Exploratory Factor Analysis of the WAIS-III Thai Version in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment

2021 ◽  
Vol 104 (7) ◽  
pp. 1095-1101
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Exploratory Factor Analysis ◽  
Perceptual Organization ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Digit Span ◽  
Adult Intelligence Scale ◽  
The Mean

Objective: To investigate the generalizability of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III (WAIS-III) factors structure in a sample of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study of patients older than 60 years receiving treatments at the Memory Clinic in Ramathibodi Hospital between January 2015 and July 2018 was conducted. The WAIS-III Thai version was used to measure the performance. All subtests except the Vocabulary and Object Assembly subtests were included for analyses. These 12 subtests were subjected to a principal axis factor analysis with oblique rotation and four factors were specified to be retained. Results: Out of 145 patients, 51% were female and 49%were male. The Full-Scale IQ ranged from 80 to 123 with the mean of 93.88 (SD 9.12). The mean of each subtest ranged from 7.82 (Similarities) to 10.45 (Digit Span), with the standard deviations ranging from 1.80 to 2.86. Based on the order of extraction and minimum loading criterion, results supported a four-factor solution composed of Verbal Comprehension, Perceptual Organization, Working Memory, and Processing Speed. The coefficients of congruence across groups on the four factors ranged from 0.92 for Perceptual Organization to 0.73 for Processing Speed. However, the Picture Completion subtest was found to have similar loadings between Perceptual Organization and Processing Speed, with the primary loading being on Perceptual Organization and secondary loading on Processing Speed. On the Working Memory factor, the MCI group showed areas of relatively greater divergence for Picture Arrangement, Block Design, and Digit Symbol: Coding subtests. Conclusion: Four factors from WAIS-III could be applied to patients with MCI. The decline of cognitive functions, particular in working memory, might be the explanation for the difference in loading factor among some subtests. Therefore, it might be possible to apply other models with other factors to the same patient group in the future. Keywords: Mild cognitive impairments; Exploratory factor analysis; WAIS-III

Visual versus Verbal Working Memory in Statistically Determined Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment: On behalf of the Consortium for Clinical and Epidemiological Neuropsychological Data Analysis (CENDA)

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (10) ◽  
pp. 1001-1010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheina Emrani ◽  
Victor Wasserman ◽  
Emily Matusz ◽  
David Miller ◽  
Melissa Lamar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Memory Impairment ◽  
Digit Span ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Verbal Working Memory ◽  
Intracranial Volume ◽  
Adult Intelligence Scale

AbstractObjective:Previous research in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) suggests that visual episodic memory impairment may emerge before analogous verbal episodic memory impairment. The current study examined working memory (WM) test performance in MCI to assess whether patients present with greater visual versus verbal WM impairment. WM performance was also assessed in relation to hippocampal occupancy (HO), a ratio of hippocampal volume to ventricular dilation adjusted for demographic variables and intracranial volume.Methods:Jak et al. (2009) (The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 17, 368–375) and Edmonds, Delano-Wood, Galasko, Salmon, & Bondi (2015) (Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 47(1), 231–242) criteria classify patients into four groups: little to no cognitive impairment (non-MCI); subtle cognitive impairment (SCI); amnestic MCI (aMCI); and a combined mixed/dysexecutive MCI (mixed/dys MCI). WM was assessed using co-normed Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV (WAIS-IV) Digit Span Backwards and Wechsler Memory Scale-IV (WMS-IV) Symbol Span Z-scores.Results:Between-group analyses found worse WMS-IV Symbol Span and WAIS-IV Digit Span Backwards performance for mixed/dys MCI compared to non-MCI patients. Within-group analyses found no differences for non-MCI patients; however, all other groups scored lower on WMS-IV Symbol Span than WAIS-IV Digit Span Backwards. Regression analysis with HO as the dependent variable was statistically significant for WMS-IV Symbol Span performance. WAIS-IV Digit Span Backwards performance failed to reach statistical significance.Conclusions:Worse WMS-IV Symbol Span performance was observed in patient groups with measurable neuropsychological impairment and better WMS-IV Symbol Span performance was associated with higher HO ratios. These results suggest that visual WM may be particularly sensitive to emergent illness compared to analogous verbal WM tests.

Preliminary Validation of the Global Neuropsychological Assessment in Alzheimer’s Disease and Healthy Volunteers

Assessment ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 107319112199122
Author(s):  
Lauren T. Olson ◽  
Alan Smerbeck ◽  
Christina M. Figueroa ◽  
Jeremy M. Raines ◽  
Kinga Szigeti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Neuropsychological Assessment ◽  
Performance Test ◽  
Digit Span ◽  
Intraclass Correlation ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Adult Intelligence Scale

Methods We administered the Global Neuropsychological Assessment (GNA), an abbreviated cognitive battery, to 105 adults aged 73.0 ± 7.1 years, including 28 with probable Alzheimer’s disease, 9 with amnestic mild cognitive impairment, and 68 healthy controls. We examined group differences in baseline performance, test–retest reliability, and correlations with other conventional tests. Results Healthy adults outperformed patients on all five GNA subtests. Test–retest intraclass correlation coefficients were significant for all GNA subtests. Among patients with healthy controls, GNA Story Memory correlated best with Wechsler Memory Scale–Revised (WMS-R) Logical Memory for learning and delayed recall, GNA Digit Span correlated most highly with the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale–Third Edition (WAIS-III) Digit Span, GNA Perceptual Comparison correlated most highly with the Trail Making Test, and GNA Animal Naming correlated most highly with Supermarket Item Naming. Conclusions Preliminary findings suggest that the GNA shows good test–retest validity, clear convergent and discriminant construct validity, and excellent diagnostic criterion validity for dementia and mild cognitive impairment in an American sample.

scholarly journals Experimental dyspnoea interferes with locomotion and cognition: a randomised trial

2020 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 2000054 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Lawi ◽  
Elise Dupuis-Lozeron ◽  
Gregory Berra ◽  
Gilles Allali ◽  
Thomas Similowski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Digit Span ◽  
Randomised Trial ◽  
Healthy Adults ◽  
Adult Intelligence Scale ◽  
Loaded Breathing

BackgroundChronic respiratory diseases are associated with cognitive dysfunction, but whether dyspnoea by itself negatively impacts on cognition has not been demonstrated. Cortical networks engaged in subjects experiencing dyspnoea are also activated during other tasks that require cognitive input and this may provoke a negative impact through interference with each other.MethodsThis randomised, crossover trial investigated whether experimentally-induced dyspnoea would negatively impact on locomotion and cognitive function among 40 healthy adults. Crossover conditions were unloaded breathing or loaded breathing using an inspiratory threshold load. To evaluate locomotion, participants were assessed by the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. Cognitive function was assessed by categorical and phonemic verbal fluency tests, the Trail Making Tests (TMTs) A and B (executive function), the CODE test from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)-IV (processing speed) and by direct and indirect digit span (working memory).ResultsThe mean time difference to perform the TUG test between unloaded and loaded breathing was −0.752 s (95% CI −1.012 to −0.492 s) (p<0.001). Executive function, processing speed and working memory performed better during unloaded breathing, particularly for subjects starting first with the loaded breathing condition.ConclusionOur data suggest that respiratory threshold loading to elicit dyspnoea had a major impact on locomotion and cognitive function in healthy adults.

scholarly journals Assessment of verbal and visuospatial working memory in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's dementia

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 301-305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roy P.C. Kessels ◽  
Anouk Overbeek ◽  
Zita Bouman
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Digit Span ◽  
Memory Deficits ◽  
Alzheimer’S Dementia ◽  
Visuospatial Working Memory ◽  
Alzheimer's Dementia ◽  
Impaired Performance ◽  
Spatial Span

In addition to episodic memory impairment, working memory may also be compromised in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer's dementia (AD), but standard verbal and visuospatial span tasks do not always detect impairments. Objective: To examine whether more complex verbal and visuospatial working memory tasks result in more reliable impairment detection. Methods: The Digit Span (forward, backward and sequencing), Spatial Span (forward and backward) and Spatial Addition test from the Wechsler batteries were administered to MCI and AD patients and performance compared to healthy older adult controls. Results: Results showed that both the MCI and AD patients had impaired performance on the Spatial Addition test. Both groups also had impaired performance on all three Digit Span conditions, but no differences were found between forward and backward conditions in any of the groups. The sequencing condition differed from the backward condition only in the AD group. Spatial Span performance was impaired in AD group patients but not in MCI patients. Conclusion: Working memory deficits are evident in MCI and AD even on standard neuropsychological tests. However, available tests may not detect subtle impairments, especially in MCI. Novel paradigms tapping the episodic buffer component of working memory may be useful in the assessment of working memory deficits, but such instruments are not yet available for clinical assessment.

Working memory span in mild cognitive impairment. Influence of processing speed and cognitive reserve

2013 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 615-625 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Facal ◽  
Onésimo Juncos-Rabadán ◽  
Arturo X. Pereiro ◽  
Cristina Lojo-Seoane
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Memory Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Reserve ◽  
Memory Span ◽  
Amnestic Mci ◽  
Span Tasks ◽  
Subject Factor

ABSTRACTBackground:Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) often includes episodic memory impairment, but can also involve other types of cognitive decline. Although previous studies have shown poorer performance of MCI patients in working memory (WM) span tasks, different MCI subgroups were not studied.Methods:In the present exploratory study, 145 participants underwent extensive cognitive evaluation, which included three different WM span tasks, and were classified into the following groups: multiple-domain amnestic MCI (mda-MCI), single-domain amnestic MCI (sda-MCI), and controls. General linear model was conducted by considering the WM span tasks as the within-subject factor; the group (mda-MCI, sda-MCI, and controls) as the inter-subject factor; and processing speed, vocabulary and age as covariates. Multiple linear regression models were also used to test the influence of processing speed, vocabulary, and other cognitive reserve (CR) proxies.Results:Results indicate different levels of impairment of WM, with more severe impairment in mda-MCI patients. The differences were still present when processing resources and CR were controlled.Conclusions:Between-group differences can be understood as a manifestation of the greater severity and widespread memory impairment in mda-MCI patients and may contribute to a better understanding of continuum from normal controls to mda-MCI patients. Processing speed and CR have a limited influence on WM scores, reducing but not removing differences between groups.

scholarly journals Effects of Tai Chi Chuan on cognition of elderly women with mild cognitive impairment

2010 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliana Yumi Tizon Kasai ◽  
Alexandre Leopold Busse ◽  
Regina Miksian Magaldi ◽  
Maria Angela Soci ◽  
Priscilla de Moraes Rosa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Tai Chi ◽  
Elderly Women ◽  
Digit Span ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Adult Intelligence Scale ◽  
Tai Chi Chuan ◽  
Learning Test

ABSTRACT Objective: To detect the effects of Tai Chi Chuan practice on the cognition of elderly subjects with Mild Cognitive Impairment. Methods: This is a pilot study with 26 elderly patients (mean age of 74 years) with Mild Cognitive Impairment. The evaluation instruments were Subjective Memory Complaint Scale (SMC), Rivermead Behavioral Memory Test (RBMT) and Digit Span Forward and Backward (DSF and DSB) from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS). One group of 13 patients received two weekly 60-minute classes of Tai Chi Chuan (Yang style) for 6 consecutive months, and the rest formed the Control Group. The Tai Chi Chuan Group was also evaluated as to learning of the Tai Chi Chuan practical exercises by means of a Specific Learning Test applied after three months of intervention. Results: After six months of intervention, the TCC Group showed significant improvement on the RBMT and the SMC (p = 0.007 and p = 0.023, respectively). The Control Group showed no significant differences in the cognitive tests during the study. There was a significant correlation between the Tai Chi Chuan Learning Test and RBMT (p = 0.008), showing that patients with a better performance in exercising TCC also showed a better performance in memory. Conclusions: In this study, a six-month program of Tai Chi Chuan afforded a significant improvement of the performance of memory complaints in the elderly with Mild Cognitive Impairment. Additional randomized studies with larger samples and more prolonged follow-up are needed to confirm these benefits.

scholarly journals EEG-Derived Functional Connectivity Patterns Associated with Mild Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson’s Disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 40
Author(s):  
Alejandro Armando Peláez Suárez ◽  
Sheila Berrillo Batista ◽  
Ivonne Pedroso Ibáñez ◽  
Enrique Casabona Fernández ◽  
Marinet Fuentes Campos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Functional Connectivity ◽  
Path Length ◽  
Clustering Coefficient ◽  
Eyes Closed ◽  
The Mean

Objective: To evaluate EEG-derived functional connectivity (FC) patterns associated with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in Parkinson’s disease (PD). METHODS: A sample of 15 patients without cognitive impairment (PD-WCI), 15 with MCI (PD-MCI), and 26 healthy subjects were studied. The EEG was performed in the waking functional state with eyes closed, for the functional analysis it was used the synchronization likelihood (SL) and graph theory (GT). RESULTS: PD-MCI patients showed decreased FC in frequencies alpha, in posterior regions, and delta with a generalized distribution. Patients, compared to the healthy people, presented a decrease in segregation (lower clustering coefficient in alpha p = 0.003 in PD-MCI patients) and increased integration (shorter mean path length in delta (p = 0.004) and theta (p = 0.002) in PD-MCI patients). There were no significant differences in the network topology between the parkinsonian groups. In PD-MCI patients, executive dysfunction correlated positively with global connectivity in beta (r = 0.47) and negatively with the mean path length at beta (r = −0.45); alterations in working memory were negatively correlated with the mean path length at beta r = −0.45. CONCLUSIONS: PD patients present alterations in the FC in all frequencies, those with MCI show less connectivity in the alpha and delta frequencies. The neural networks of the patients show a random topology, with a similar organization between patients with and without MCI. In PD-MCI patients, alterations in executive function and working memory are related to beta integration.

scholarly journals How do we measure attention? Using factor analysis to establish construct validity of neuropsychological tests

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa Treviño ◽  
Xiaoshu Zhu ◽  
Yi Yi Lu ◽  
Luke S. Scheuer ◽  
Eliza Passell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Visual Search ◽  
Object Tracking ◽  
Visual Working Memory ◽  
Neuropsychological Tests ◽  
Digit Span ◽  
Digit Symbol ◽  
Attentional Capacity ◽  
Spatial Span

AbstractWe investigated whether standardized neuropsychological tests and experimental cognitive paradigms measure the same cognitive faculties. Specifically, do neuropsychological tests commonly used to assess attention measure the same construct as attention paradigms used in cognitive psychology and neuroscience? We built on the “general attention factor”, comprising several widely used experimental paradigms (Huang et al., 2012). Participants (n = 636) completed an on-line battery (TestMyBrain.org) of six experimental tests [Multiple Object Tracking, Flanker Interference, Visual Working Memory, Approximate Number Sense, Spatial Configuration Visual Search, and Gradual Onset Continuous Performance Task (Grad CPT)] and eight neuropsychological tests [Trail Making Test versions A & B (TMT-A, TMT-B), Digit Symbol Coding, Forward and Backward Digit Span, Letter Cancellation, Spatial Span, and Arithmetic]. Exploratory factor analysis in a subset of 357 participants identified a five-factor structure: (1) attentional capacity (Multiple Object Tracking, Visual Working Memory, Digit Symbol Coding, Spatial Span), (2) search (Visual Search, TMT-A, TMT-B, Letter Cancellation); (3) Digit Span; (4) Arithmetic; and (5) Sustained Attention (GradCPT). Confirmatory analysis in 279 held-out participants showed that this model fit better than competing models. A hierarchical model where a general cognitive factor was imposed above the five specific factors fit as well as the model without the general factor. We conclude that Digit Span and Arithmetic tests should not be classified as attention tests. Digit Symbol Coding and Spatial Span tap attentional capacity, while TMT-A, TMT-B, and Letter Cancellation tap search (or attention-shifting) ability. These five tests can be classified as attention tests.

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