scholarly journals Association of baseline semantic fluency and progression to mild cognitive impairment in middle-aged men

Neurology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 95 (8) ◽  
pp. e973-e983
Author(s):  
Daniel E. Gustavson ◽  
Jeremy A. Elman ◽  
Matthew S. Panizzon ◽  
Carol E. Franz ◽  
Jordan Zuber ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Verbal Fluency ◽  
Latent Variable ◽  
Semantic Fluency ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Environmental Correlations ◽  
Cognitively Normal ◽  
Amnestic Mci

ObjectiveTo test the hypothesis that individual differences in episodic memory and verbal fluency in cognitively normal middle-aged adults will predict progression to amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) after 6 years.MethodThe cohort analyzed included 842 male twins who were cognitively normal at baseline (mean 56 years) and completed measures of episodic memory and verbal fluency at baseline and again 6 years later (mean 62 years).ResultsPoor episodic memory predicted progression to both amnestic MCI (odds ratio [OR], 4.42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.44–10.60) and nonamnestic MCI (OR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.32–3.44). Poor semantic verbal fluency also independently predicted progression to amnestic MCI (OR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.12–3.52). In the full sample, a semantic-specific fluency latent variable at wave 1 (which controls for letter fluency) predicted change in episodic memory at wave 2 (β = 0.13), but not vice versa (β = 0.04). Associations between episodic memory and verbal fluency factors were primarily explained by genetic, rather than environmental, correlations.ConclusionsAmong individuals who were cognitively normal at wave 1, episodic memory moderately to strongly predicted progression to MCI at average age 62, emphasizing the fact that there is still meaningful variability even among cognitively normal individuals. Episodic memory, which is typically a primary focus for Alzheimer disease (AD) risk, declined earlier and more quickly than fluency. However, semantic fluency at average age 56 predicted 6-year change in memory as well as progression to amnestic MCI even after accounting for baseline memory performance. These findings emphasize the utility of memory and fluency measures in early identification of AD risk.

scholarly journals Baseline Semantic Fluency Is Associated with Six-Year Progression to Mild Cognitive Impairment in Middle-Aged Men

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel E. Gustavson ◽  
Jeremy A. Elman ◽  
Matthew S. Panizzon ◽  
Carol E. Franz ◽  
Jordan Zuber ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Verbal Fluency ◽  
Latent Variable ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Semantic Fluency ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Environmental Correlations ◽  
Cognitively Normal ◽  
Amnestic Mci ◽  
Primary Focus

AbstractObjectiveTest the hypothesis that individual differences in episodic memory and verbal fluency in cognitively normal middle-aged adults will predict progression to amnestic MCI after 6 years.MethodThe analysis sample included 842 male twins who were cognitively normal at baseline (M=56 years), completed measures of episodic memory and verbal fluency at baseline and again 6 years later (M=62 years).ResultsPoor episodic memory predicted progression to both amnestic MCI (OR=4.42, 95% CI [2.44, 10.60]) and non-amnestic MCI (OR=1.92, 95% CI [1.32, 3.44]). Poor semantic verbal fluency also independently predicted progression to amnestic MCI (OR=1.86, 95% CI [1.12, 3.52]). In the full sample, a semantic-specific fluency latent variable at wave 1 (which controls for letter fluency) predicted change in episodic memory at wave 2 (β=.13), but not vice-versa (β=.04). Associations between episodic memory and verbal fluency factors were primarily explained by genetic, rather than environmental, correlations.ConclusionsAmong individuals who were cognitively normal at wave 1, episodic memory moderately-to-strongly predicted progression to MCI at average age 62, emphasizing the fact that there is still meaningful variability even among cognitively normal individuals. Episodic memory, which is typically a primary focus for AD risk, declined earlier and more quickly than fluency. However, semantic fluency at average age 56 predicted 6-year change in memory as well as progression to amnestic MCI even after accounting for baseline memory performance. These findings emphasize the utility of memory and fluency measures in early identification of AD risk.

scholarly journals The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy of Episodic Memory Impairment in Mild Cognitive Impairment: Do Episodic Memory Deficits Identified at Classification Remain Evident When Later Examined with Different Memory Tests?

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon Zofia Klekociuk ◽  
Mathew James Summers
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Memory Function ◽  
Memory Deficits ◽  
Memory Tests ◽  
Amnestic Mci ◽  
Screening Assessment ◽  
Multiple Domain

Previous studies of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) have been criticised for using the same battery of neuropsychological tests during classification and longitudinal followup. The key concern is that there is a potential circularity when the same tests are used to identify MCI and then subsequently monitor change in function over time. The aim of the present study was to examine the evidence of this potential circularity problem. The present study assessed the memory function of 72 MCI participants and 50 healthy controls using an alternate battery of visual and verbal episodic memory tests 9 months following initial comprehensive screening assessment and MCI classification. Individuals who were classified as multiple-domain amnestic MCI (a-MCI+) at screening show a significantly reduced performance in visual and verbal memory function at followup using a completely different battery of valid and reliable tests. Consistent with their initial classification, those identified as nonamnestic MCI (na-MCI) or control at screening demonstrated the highest performance across the memory tasks. The results of the present study indicate that persistent memory deficits remain evident in amnestic MCI subgroups using alternate memory tests, suggesting that the concerns regarding potential circularity of logic may be overstated in MCI research.

scholarly journals Developing a Persian Verbal Fluency Test and Comparing the Results Between Healthy Persian Speakers and Persian Speakers Patients With Alzheimer Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 387-398
Author(s):  
Ahmad Reza Khatoonabadi ◽  
◽  
Mahshid Aghajanzadeh ◽  
Saman Maroufizadeh ◽  
Zahra Vahabi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Alzheimer Disease ◽  
Verbal Fluency ◽  
Normal Group ◽  
Semantic Fluency ◽  
Verbal Fluency Test ◽  
Semantic Categories ◽  
Cognitively Intact ◽  
Fluency Test

Objectives: Phonemic and semantic fluency tasks are used for verbal fluency (VF) evaluation. The present study aimed to select the most appropriate semantic categories and the most frequent phonemes of Persian as items for the VF test. Then, we determine the test results in differentiation between cognitively intact people and those with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer Disease (AD). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 120 people (60 cognitively intact, 30 with AD, and 30 with MCI) in two phases. In phase one, linguists determine the most frequent phonemes at the beginning of Persian words and the most frequent semantic categories based on a survey. In phase two, the verbal fluency test was administered to cognitively intact people and those with cognitive impairment (patients with AD and MCI). One-way ANOVA and multiple linear regression were used for statistical analysis. Results: The normal subjects scored significantly higher in all phonemic and semantic fluency tasks than the patients with AD and people with MCI (P<0.05). Regarding the phonemic VF task, the phonemes /sh/, /s/, and then /a/ were better in differentiating the MCI and AD groups from the normal group. Regarding the semantic VF task, the animals’ category was better differentiated the MCI and AD groups from the normal group. Discussion: Comparing frequent phonemes and semantic categories of Persian across three groups of normal, AD, and MCI showed that some phonemes and semantic categories can be more differentiating in the VF task. However, it is a preliminary validation study, and this topic needs more investigation in the future.

O1-07-03: High amyloid load is associated with episodic memory decline and incident mild cognitive impairment in middle-aged adults in the wisconsin registry for Alzheimer's prevention (WRAP)

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (7S_Part_3) ◽  
pp. P142-P143
Author(s):  
Lindsay R. Clark ◽  
Annie M. Racine ◽  
Rebecca L. Koscik ◽  
Ozioma C. Okonkwo ◽  
Christopher R. Nicholas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Memory Decline ◽  
Amyloid Load ◽  
Middle Aged Adults

Verbal fluency as a screening tool for mild cognitive impairment

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (9) ◽  
pp. 1055-1062 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle McDonnell ◽  
Lauren Dill ◽  
Stella Panos ◽  
Stacy Amano ◽  
Warren Brown ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Verbal Fluency ◽  
Word Association ◽  
Normal Aging ◽  
Semantic Fluency ◽  
Word Association Test ◽  
Phonemic Fluency ◽  
Discriminant Ability ◽  
State Examination

ABSTRACTObjectives:The goal of this study was to evaluate the ability of semantic (animal naming) and phonemic (FAS) fluency in their ability to discriminate between normal aging, amnestic-Mild Cognitive Impairment (a-MCI), and Alzheimer’s disease (AD).Design:We used binary logistic regressions, multinomial regressions, and discriminant analysis to evaluate the predictive value of semantic and phonemic fluency in regards to specific diagnostic classifications.Setting:Outpatient geriatric neuropsychology clinic.Participants:232 participants (normal aging = 99, a-MCI = 90, AD = 43; mean age = 65.75 years).Measurements:Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE), Controlled Oral Word Association TestResults:Results indicate that semantic and phonemic fluency were significant predictors of diagnostic classification, and semantic fluency explained a greater amount of the discriminant ability of the model.Conclusions:These results suggest that verbal fluency, particularly semantic fluency, may be an accurate and efficient tool in screening for early dementia in time-limited medical settings.

Mild Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson’s Disease: Clustering and Switching Analyses in Verbal Fluency Test

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 511-520 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iván Galtier ◽  
Antonieta Nieto ◽  
Jesús N. Lorenzo ◽  
José Barroso
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Verbal Fluency ◽  
Digit Span ◽  
Poor Performance ◽  
Executive Dysfunction ◽  
Wisconsin Card Sorting Test ◽  
Semantic Fluency ◽  
Card Sorting ◽  
Test Analysis

AbstractObjectives: Mild cognitive impairment is common in non-demented Parkinson disease patients (PD-MCI) and is considered as a risk factor for dementia. Executive dysfunction has been widely described in PD and the Verbal Fluency Tests (VFT) are often used for executive function assessment in this pathology. The Movement Disorder Society (MDS) published guidelines for PD-MCI diagnosis in 2012. However, no investigation has focused on the qualitative analysis of VFT in PD-MCI. The aim of this work was to study the clustering and switching strategies in VFT in PD-MCI patients. Moreover, these variables are considered as predictors for PD-MCI diagnosis. Methods: Forty-three PD patients and twenty normal controls were evaluated with a neuropsychological protocol and the MDS criteria for PD-MCI were applied. Clustering and switching analysis were conducted for VFT. Results: The percentage of patients diagnosed with PD-MCI was 37.2%. The Mann-Whitney U test analysis showed that PD-MCI performed poorly in different cognitive measures (digit span, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, judgment of line orientation, and comprehension test), compared to PD patients without mild cognitive impairment (PD-nMCI). Phonemic fluency analyses showed that PD-MCI patients produced fewer words and switched significantly less, compared to controls and PD-nMCI. Concerning semantic fluency, the PD-MCI group differed significantly, compared to controls and PD-nMCI, in switches. Discriminant function analyses and logistic regression analyses revealed that switches predicted PD-MCI. Conclusions: PD-MCI patients showed poor performance in VFT related to the deficient use of production strategies. The number of switches is a useful predictor for incident PD-MCI. (JINS, 2017, 23, 511–520)

scholarly journals Semantic Fluency Deficits and Associated Brain Activity in Parkinson’s Disease Patients With Mild Cognitive Impairment

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jihyun Yang ◽  
Katie L McMahon ◽  
David A Copland ◽  
Dana Pourzinal ◽  
Gerard J Byrne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Verbal Fluency ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Angular Gyrus ◽  
Semantic Fluency ◽  
Compensatory Mechanisms ◽  
Increased Risk

Abstract Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients with poor verbal fluency have an increased risk of developing dementia. This study examines the neural mechanisms underpinning semantic fluency deficits in PD patients with mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI) compared to patients without MCI (PD-NC) and healthy controls (HC). Thirty-seven (37) PD patients completed a cognitive assessment battery to identify MCI (13 PD-MCI). Gender- and age-matched 20 HC also participated. Participants were scanned (3T Siemens PRISMA) whilst performing semantic fluency, semantic switching, and automatic speech tasks. The number of responses, error rate, and fMRI data for semantic generation and semantic switching were analyzed. Participants also completed a series of verbal fluency tests outside the scanner, including letter fluency. Patients with PD-MCI performed significantly worse than PD-NC and HC during semantic fluency and semantic switching tasks. Patients with PD-MCI showed greater activity in the right angular gyrus compared to PD-NC and HC during semantic switching. Increased right angular activity correlated with worse verbal fluency performance outside the scanner. Our study showed that PD-MCI patients perform more poorly on semantic fluency than either PD-NC or HC groups. Increased right angular gyrus activity in patients with PD-MCI during semantic switching suggests early compensatory mechanisms predicting the risk of future dementia in PD.

scholarly journals Complex activities of daily living vary by mild cognitive impairment subtype

2010 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 630-639 ◽  
Author(s):  
KATHERINE J. BANGEN ◽  
AMY J. JAK ◽  
DAWN M. SCHIEHSER ◽  
LISA DELANO-WOOD ◽  
ELIZABETH TUMINELLO ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Activities Of Daily Living ◽  
Financial Management ◽  
Daily Living ◽  
Functional Decline ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Functional Abilities ◽  
Cognitively Normal ◽  
Amnestic Mci

AbstractThere is increasing consensus regarding the importance of operationally defining and measuring functional decline in mild cognitive impairment (MCI). However, few studies have directly examined functional abilities in MCI or its presumed subtypes and, to date, reported findings have been discrepant. Nondemented older adults (n = 120) were administered a comprehensive cognitive battery measuring multiple domains as well as a performance-based functional ability measure. Participants were characterized as either cognitively normal, amnestic MCI, or non-amnestic MCI. MCI individuals demonstrated decrements in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) relative to their cognitively normal counterparts. Specifically, participants with amnestic MCI demonstrated significant decrements in financial management, whereas those with non-amnestic MCI showed poorer performance in abilities related to health and safety. Moreover, decreased functional abilities were associated with decrements in global cognitive functioning but not memory or executive functions in the MCI participants. Finally, logistic regression demonstrated that functional abilities accurately predicted MCI subtype. Results support the need for better delineation of functional decline in MCI. Given the implications of functional status for MCI diagnosis and treatment, the direct assessment of functional abilities is recommended. Results further suggest performance-based IADL assessment may have utility in distinguishing MCI subtypes. (JINS, 2010, 16, 630–639.)

Qualitative Deficits in Verbal Fluency in Parkinson’s Disease with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Clinical and Neuroimaging Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Tomoya Hamada ◽  
Yuichi Higashiyama ◽  
Asami Saito ◽  
Keisuke Morihara ◽  
Ramon Landin-Romero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Functional Connectivity ◽  
Diagnostic Accuracy ◽  
Verbal Fluency ◽  
Salience Network ◽  
Semantic Fluency ◽  
Characteristic Analysis

Background: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is considered a risk factor for PD with dementia (PDD). Verbal fluency tasks are widely used to assess executive function in PDD. However, in cases of PD with MCI (PD-MCI), the relative diagnostic accuracy of different qualitative verbal fluency measures and their related neural mechanisms remain unknown. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relative diagnostic accuracy of qualitative (clustering and switching) verbal fluency strategies and their correlates with functional imaging in PD-MCI. Methods: Forty-five patients with PD (26 with MCI and 19 without MCI) and 25 healthy controls underwent comprehensive neurocognitive testing and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. MCI in patients with PD was diagnosed according to established clinical criteria. The diagnostic accuracy of verbal fluency measures was determined via receiver operating characteristic analysis. Changes in brain functional connectivity between groups and across clinical measures were assessed using seed-to-voxel analyses. Results: Patients with PD-MCI generated fewer words and switched less frequently in semantic and phonemic fluency tasks compared to other groups. Switching in semantic fluency showed high diagnostic accuracy for PD-MCI and was associated with reduced functional connectivity in the salience network. Conclusion: Our results indicate that reduced switching in semantic fluency tasks is a sensitive and specific marker for PD-MCI. Qualitative verbal fluency deficits and salience network dysfunction represent early clinical changes observed in PD-MCI.

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