon Van den Hof ◽  
Anne Marleen ter Haar ◽  
Henriette J Scherpbier ◽  
Johanna H van der Lee ◽  
Peter Reiss ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Executive Functioning ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Learning Ability ◽  
Z Score ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Group Time ◽  
Visual Motor ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Background A cross-sectional analysis of the Neurological, cOgnitive and VIsual performance in hiv-infected Children cohort showed significant cognitive impairment in combination antiretroviral therapy (cART)-treated, perinatally human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected adolescents (PHIV+) compared to age-, sex-, ethnicity- and socioeconomic status (SES)-matched HIV-negative controls (HIV−). In this longitudinal study, we compared cognitive development in the same adolescents over time. Methods We repeated the standardized cognitive test battery after a mean of 4.6 years (standard deviation 0.3). In participants who completed both assessments, we compared cognitive trajectories between groups in the domains of intelligence quotient (IQ), processing speed, working memory, executive functioning, learning ability, and visual-motor function, using linear mixed models. We explored associations with disease- and treatment-related factors and used multivariate normative comparison (MNC) to determine the prevalence of cognitive impairment. Results There were 21 PHIV+ and 23 HIV− participants that completed 2 assessments and were similar concerning age, sex, ethnicity, and SES. Compared to HIV− participants, in PHIV+ participants the IQ score increased significantly more over time (group*time 6.01, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.5–10.50; P = .012), whereas executive functioning decreased significantly more (group*time −1.43 z score, 95% CI −2.12 to −0.75; P < .001), resulting in the disappearance and appearance of significant differences. Processing speed, working memory, learning ability, and visual-motor function trajectories were not statistically different between groups. Univariately, those who had started cART at an older age deviated more in executive functioning (−0.13 z score, 95% CI −0.24 to −0.02; P = .043). The prevalence of cognitive impairments by MNC was similar in both groups, at both time points. Conclusions The cART-treated PHIV+ adolescents appeared to have similar global cognitive development, compared to their healthy peers. Executive functioning trajectory appears to deviate, potentially explained by earlier brain damage.

scholarly journals COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING AMONG BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS AND NON-CANCER PARTICIPANTS: EVIDENCE FOR SIMILARITIES

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S649-S650
Author(s):  
Giancarlo Pasquini ◽  
Brent J Small ◽  
Jacqueline Mogle ◽  
Martin Sliwinski ◽  
Stacey B Scott
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Executive Functioning ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Cancer History ◽  
History Of ◽  
History Of Cancer

Abstract Breast cancer survivors may experience accelerated decline in cognitive functioning compared to same-aged peers with no cancer history (Small et al., 2015). Survivors may show important differences in mean-level performance or variability in cognitive functioning compared to those without a history of cancer (Yao et al., 2016). This study compared ambulatory cognitive functioning in a sample of breast cancer survivors and an age-matched community sample without a history of cancer (n_cancer=47, n_non-cancer=105, age range: 40-64 years, M=52.13 years). Participants completed three cognitive tasks measuring working memory, executive functioning, and processing speed up to five times per day for 14 days. Results indicated no mean-level differences in cognitive performance on the three tasks between cancer survivors and those without cancer history (p’s&gt;.05). Unexpectedly, women without cancer history showed more variability than survivors on working memory but not on the other two tasks. Across both groups, those without a college education performed worse on executive functioning (B=-0.05, SE=0.03, p&lt;.05) and working memory (B=0.94, SE=0.36, p&lt;.05) compared to those that completed college. Additionally, older age was associated with slower processing speed (B=31.67, SE=7.44, p&lt;.001). In sum, this study did not find mean-level group differences in cognitive functioning between cancer survivors and age-matched women without a history of cancer. Contrary to hypotheses, those without a history of cancer were more variable on working memory. Results suggested similarities in cognitive functioning in the two samples and that education and age are important predictors of cognitive functioning independent of cancer history.

scholarly journals The Reliability and Validity of the Action Fluency Test in Healthy College Students

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (7) ◽  
pp. 1175-1191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas P Ross ◽  
Sydne O’Connor ◽  
Graham Holmes ◽  
Brittany Fuller ◽  
Megan Henrich
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Information Processing ◽  
Executive Functioning ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Convergent Validity ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Information Processing Speed ◽  
Perceptual Reasoning ◽  
Fluency Test

Abstract Objective This study examined the test–retest reliability and construct validity of the Action Fluency Test (AFT) as a measure of executive functioning. Method Using a correlational design, 128 healthy college students (M Age = 19.24, SD = 2.01; M education = 13.29 years, SD = 0.81) completed the AFT, and measures of verbal and figural fluency, executive functioning and other relevant constructs (e.g., vocabulary, working memory, and attention). Results Coefficients of stability were acceptable for AFT correct words (r = .76; p &lt; .01), but not for errors (r = .41) or perseverations (r = .14). No practice effects were observed upon repeat testing (M interval = 39.21 days). Divergent validity evidence was mixed. AFT scores were unrelated to working memory and perceptual-reasoning abilities; however, correlations with vocabulary (r = .32; p &lt; .01) and information-processing speed (r = .30; p &lt; .01) were greater than associations between AFT scores and executive measures. Regarding convergent validity, AFT scores correlated with other fluency tasks (r = .4 range), but correlations with measures of executive functioning were absent or small. Action and letter fluency correlated with measures of attentional control and inhibition; however, these associations were no longer significant after controlling for shared variance with information-processing speed. Conclusions Findings are consistent with previous research suggesting vocabulary and information-processing speed underlie effective fluency performance to a greater extent than executive functioning. The AFT measures unique variance not accounted for by semantic and letter fluency tasks, and therefore may be used for a variety of research and clinical purposes.

scholarly journals Processing speed impairment in schizophrenia is mediated by white matter integrity

2014 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Karbasforoushan ◽  
B. Duffy ◽  
J. U. Blackford ◽  
N. D. Woodward
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Executive Functioning ◽  
Functional Outcome ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Verbal Learning ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Neural Basis ◽  
Mediation Effects

BackgroundProcessing speed predicts functional outcome and is a potential endophenotype for schizophrenia. Establishing the neural basis of processing speed impairment may inform the treatment and etiology of schizophrenia. Neuroimaging investigations in healthy subjects have linked processing speed to brain anatomical connectivity. However, the relationship between processing speed impairment and white matter (WM) integrity in schizophrenia is unclear.MethodIndividuals with schizophrenia and healthy subjects underwent diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and completed a brief neuropsychological assessment that included measures of processing speed, verbal learning, working memory and executive functioning. Group differences in WM integrity, inferred from fractional anisotropy (FA), were examined throughout the brain and the hypothesis that processing speed impairment in schizophrenia is mediated by diminished WM integrity was tested.ResultsWM integrity of the corpus callosum, cingulum, superior and inferior frontal gyri, and precuneus was reduced in schizophrenia. Average FA in these regions mediated group differences in processing speed but not in other cognitive domains. Diminished WM integrity in schizophrenia was accounted for, in large part, by individual differences in processing speed.ConclusionsCognitive impairment in schizophrenia was mediated by reduced WM integrity. This relationship was strongest for processing speed because deficits in working memory, verbal learning and executive functioning were not mediated by WM integrity. Larger sample sizes may be required to detect more subtle mediation effects in these domains. Interventions that preserve WM integrity or ameliorate WM disruption may enhance processing speed and functional outcome in schizophrenia.

White Matter Integrity and Core Cognitive Function in Children Diagnosed with Sickle Cell Disease.

Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 2589-2589
Author(s):  
Nadia Scantlebury ◽  
Donald Mabbott ◽  
Garland Jones ◽  
Laura Janzen ◽  
Isaac Odame
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Visual Attention ◽  
Sickle Cell ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Performance Test ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Control Subjects ◽  
Normal Appearing White Matter

Abstract Abstract 2589 Poster Board II-565 Introduction: Cerebral damage to white matter by overt or silent stroke presents as regions of high intensity on a diffusion-weighted (DW) magnetic resonance (MR) image. Evidence is mounting that such damage is directly linked to decreased cognitive function in children diagnosed with Sickle Cell (SC) Disease. While insult caused by infarct is visible on a DW MR scan, the degree to which normal-appearing white matter is compromised in SC patients remains unclear. Furthermore, the extent of correlation between damage in normal-appearing white matter and cognitive function has yet to be investigated. Patients and Methods: 16 children diagnosed with SC and 10 control patients were included in this retrospective study. DW MR scans were clinically acquired from all participants. Post-processing of DW images yielded measures of relative water diffusion within the brain, represented by voxels of varying intensity on apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps. A template of anatomically divided white matter was registered to each ADC map to collect regional measures of diffusion. Specifically, increased diffusion (measured as increased ADC relative to controls) suggested white matter damage. Within 6 months of the scan, children from each cohort underwent a battery of neuropsychological tests. Processing speed and working memory were assessed by administering the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) and sustained visual attention was assessed by administering Conners' Continuous Performance Test (CPT). Measures of regional ADC were correlated with neuropsychological test scores. Results: Approximately half of the SC patients presented with at least one lesion embedded within normal-appearing white matter. Average ADC in the frontal, parietal, temporal and cerebellar lobes was significantly higher in children with SC Disease than in control subjects (p < 0.05) when examining ADC across regions carrying both normal-appearing and infarct-containing white matter. For example, average ADC in the left frontal lobes was 1014.67 × 10−6 mm2/s in SC patients and 895.18 × 10−6 mm2/s in control subjects. Findings to date show that excluding the lesions (measuring only diffusion in normal-appearing white matter) does not substantially change average ADC. Moreover, scores from Letter/Number Sequencing and Symbol Search tests (derived from the WISC) were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in SC patients as compared to control scores. For example, while controls obtained a mean scaled score of 12.8 on the Symbol Search task, SC patients obtained a mean scaled score of 7.1. After performing multiple correlations, a significant negative correlation (p < 0.05) was detected between ADC of the frontal, parietal and cerebellar lobes, and tests of processing speed. Interestingly, SC patients showed a significantly higher standard error for Reaction Time (p < 0.05) during the CPT than did the control children. Conclusions: In this study, we present an imaging approach to identify compromised white matter earlier in SC patients. We show that while some damage is visible as focal lesions on a DW image, changes to tissue architecture exist in what otherwise appears as normal white matter. We also show that children diagnosed with SC exhibit deficits in working memory and processing speed, and are less consistent with respect to tests requiring sustained visual attention than are control children. Furthermore, as damage to normal-appearing white matter increases, proficiency in processing speed decreases. This approach can be used to detect compromised white matter prior to the appearance of lesions, and in turn, will help to pinpoint and address potential cognitive impairments in this population sooner. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals An Auditory Stroop Test to Implement in Cognitive Hearing Sciences: Development and Normative Data

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 37-51
Author(s):  
Katrien Kestens ◽  
Sofie Degeest ◽  
Marijke Miatton ◽  
Hannah Keppler
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Executive Functioning ◽  
Sex Education ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Normative Data ◽  
Verbal Working Memory ◽  
Stroop Test ◽  
Good Test ◽  
Interference Score ◽  
Effect Of Age

Objective: This study developed and gained insight in an auditory Stroop test, implementable in cognitive hearing sciences. Methods: An auditory Stroop test was developed and performed in 178 participants, aged between 18 and 69 years. This Auditory Stroop test consisted of two tests: Stroop-tones and Stroop-words whereby the pitch of pure-tones and spoken words (i.e., the words high and low) had to be identified by high or low, respectively. An interference score was calculated as a measure of verbal executive functioning. Regression models were conducted to examine the effect of age, sex, education, awakeness, hearing, as well as visual and verbal working memory, and processing speed on the auditory Stroop scores. Normative data were obtained per age decade. Results: Compared to the visual counterparts, the auditory Stroop outcomes were better predicted by verbal working memory and processing speed. A trend was observed showing a decrease in performances with increasing age. No other participant-related variables had a significant relationship with the auditory Stroop test. Conclusion: This auditory Stroop test was considered a good test for measuring executive functioning using auditory stimuli. Implementing this auditory Stroop test within cognitive hearing sciences will contribute to unravel the auditory-cognitive perspective of speech understanding.

scholarly journals Family functioning and environmental resources offered by families of children with mental disorders

Salud Mental ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 235-242
Author(s):  
Eduarda Souza Dilleggi ◽  
Ana Paula Rosa ◽  
Patricia Leila dos Santos
Keyword(s):  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Family Functioning ◽  
Family Environment ◽  
Family Cohesion ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Environmental Resources ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Faces Iv ◽  
The Family ◽  
Spearman Correlation Test

Introduction. The presence of mental disorders in a family may cause various losses in its functioning and characteristics. Objective. To determine which environmental resources are offered to children with mental disorders by their families and how they correlated with the family functioning. Method. The study included a total of 33 persons responsible for children with mental disorders. The subjects responded to two questionnaires to characterize family functioning (FACES IV) and the availability of resources in the family environment (RAF). Data were analyzed in a descriptively and the Spearman correlation test was used to identify associations between variables. Results. Most of the children were male and attended school, and the most frequent psychiatric diagnoses were attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder. Most families were considered to have good family functioning (87.9%), with only 12.1% being considered dysfunctional. Regarding environmental resources, the highest mean values were assigned to the presence of toys (6.9 ± 2.0) and to family gatherings for routine activities (6.6 ± 2.3). Family cohesion, flexibility, communication, and satisfaction (functional) were positively correlated with the offer of activities and resources and negatively correlated with unbalanced (dysfunctional) subscales. Discussion and conclusion. Children’s mental disorders do not appear to affect family dynamics in a significant manner. However, family functioning interferes with the types of activities and resources it offers to the child and that may have an impact on his/her development.

Neuropsychology and MRI Observational Study In An Adult Sickle Cell Disease Population In South East London

Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (21) ◽  
pp. 2642-2642
Author(s):  
Heather Rawle ◽  
Paul Holmes ◽  
Veronica J Thomas ◽  
Ronwyn Cartwright ◽  
Jo Howard
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Executive Functioning ◽  
Sickle Cell ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Cognitive Impairments ◽  
Trail Making Test ◽  
Cerebral Infarcts ◽  
History Of ◽  
Trail Making

Abstract Abstract 2642 We studied 36 patients attending the sickle cell clinic in our large adult population of over 600 patients. These patients presented to the sickle psychology service because they had a past history of a stroke, or presented with concerns about memory. An MRI brain scan and neuropsychological testing (including tests for IQ, processing speed, executive function and memory) were performed on each patient. The data were organised into four groups in terms of severity of MRI abnormalities: normal MRI n=13; silent cerebral infarcts (subcortical punctate small vessel cerebrovascular disease) n= 11; severe infarcts as an adult n=8; and severe infarcts as a child n=4. The majority of patients with a history of stroke had evidence of large vessel infarcts as well as features of deep watershed ischaemia seen in large vessel (distal internal carotid artery) disease. These groups did not differ significantly in terms of gender, phenotype, age and mood. Cognitive impairments were more prevalent in the severe infarct groups but were also found in patients with silent cerebral infarcts and normal MRIs. Executive functioning and processing speed deficits were evident in all groups but were more severe in the silent cerebral infarct and severe infarct groups. Chi-squared tests for trend showed that the following test scores tended to reduce as MRI abnormalities increased: Full-Scale IQ (p=0.016), Processing Speed Index (p=0.015), Trail Making Test A (p=0.014), Trail Making Test B (p=0.018), and FAS Verbal Fluency Test (p=0.006). This suggests that executive functioning, processing speed and full-scale IQ are particularly vulnerable to the effects of MRI abnormalities in this patient population. Although the cognitive impairments were more severe in the groups with abnormal MRIs, there was significant cognitive impairment in some patients with normal MRIs, suggesting that other factors are also causative of cognitive impairments. These factors may include physiological causes such as impaired perfusion, and psychosocial factors such as disruption to education. These results agree with a recent US study (Vichinsky et al, 2010, JAMA, 303, 1823–1831) showing cognitive impairment in patients with normal MRI scans which implies that MRI is not an adequate screening tool to identify patients with cognitive impairment. This study has important clinical implications in terms of how cognitive deficits can affect the effectiveness of patient – health care professional consultations, patients' ability to manage their SCD and adhere to medication and health care advice. It is important therefore to identify patients with SCD who have such cognitive impairments so appropriate support can be offered. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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