scholarly journals Short-term memory, attention, and temporal orientation as predictors of the cognitive impairment in older adults: A cross-sectional observational study

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. e0261313
Author(s):  
Isabel Gómez-Soria ◽  
Chelo Ferreira ◽  
Bárbara Oliván Blazquez ◽  
Rosa Mª Magallón Botaya ◽  
Estela Calatayud
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Cognitive Stimulation ◽  
Temporal Orientation ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Term Memory ◽  
Language L

Late-life cognitive decline ranges from the mildest cases of normal, age-related change to mild cognitive impairment to severe cases of dementia. Dementia is the largest global burden for the 21st century welfare and healthcare systems. The aim of this study was to analyze the neuropsychological constructs (temporal orientation (TO), spatial orientation (SO), fixation memory (FM), attention (A), calculation (C), short-term memory (STM), language (L), and praxis (P)), semantic fluency, level of functionality, and mood that reveal the greatest deficit in the different stages ranging from normal cognition (NC) to cognitive impairment in older adults in a primary healthcare setting. The study included 337 participants (102 men, 235 women), having a mean age of 74 ± 6 years. According to their scores on the Spanish version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MEC-35), subjects were divided into 4 groups: no deterioration (ND) (score 32–35), subtle cognitive impairment (SCI) (score 28–31), level deterioration (LD) (score 24–27) and moderate deterioration (MD) (score 20–23). The ND group revealed significant differences in TO, STM, C, A, L, P, and S-T as compared to the other groups. The MD group (in all the neuropsychological constructs) and the ND and SCI groups showed significant differences on the Yesavage geriatric depression scale (GDS-15). All except the FM neuropsychological construct were part of the MEC-35 prediction model and all of the regression coefficients were significant for these variables in the model. Furthermore, the highest average percentage of relative deterioration occurs between LD and MD and the greatest deterioration is observed in the STM for all groups, including A and TO for the LD and MD groups. Based on our findings, community programs have been implemented that use cognitive stimulation to prevent cognitive decline and to maintain the neuropsychological constructs.

scholarly journals Variability in Cognitive Performance on Mobile Devices Is Sensitive to Mild Cognitive Impairment: Results From the Einstein Aging Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric S. Cerino ◽  
Mindy J. Katz ◽  
Cuiling Wang ◽  
Jiyue Qin ◽  
Qi Gao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Cognitive Status ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Term Memory ◽  
Visual Short Term Memory ◽  
Memory Binding

Background and Objective: Within-person variability in cognitive performance has emerged as a promising indicator of cognitive health with potential to distinguish normative and pathological cognitive aging. We use a smartphone-based digital health approach with ecological momentary assessments (EMA) to examine differences in variability in performance among older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and those who were cognitively unimpaired (CU).Method: A sample of 311 systematically recruited, community-dwelling older adults from the Einstein Aging Study (Mean age = 77.46 years, SD = 4.86, Range = 70–90; 67% Female; 45% Non-Hispanic White, 40% Non-Hispanic Black) completed neuropsychological testing, neurological assessments, and self-reported questionnaires. One hundred individuals met Jak/Bondi criteria for MCI. All participants performed mobile cognitive tests of processing speed, visual short-term memory binding, and spatial working memory on a smartphone device up to six times daily for 16 days, yielding up to 96 assessments per person. We employed heterogeneous variance multilevel models using log-linear prediction of residual variance to simultaneously assess cognitive status differences in mean performance, within-day variability, and day-to-day variability. We further tested whether these differences were robust to the influence of environmental contexts under which assessments were performed.Results: Individuals with MCI exhibited greater within-day variability than those who were CU on ambulatory assessments that measure processing speed (p < 0.001) and visual short-term memory binding (p < 0.001) performance but not spatial working memory. Cognitive status differences in day-to-day variability were present only for the measure of processing speed. Associations between cognitive status and within-day variability in performance were robust to adjustment for sociodemographic and contextual variables.Conclusion: Our smartphone-based digital health approach facilitates the ambulatory assessment of cognitive performance in older adults and the capacity to differentiate individuals with MCI from those who were CU. Results suggest variability in mobile cognitive performance is sensitive to MCI and exhibits dissociative patterns by timescale and cognitive domain. Variability in processing speed and visual short-term memory binding performance may provide specific detection of MCI. The 16-day smartphone-based EMA measurement burst offers novel opportunity to leverage digital technology to measure performance variability across frequent assessments for studying cognitive health and identifying early clinical manifestations of cognitive impairment.

scholarly journals Optimizing Subjective Cognitive Decline to Detect Early Cognitive Dysfunction

2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (3) ◽  
pp. 1185-1196
Author(s):  
Silvia Chapman ◽  
Preeti Sunderaraman ◽  
Jillian L. Joyce ◽  
Martina Azar ◽  
Leigh E. Colvin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Cognitive Dysfunction ◽  
Associative Memory ◽  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Subjective Cognitive Decline ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Term Memory ◽  
Memory Binding ◽  
Preclinical Ad ◽  
List Learning

Background: The utility of subjective cognitive decline (SCD) as an indicator of preclinical AD is overshadowed by its inconsistent association with objective cognition. Objective: This study examines if manipulations of SCD measurement affect its association with early cognitive dysfunction characteristic of preclinical AD. Methods: Cognitively healthy older adults (n = 110) completed SCD questionnaires that elicited complaints in general, compared to 5 years ago (retrospective SCD) and compared to their peers (age-anchored SCD) in binary and Likert scales. Outcome cognitive tasks included an associative memory task (Face-Name Test), a visual short-term memory binding task (STMB test), and a clinical neuropsychological list learning test (Selective Reminder Test). Results: SCD complaints, when compared to age-matched peers (age-anchored SCD) were endorsed less frequently than complaints compared to 5 years ago (retrospective SCD) (p < 0.01). In demographically adjusted regressions, age-anchored ordinal-rated SCD was associated with short term memory binding (β= –0.22, p = 0.040, CI = –0.45, –0.01), associative memory (β= –0.26, p = 0.018, CI = –0.45, –0.06), and list learning (β= –0.31, p = 0.002, CI = –0.51, –0.12). Retrospective and general ordinal-rated SCD was associated with associative memory (β= –0.25, p = 0.012, CI = –0.44, –0.06; β= –0.29, p = 0.003, CI = –0.47, –0.10) and list learning only (β= –0.25, p = 0.014, CI = –0.45, –0.05; β= –0.28, p = 0.004, CI = –0.48, –0.09). Conclusion: Ordinal age-anchored SCD appears better suited than other SCD measurements to detect early cognitive dysfunction characteristic of preclinical AD.

Specific impairments in visuospatial working and short-term memory following low-dose scopolamine challenge in healthy older adults

2008 ◽  
Vol 46 (10) ◽  
pp. 2476-2484 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Thomas ◽  
Peter J. Snyder ◽  
Robert H. Pietrzak ◽  
Colleen E. Jackson ◽  
Martin Bednar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Low Dose ◽  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Term Memory ◽  
Healthy Older Adults

Clinical diagnosis of LGI1 antibody encephalitis in an 83-year-old woman

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. e237398
Author(s):  
Jonathan E Attwood ◽  
Saniya Naseer ◽  
Sophia Michael ◽  
Josie Riley
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Clinical Diagnosis ◽  
Memory Impairment ◽  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Autoimmune Encephalitis ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Term Memory ◽  
Blood Tests ◽  
Abnormal Movements ◽  
History Of

An 83-year-old woman was referred to hospital with a 2-week history of short-lived episodic unpleasant sensations in her head and running down her body. This was accompanied by new short-term memory impairment and arm spasms. Initial investigations including blood tests and brain imaging did not reveal the diagnosis. The patient developed an increasing frequency of abnormal movements of her face and arm. These were clinically recognised as faciobrachial dystonic seizures (FBDS). FBDS are pathognomonic of an autoimmune encephalitis caused by an antibody directed against leucine-rich glioma-inactivated 1 (LGI1). The clinical diagnosis resulted in treatment with immunotherapy, leading to cessation of seizures and rapid cognitive recovery. Later, the predicted serology was confirmed. This reversible and under-recognised cause of cognitive impairment, typically affecting elderly patients, can be diagnosed clinically to enable early and effective treatment.

Predicting short-term memory on the basis of temporal orientation.

1991 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nils R. Varney ◽  
Janet S. Shepherd
Keyword(s):  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Temporal Orientation ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Term Memory

Cognitive impairment associated with drug use in old age people

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s876-s876
Author(s):  
E. Ros-Cucurull ◽  
C. Cardona-Rubira ◽  
E. García-Raboso ◽  
R.F. Palma-Álvarez ◽  
L. Grau-López ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Verbal Learning ◽  
Drug Misuse ◽  
Verbal Information ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Term Memory ◽  
Old Adults ◽  
Visual Construction

IntroductionSubstance use disorder is a growing phenomenon among old adults. It is usually significantly undervalued, misidentified, under diagnosed and poorly treated. It has been related to cognitive impairment but there are few studies focused on the elderly.AimTo evaluate the relationship between drug use and cognitive impairment in old adults.MethodsWe conducted a prospective study (basal and 6 month follow up) in 67 patients over 65 years old seeking for treatment for drug misuse (alcohol and prescription drugs, mainly benzodiacepines) in addiction and dual diagnosis unit in Barcelona. A specific protocol was performed to evaluate attention, executive function, working memory, learning capacity, fonetic and visual fluency, decision-making, visual construction and cognitive flexibility (FCT, CPT-II, N-BACK, COWAT FAS, TAP, SDMT, IGT, CVLT, TOL, RFFT, STROOP). Patients were compared with a control group (healthy non drug users) with same characteristics (gender, age range and education status). The protocol consisted in two separated sessions of 90 minutes each one performed by a neuropsychologist.ResultsResults obtained suggested that patients under drug misuse had worse scores in fluency, visual construction, memory and attention compared with controls. After 6 month treatment and achieving abstinence patients improve in cognitive skills as verbal learning, short-term memory and free recall of verbal information. Cognitive impairment profile changes depending on the substance abused (alcohol or benzodiacepines).ConclusionsDrug use can produce deleterious effects in old adults. However, those who achieve abstinence may improve some cognitive functioning as verbal learning, short-term memory and free recall of verbal information.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Visual Short-Term Memory, Age, and Imaging Ability

1978 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 571-576 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. K. Adamowicz
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Visual Masking ◽  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Stimulus Complexity ◽  
Verbal Intelligence ◽  
Response Delay ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Term Memory ◽  
Visual Short Term Memory ◽  
Age Related

Visual short-term memory of young and older adults was studied in relation to imaging ability. Both recall and recognition memory tasks were used and additional variables included stimulus complexity and response delay (recognition tasks) and stimulus complexity and visual masking (recall tasks). Young and older participants were matched on visual discrimination, verbal intelligence, and imaging ability. Stimuli consisted of abstract visual patterns. Age-related decrements in recognition and recall were observed but performance was related to imaging ability only with recall tasks and only for older adults. The results were discussed with reference to mediational strategies and locus of occurrence of age-related decrements in short-term memory.

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