Relationship Between PET-Assessed Amyloid Burden and Visual and Verbal Episodic Memory Performance in Elderly Subjects

2020 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 229-244
Author(s):  
Paula Squarzoni ◽  
Daniele de Paula Faria ◽  
Mônica Sanches Yassuda ◽  
Fábio Henrique de Gobbi Porto ◽  
Artur Martins Coutinho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Test Scores ◽  
Visual Memory ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Standard Uptake Value ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Elderly Subjects

Background: Studies of elderly subjects using biomarkers that are proxies for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology have the potential to document meaningful relationships between cognitive performance and biomarker changes along the AD continuum. Objective: To document cognitive performance differences across distinct AD stages using a categorization based on the presence of PET-assessed amyloid-β (Aβ) burden and neurodegeneration. Methods: Patients with mild dementia compatible with AD (n = 38) or amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI; n = 43) and a cognitively unimpaired group (n = 27) underwent PET with Pittsburgh compound-B (PiB) assessing Aβ aggregation (A+) and [18F]FDG-PET assessing neurodegeneration ((N)+). Cognitive performance was assessed with verbal and visual episodic memory tests and the Mini-Mental State Examination. Results: The A+(N)+ subgroup (n = 32) showed decreased (p < 0.001) cognitive test scores compared to both A+(N)–(n = 18) and A–(N)–(n = 49) subjects, who presented highly similar mean cognitive scores. Despite its modest size (n = 9), the A–(N)+ subgroup showed lower (p < 0.043) verbal memory scores relative to A–(N)–subjects, and trend lower (p = 0.096) scores relative to A+(N)–subjects. Continuous Aβ measures (standard uptake value ratios of PiB uptake) were correlated most significantly with visual memory scores both in the overall sample and when analyses were restricted to dementia or (N)+ subjects, but not in non-dementia or (N)–groups. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that significant Aβ-cognition relationships are highly salient at disease stages involving neurodegeneration. The fact that findings relating Aβ burden to memory performance were detected only at (N)+ stages, together with the similarity of test scores between A+(N)–and A–(N)–subjects, reinforce the view that Aβ-cognition relationships during early AD stages may remain undetectable unless substantially large samples are evaluated.

Spatial Visualization Ability Mediates the Male Advantage in Spatial and Visual Episodic Memory

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 194-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen L. Siedlecki
Keyword(s):  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Visual Memory ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Spatial Visualization ◽  
Mediation Analyses ◽  
Female Advantage ◽  
Male Advantage ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Verbal Episodic Memory

Abstract. Individuals between the ages of 18 and 94 (N = 326) completed a battery of episodic memory tasks, as well as several measures of spatial visualization. A female advantage in verbal episodic memory and a male advantage in spatial and visual episodic memory were observed. Mediation analyses provided evidence that performance on spatial visualization tasks greatly influences the magnitude of the effect for sex differences among the different episodic memory constructs. In particular, the spatial visualization construct fully mediated the relationship between sex and episodic spatial memory performance. Further, when spatial visualization was included as a mediator in the model the relationship between sex and episodic verbal memory increased, and the relationship between sex and episodic visual memory reversed, such that women scored higher than men.

scholarly journals Association between increased levels of amyloid-β oligomers in plasma and episodic memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xue Meng ◽  
Tao Li ◽  
Xiao Wang ◽  
Xiaozhen Lv ◽  
Zhiyu Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Disease Assessment ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Delayed Recall ◽  
And Control

Abstract Objective The objectives of this study were to investigate whether the plasma levels of oligomeric amyloid-β (OAβ) were affected in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and to examine the associations (or possible correlations) between plasma OAβ levels and memory performance. Method Thirty subjects with AD and 28 cognitively normal controls were recruited in the study. The multimer detection system (MDS) was used to measure the levels of OAβ in the plasma. In addition to assessing the general cognitive function with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument (CASI), and Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale–cognitive portion (ADAS-Cog), the common objects memory test (COMT) was used to examine the episodic memory performance. Pearson’s and partial correlation analyses were conducted to explore the associations between cognitive performance and OAβ levels in the plasma. A receiving operating curve (ROC) analysis was used to discriminate between the AD and control groups. Results The plasma OAβ levels in the AD group were significantly higher than those in the control group [1.88 (0.38) ng/ml vs 1.20 (0.40) ng/ml, p < 0.001]. The elevated levels of plasma OAβ showed a strong correlation with cognitive performance in patients with AD, including an inverse correlation with scores on the MMSE (r = − 0.43, p = 0.02), CASI (r = − 0.56, p < 0.01), and the immediate recall (r = − 0.45, p = 0.01), 5-min delayed recall (r = − 0.56, p < 0.01), and 30-min delayed recall (r = − 0.71, p < 0.001) tests of the COMT, and a positive correlation with the ADAS-Cog scores (r = 0.59, p < 0.001). The EDTA plasma Aβ oligomer optical density (OD) value measured using the MDS could discriminate between the AD and control groups with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.89. The optimal sensitivity and specificity were 82.1% and 90.0%, respectively. Conclusion The elevated levels of OAβ in the plasma distinguished the AD and control groups and were associated with the severity of symptoms, especially memory performance, in patients with AD. Our results suggested that plasma OAβ could potentially be a simple and non-invasive blood-based biomarker for AD diagnosis. Furthermore, longitudinal studies are warranted to explore the application of plasma OAβ levels as a valid diagnostic biomarker in patients with AD.

scholarly journals Neural basis of episodic memory in the intermediate term after medial temporal lobe resection

2019 ◽  
Vol 131 (3) ◽  
pp. 790-798 ◽  
Author(s):  
Woorim Jeong ◽  
Hyeongrae Lee ◽  
June Sic Kim ◽  
Chun Kee Chung
Keyword(s):  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Temporal Lobe ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Visual Memory ◽  
Medial Temporal Lobe ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Memory Function ◽  
Memory Encoding ◽  
Neural Basis ◽  
Surgery Group

OBJECTIVEHow the brain supports intermediate-term preservation of memory in patients who have undergone unilateral medial temporal lobe resection (MTLR) has not yet been demonstrated. To understand the neural basis of episodic memory in the intermediate term after surgery for temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), the authors investigated the relationship between the activation of the hippocampus (HIP) during successful memory encoding and individual memory capacity in patients who had undergone MTLR. They also compared hippocampal activation with other parameters, including structural volumes of the HIP, duration of illness, and age at seizure onset.METHODSThirty-five adult patients who had undergone unilateral MTLR at least 1 year before recruiting and who had a favorable seizure outcome were enrolled (17 left MTLR, 18 right MTLR; mean follow-up 6.31 ± 2.72 years). All patients underwent a standardized neuropsychological examination of memory function and functional MRI scanning with a memory-encoding paradigm of words and figures. Activations of the HIP during successful memory encoding were calculated and compared with standard neuropsychological memory scores, hippocampal volumes, and other clinical variables.RESULTSGreater activation in the HIP contralateral to the side of the resection was related to higher postoperative memory scores and greater postoperative memory improvement than the preoperative baseline in both patient groups. Specifically, postoperative verbal memory performance was positively correlated with contralateral right hippocampal activation during word encoding in the left-sided surgery group. In contrast, postoperative visual memory performance was positively correlated with contralateral left hippocampal activation during figure encoding in the right-sided surgery group. Activation of the ipsilateral remnant HIP was not correlated with any memory scores or volumes of the HIP; however, it had a negative correlation with the seizure-onset age and positive correlation with the duration of illness in both patient groups.CONCLUSIONSFor the first time, a neural basis that supports effective intermediate-term episodic memory after unilateral MTLR has been characterized. The results provide evidence that engagement of the HIP contralateral rather than ipsilateral to the side of resection is responsible for effective memory function in the intermediate term (> 1 year) after surgery in patients who have undergone left MTLR and right MTLR. Engagement of the material-specific contralesional HIP, verbal memory in the left-sided surgery group, and visual memory in the right-sided surgery group were observed.

scholarly journals Hippocampus volume and episodic memory in schizophrenia

2009 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 182-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
ROBERT J. THOMA ◽  
MOLLIE MONNIG ◽  
FAITH M. HANLON ◽  
GREGORY A. MILLER ◽  
HELEN PETROPOULOS ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Visual Memory ◽  
Chronic Schizophrenia ◽  
Magnetic Resonance Images ◽  
Schizophrenia Group ◽  
Positive Correlations ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Hippocampus Volume ◽  
Volumetric Measures

AbstractPrevious studies of schizophrenia have suggested a linkage between neuropsychological (NP) deficits and hippocampus abnormality. The relationship between hippocampus volume and NP functioning was investigated in 24 patients with chronic schizophrenia and 24 matched healthy controls. Overall intracranial, white and gray matter, and anterior (AH) and posterior (PH) hippocampus volumes were assessed from magnetic resonance images (MRI). NP domains of IQ, attention, and executive function were also evaluated with respect to volumetric measures. It was hypothesized that AH and PH volumes and episodic memory scores would be positively associated in controls and that the schizophrenia group would depart from this normative pattern. NP functioning was impaired overall and AH volume was smaller in the schizophrenia group. In the controls, the hippocampus–memory relationships involved AH and PH, and correlations were significant for verbal memory measures. In the schizophrenia group, positive correlations were constrained to PH. Negative correlations emerged between AH and verbal and visual memory measures. For both groups, cortical volume negatively correlated with age, but a negative correlation between age and hippocampus volume was found only in the schizophrenia group. In this sample of adults with schizophrenia, atypical relationships between regional hippocampus volumes and episodic memory ability were found, as was an atypical negative association between hippocampus volume and age. (JINS, 2009, 15, 182–195.)

scholarly journals Concussion History and Cognitive Function in a Large Cohort of Adolescent Athletes

2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (13) ◽  
pp. 3262-3270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn M. Taylor ◽  
Marianthi-Anna Kioumourtzoglou ◽  
Jim Clover ◽  
Brent A. Coull ◽  
Jack T. Dennerlein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Impulse Control ◽  
Visual Memory ◽  
Test Battery ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Effect Estimate ◽  
Cognitive Score ◽  
And Performance

Background: The incidence of reported concussions in the adolescent population is increasing, yet research on the effects of concussions in this population is minimal and inconclusive. Purpose: To assess the association between concussion and performance on a cognitive test battery. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Using multivariate models, the authors assessed the association between concussion and performance on a cognitive test battery among 5616 high school and junior high school athletes. The researchers utilized a global cognitive score and scores for 5 domains: verbal memory, visual memory, visual motor, reaction time, and impulse control. Each cognitive score was converted to a z score with the mean and SD of the nonconcussed population. Results from each model were then interpreted as change in the standardized unit score. In the models, concussion was evaluated as ever having a concussion, number of concussions, time since last concussion, and age at first concussion. Results: Ever having a concussion was associated with a mean decrease of 0.11 standardized units (95% CI, −0.20 to −0.01) on the global cognitive score and lower scores in all cognitive domains. Each additional concussion was associated with lower scores on global cognitive function (effect estimate, −0.06; 95% CI, −0.11 to −0.02), verbal memory, visual memory, and impulse control. Concussion in early childhood was associated with lower global cognition (effect estimate, −0.05; 95% CI, −0.08 to −0.01), visual memory, and motor visual scores as compared with concussions in later childhood. The associations between time since last concussion and cognitive test scores were nonlinear, and on all tests, lower scores were observed even ≥1 year after the concussion. Conclusion: On the basis of objective performance metrics for cognitive function, concussions had a more persistent effect on cognitive function than previously thought. The age at which an individual has his or her first concussion may be an important factor in determining long-lasting cognitive effects.

A-92 Assessing Perceived Workload on the Brief Visual Memory Test in Traumatic Brain Injury Survivors

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 1139-1139
Author(s):  
Kristina E Smith ◽  
Daniel W Lopez-Hernandez ◽  
Alexis Bueno ◽  
Rachel A Rugh-Fraser ◽  
Bethany A Nordberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Visual Memory ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Memory Test ◽  
Short Delay ◽  
Subjective Workload ◽  
Perceived Workload ◽  
Nasa Tlx

Abstract Objective We examined perceived workload as it is related to Brief Visual Memory Test-Revised (BVMT-R) short-delay and long-delay performance in traumatic brain injury (TBI) and healthy comparison (HC) participants. Method The sample consisted of 39 TBI participants and 54 HC participants. Demographically corrected BVMT-R scores were used to evaluate short-delay and long-delay performances. The perceived workload was measured using the NASA-TLX. Results ANOVA revealed that the HC group outperformed the TBI group on the BVMT-R short-delay and long-delay score, p &lt; 05, η p 2 = 0.05. ANCOVAs controlling for age were used to evaluate NASA-TLX group differences. In regards to the NASA-TLX, TBI participants reported higher levels of physical demand, effort, frustration and overall subjective workload on the BVMT-R short-delay compared to HC participants, p &lt; 05, η p 2 = 0.01–0.09. Furthermore, on the long-delay of the BVMT-R, the NASA-TLX revealed that the TBI group reported higher levels of temporal demand, effort, frustration and overall subjective workload compared to the HC group, p &lt; 0.05, η p 2 = 0.05–0.14. Conclusions Results revealed that TBI participants demonstrated worse BVMT-R performances than HC participants. However, TBI survivors reported higher perceived workload demands compared to the HC group in both short-delay and long-delay of the BVMT-R. Our findings suggest that TBI impacts non-verbal memory performance in both BVMT-R short-delay and long-delay. Also, brain injury may be impacting TBI survivors’ awareness of their non-verbal memory performance. Further work is required to determine what drives the impaired perception of non-verbal memory performance among TBI survivors.

Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery and Cognitive Performance

2006 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 471-478 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gilles Dupuis ◽  
Elaine Kennedy ◽  
Ruth Lindquist ◽  
Franca B. Barton ◽  
Michael L. Terrin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coronary Artery ◽  
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Coronary Artery Bypass ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Visual Memory ◽  
Artery Bypass ◽  
Bypass Graft ◽  
Artery Bypass Graft ◽  
Before And After

• Background Some studies have indicated a decline in patients’ cognitive performance after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. • Objective To evaluate cognitive performance before and after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. • Methods Patients’ cognitive performance before and after coronary artery bypass graft surgery was evaluated in a prospective observational multicenter study in 5 academic medical centers. A total of 242 men and 123 women were evaluated before surgery; 333 men and 216 women, 5 to 11 months after surgery (197 men and 99 women were evaluated both before and after surgery). Verbal ability, attention/concentration, logical/verbal and visual memory, and facial recognition were measured. Data on demographic, medical, and psychosocial characteristics also were collected. • ResultsAfter surgery, patients’ overall performance improved (P &lt; .001) for attention/concentration, verbal fluency, and logical/verbal memory. Patients with more education (high school or greater) performed better on each test (P &lt; .001) than did patients with less education. No strong effects of sex or age on cognitive performance were observed before or after surgery, and no important differences in sex, age, or education were associated with changes in scores from before to after surgery. • Conclusion On average, cognitive performance improved rather than declined after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. The improvements were consistent across sex, age, and education.

scholarly journals The Relation Between Cognitive Performance and Symptom Factors Following Concussion

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 764-764
Author(s):  
E Whitley ◽  
R Gerkin ◽  
A Kontos ◽  
C Quintana ◽  
B Nalepa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Visual Memory ◽  
Injury Severity ◽  
Clinical Importance ◽  
Retrospective Chart Review ◽  
Symptom Assessment ◽  
Cognitive Outcomes ◽  
Motor Speed ◽  
And Gender

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to explore if symptom factors are related to cognitive outcomes. Prior studies have examined the relationship of individual symptoms to cognition. However, the relation between empirically-derived symptom factors and cognitive outcomes has yet to be explored. Methods Data were extracted via retrospective chart review of 691 patients (aged 10–24, mean: 14.99±2.63). Participants completed ImPACT and the PCSS within 14 days of injury (mean: 9.27±3.37). Predictors were PCSS factor scores of Cognitive-Fatigue-Migraine (CFM), Affective (AFF), Somatic (SOM), and Sleep (SLP) (Kontos et al., 2012). Outcomes examined were ImPACT composite scores. Univariate analyses were performed and values with p < 0.10 were entered into stepwise linear regression (LR) models. Retained predictors in each LR model had p values <.05. Results Verbal memory was predicted by CFM, SOM, age, and gender. Visual memory was predicted by CFM and SOM. Visual motor speed was predicted by age, gender, CFM, SOM, and AFF. Reaction time was best predicted by SOM, CFM, and age. The variance explained was fairly small (0.08 to 0.21). SLP was not a significant predictor in any LR. Conclusion CFM and SOM factors were most predictive of lower cognitive performance, similar to prior studies linking dizziness to longer recovery and post-traumatic migraine to worse cognitive performance. These findings underscore the clinical importance of diverse symptom assessment and injury education. Higher CFM and SOM scores may also serve as proxy for injury severity, which we would expect to be associated with worse cognitive performance.

scholarly journals Cognitive Performance in Men and Women Infected with HIV-1

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
José María Faílde Garrido ◽  
María Lameiras Fernández ◽  
Marika Foltz ◽  
Yolanda Rodríguez Castro ◽  
María Victoria Carrera Fernández
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Visual Memory ◽  
Clinical Sample ◽  
Assessment Process ◽  
Neuropsychological Performance ◽  
Abstract Reasoning ◽  
Verbal Intelligence ◽  
Psychomotor Speed ◽  
Hiv 1

Introduction. Very few studies have examined the neuropsychological performance of HIV-positive women, and even fewer have attempted a comparison of cognitive functioning by gender. The aim of this study was to describe the nature of the neuropsychological performance of HIV seropositive patients by gender.Methods. A clinical sample made up of 151 subjects was recruited to participate in this study. All of the subjects underwent the same assessment process, consisting of a neuropsychological evaluation and an interview to gather sociodemographic, toxicological, and clinical data.Results and Discussion. Despite the fact that men obtained higher scores in visual memory, attention/psychomotor speed, and abstract reasoning/verbal intelligence, these differences were not statistically significant. In contrast, significant differences were found depending on subjects’ serological status. Seropositive participants’ neuropsychological performance was significantly lower than that of the seronegative participants in all of the areas assessed as follows: (1) visual memory; (2) attention/psychomotor speed; (3) abstract reasoning/verbal intelligence; (4) verbal memory for texts; (5) verbal memory for digits and words.Conclusions. The results from this study reveal no significant gender differences in the cognitive performance of patients infected with HIV-1.

scholarly journals Lifespan trajectories and relationships to memory of the macro- and microstructure of the anterior and posterior hippocampus – a longitudinal multi-modal imaging study

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Espen Langnes ◽  
Markus H. Sneve ◽  
Donatas Sederevicius ◽  
Inge K. Amlien ◽  
Kristine B Walhovd ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Hippocampal Formation ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Memory Function ◽  
Imaging Study ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Microstructural Development

AbstractThere is evidence for a hippocampal long axis anterior-posterior (AP) differentiation in memory processing, which may have implications for the changes in episodic memory performance typically seen across development and aging. The hippocampal formation shows substantial structural changes with age, but the lifespan trajectories of hippocampal sub-regions along the AP axis are not established. The aim of the present study was to test whether the micro- and macro-structural age-trajectories of the anterior (aHC) and posterior (pHC) hippocampus are different. In a single-center longitudinal study, 1790 cognitively healthy participants, 4.1-93.4 years of age, underwent a total of 3367 MRI examinations and 3033 memory tests sessions over 1-6 time points, spanning an interval up to 11.1 years. T1-weighted scans were used to estimate the volume of aHC and pHC, and diffusion tensor imaging to measure mean diffusion (MD) within each region. We found that the macro- and microstructural lifespan-trajectories of aHC and pHC were clearly distinguishable, with partly common and partly unique variance shared with age. aHC showed a protracted period of microstructural development, while pHC microstructural development as indexed by MD was more or less completed in early childhood. In contrast, pHC showed larger unique aging-related changes. A similar aHC – pHC difference was observed for volume, although not as evident as for microstructure. All sub-regions showed age-dependent relationships to episodic memory function. For aHC micro- and macrostructure, the relationships to verbal memory performance varied significantly with age, being stronger among the older participants. Future research should disentangle the relationship between these structural properties and different memory processes – encoding vs. retrieval in particular – across the lifespan.

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