scholarly journals Detecting mild cognitive impairment in narratives in Brazilian Portuguese: first steps towards a fully automated system

2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 48
Author(s):  
Marcos Vinícius Treviso ◽  
Leandro Borges Dos Santos ◽  
Christopher Shulby ◽  
Lilian Cristine Hübner ◽  
Letícia Lessa Mansur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Neuropsychological Tests ◽  
Brazilian Portuguese ◽  
Automated System ◽  
Clinical State ◽  
Healthy Elderly ◽  
Sentence Segmentation ◽  
Sentence Boundary ◽  
The Impact

In recent years, Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) has received a great deal of attention, as it may represent a pre-clinical state of Alzheimer´s disease (AD). In the distinction between healthy elderly (CTL) and MCI patients, automated discourse analysis tools have been applied to narrative transcripts in English and in Brazilian Portuguese. However, the absence of sentence boundary segmentation in transcripts prevents the direct application of methods that rely on these marks for the correct use of tools, such as taggers and parsers. To our knowledge, there are only a few studies evaluating automatic sentence segmentation in transcripts of neuropsychological tests. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact ofthe automatic sentence segmentation method DeepBond on nine syntactic complexity metrics extracted of transcripts of CTL and MCI patients.***Detecção de comprometimento cognitivo leve em narrativas em Português Brasileiro: primeiros passos para um sistema automatizado***Nos últimos anos, o Comprometimento Cognitivo Leve (CCL) tem recebido bastante atenção, uma vez que pode representar um estado pré-clínico da Doença de Alzheimer (DA). Na distinção entre idosos saudáveis (CTL) e pacientes com CCL, ferramentas de análise automática do discurso têm sido aplicadas a transcrições de narrativas em inglês e em português brasileiro. No entanto, a ausência da segmentação dos limites da sentença em transcrições impede a aplicação direta de métodos que empregam essas pontuações para o uso correto de ferramentas, como taggers e parsers. Segundo nosso conhecimento, há poucos estudos avaliando a segmentação automática de sentenças em transcrições de testes neuropsicológicos. O propósito deste estudo é investigar o impacto do método DeepBond para segmentação automática de sentenças em nove métricas de complexidade sintática extraídas de transcrições de CTL e de pacientes com CCL.

Diagnostic Value of Time-Constrained Naming Test in Mild Cognitive Impairment

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 171-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yun Kyung Hwang ◽  
Eosu Kim ◽  
Yong Bum Kim ◽  
Yong Wook Kim ◽  
Chung Mo Nam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Response Time ◽  
Diagnostic Value ◽  
Delayed Response ◽  
Elderly Individuals ◽  
Healthy Elderly ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Naming Performance ◽  
Naming Test

Background: Naming difficulties have recently garnered more interest in elderly individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). We anticipate that naming tests with the consideration of response time can provide more informative and distinct neuropsychological profiles of individuals with MCI. Methods: Naming tests were administered to 76 elderly individuals with MCI and 149 healthy elderly (HE). We analyzed the impact of MCI on naming performance and occurrence of “delayed” response. We also validated the predictive power of naming tests with a time-constrained scoring system. Results: MCI participants performed poorer on the noun naming test than HE participants (p = 0.014). MCI was significantly associated with the occurrence of “delayed” response on the noun (odds ratio [OR] = 3.57; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.78-7.17) and verb naming tests (OR = 4.66; 95% CI = 2.07-10.46). The time-constrained naming scores were significantly better able to distinguish the MCI from the HE group than the conventional spontaneous naming score on both the noun (p < 0.001) and verb (p = 0.002) naming tests. Conclusions: Our findings broaden the knowledge related to the naming ability in individuals with MCI, with respect to the response time. We also confirmed the validity of the naming tests by applying the “delayed” responses as supplementary assessments in the diagnosis of MCI.

scholarly journals Sensitivity and specificity of neuropsychological tests for dementia and mild cognitive impairment in a sample of residential elderly in South Africa

2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suvira Ramlall ◽  
Jennifer Chipps ◽  
Ahmed I Bhigjee ◽  
Basil J Pillay
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Sensitivity And Specificity ◽  
Neuropsychological Tests ◽  
Word Association ◽  
Digit Span ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Healthy Elderly

<p><strong>Background. </strong>Neuropsychological tests can successfully distinguish between healthy elderly persons and those with clinically significant cognitive impairment. </p><p><strong>Objectives. </strong>A battery of neuropsychological tests was evaluated for their discrimination validity of cognitive impairment in a group of elderly persons in Durban, South Africa. </p><p><strong>Method. </strong>A sample of 117 English-speaking participants of different race groups (9 with dementia, 30 with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 78 controls) from a group of residential homes for the elderly was administered a battery of 11 neuropsychological tests. Kruskal-Wallis independent sample tests were used to compare performance of tests in the groups. Sensitivity and specificity of the tests for dementia and MCI were determined using random operating curve (ROC) analysis. </p><p><strong>Results. </strong>Most tests were able to discriminate between participants with dementia or MCI, and controls (<em>p</em>&lt;0.05). Area under the curve (AUC) values for dementia v. non-dementia participants ranged from 0.519 for the digit span (forward) to 0.828 for the digit symbol (90 s), with 14 of the 29 test scores achieving significance (<em>p</em>&lt;0.05). AUC values for MCI participants ranged from 0.754 for controlled oral word association test (COWAT) Animal to 0.507 for the Rey complex figure test copy, with 17 of the 29 scores achieving significance (<em>p</em>&lt;0.05). </p><p><strong>Conclusions. </strong>Several measures from the neuropsychological battery had discrimination validity for the differential diagnosis of cognitive disturbances in the elderly. Further studies are needed to assess the effect of culture and language on the appropriateness of the tests for different populations.</p>

scholarly journals Neuroimaging criteria and cognitive performance in vascular mild cognitive impairment: a systematic review

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 394-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felipe Kenji Sudo ◽  
Gilberto Sousa Alves ◽  
Chan Tiel ◽  
Letice Ericeira-Valente ◽  
Denise Madeira Moreira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Deficits ◽  
Neuropsychological Tests ◽  
Vascular Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Operational Criteria ◽  
Key Terms ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Normal Controls ◽  
Cognitive Impairment No Dementia

ABSTRACT The recognition of Cerebrovascular Disease (CVD) at earlier clinical stages may favor the control of vascular risk factors and prevention of dementia. However, operational criteria for symptomatic phases at non-dementia stages are often difficult, as the current criteria normally require the evidence of extensive subcortical disease. OBJECTIVE To identify the neuroimaging profile of Vascular Mild Cognitive Impairment (VaMCI), the impact of those aspects over cognition and the neuropsychological tests that distinguished VaMCI from other groups. METHODS Searches were performed in Scopus, ISI and PsycINFO, using the following key terms: "vascular mild cognitive impairment" OR "vascular cognitive impairment no dementia" OR "vascular cognitive impairment not demented" OR "subcortical mild cognitive impairment". RESULTS Of 249 papers, 20 studies were selected. Ten of those included only patients with severe White Matter Hyperintensities (WMH), whereas 10 others admitted subjects with moderate-to-severe WMH. Both groups showed poor performances in Executive Function (EF) tasks in comparison to normal controls and other diagnostic groups. Among EF tests, those assessing "complex" EF abilities consistently distinguished VaMCI from other groups, regardless of the severity of WMH. VaMCI subjects with severe or moderate-to-severe WMH showed cognitive deficits in comparison with other groups. "Complex" EF tests were the most useful in differentiating those patients from the other groups. CONCLUSION The occurrence of VaMCI may be associated with the presence of CVD at moderate levels; the detection of vascular damage at earlier stages may allow the adoption of therapeutic actions with significant effect-sizes.

Identification and Temporal Characterization of Features Associated with the Conversion from Mild Cognitive Impairment to Alzheimer’s Disease

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (8) ◽  
pp. 751-763 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Martinez-Torteya ◽  
Hugo Gomez-Rueda ◽  
Victor Trevino ◽  
Joshua Farber ◽  
Jose Tamez-Pena ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Neuropsychological Tests ◽  
Quantitative Mri ◽  
Rank Test ◽  
Longitudinal Models ◽  
Log Rank Test ◽  
Medical Histories

Background: Diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in its earliest stages is important for therapeutic and support planning. Similarly, being able to predict who will convert from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to AD would have clinical implications. Objectives: The goals of this study were to identify features from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) database associated with the conversion from MCI to AD, and to characterize the temporal evolution of that conversion. Methods: We screened the publically available ADNI longitudinal database for subjects with MCI who have developed AD (cases: n=305), and subjects with MCI who have remained stable (controls: n=250). Analyses included 1,827 features from laboratory assays (n=12), quantitative MRI scans (n=1,423), PET studies (n=136), medical histories (n=72), and neuropsychological tests (n=184). Statistical longitudinal models identified features with significant differences in longitudinal behavior between cases and matched controls. A multiple-comparison adjusted log-rank test identified the capacity of the significant predictive features to predict early conversion. Results: 411 features (22.5%) were found to be statistically different between cases and controls at the time of AD diagnosis; 385 features were statistically different at least 6 months prior to diagnosis, and 28 features distinguished early from late conversion, 20 of which were obtained from neuropsychological tests. In addition, 69 features (3.7%) had statistically significant changes prior to AD diagnosis. Conclusion: Our results characterized features associated with disease progression from MCI to AD, and, in addition, the log-rank test identified features which are associated with the risk of early conversion.

Neurocognitive Plasticity Is Associated with Cardiorespiratory Fitness Following Physical Exercise in Older Adults with Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
Galit Yogev-Seligmann ◽  
Tamir Eisenstein ◽  
Elissa Ash ◽  
Nir Giladi ◽  
Haggai Sharon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Aerobic Exercise ◽  
Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽  
Neuropsychological Tests ◽  
Aerobic Training ◽  
Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Memory Encoding

Background: Aerobic training has been shown to promote structural and functional neurocognitive plasticity in cognitively intact older adults. However, little is known about the neuroplastic potential of aerobic exercise in individuals at risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and dementia. Objective: We aimed to explore the effect of aerobic exercise intervention and cardiorespiratory fitness improvement on brain and cognitive functions in older adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). Methods: 27 participants with aMCI were randomized to either aerobic training (n = 13) or balance and toning (BAT) control group (n = 14) for a 16-week intervention. Pre- and post-assessments included functional MRI experiments of brain activation during associative memory encoding and neural synchronization during complex information processing, cognitive evaluation using neuropsychological tests, and cardiorespiratory fitness assessment. Results: The aerobic group demonstrated increased frontal activity during memory encoding and increased neural synchronization in higher-order cognitive regions such as the frontal cortex and temporo-parietal junction (TPJ) following the intervention. In contrast, the BAT control group demonstrated decreased brain activity during memory encoding, primarily in occipital, temporal, and parietal areas. Increases in cardiorespiratory fitness were associated with increases in brain activation in both the left inferior frontal and precentral gyri. Furthermore, changes in cardiorespiratory fitness were also correlated with changes in performance on several neuropsychological tests. Conclusion: Aerobic exercise training may result in functional plasticity of high-order cognitive areas, especially, frontal regions, among older adults at risk of AD and dementia. Furthermore, cardiorespiratory fitness may be an important mediating factor of the observed changes in neurocognitive functions.

Protective preparation: a process central to family caregivers of persons with mild cognitive impairment

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 375-384 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ching-Lin Wang ◽  
Li-Min Kuo ◽  
Yi-Chen Chiu ◽  
Hsiu-Li Huang ◽  
Huei-Ling Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Caregiver Burden ◽  
Family Caregiving ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
The Family ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACTBackground:To develop a theoretical model explaining the longitudinal changes in the caregiving process for family caregivers of persons with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in Taiwan.Methods:A longitudinal, grounded theory approach using in-depth face-to-face interviews and an open-ended interview guide. We conducted 42 interviews over a two-year period; each participant was interviewed at least once every six months. All participants were interviewed in their home. The participants total of 13 family caregivers of persons with MCI.Results:One core theme emerged: “protective preparation.” This reflected the family caregiving process of preparation for a further decline in cognitive function, and protection from the impact of low self-esteem, accidents, and symptoms of comorbidities for the family member with MCI. Protective preparation contained three components: ambivalent normalization, vigilant preparation, and protective management.Conclusions:Interventions to help family caregivers manage the changes in persons with MCI can reduce caregiver burden. Our findings could provide a knowledge base for use by healthcare providers to develop and implement strategies to reduce caregiver burden for family caregivers of persons with MCI.

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