Predicting Older Driver On-Road Performance by Means of the Useful Field of View and Trail Making Test Part B

Abstract Objective This study examined the role of apathy on performance of an executive functioning task. Method The data for this study was derived from the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center’s Uniform Data Set containing neuropsychological information for stroke patients (n = 317) who completed the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Questionnaire (NPI-Q) and the Trail Making Test (Part B). The sample was divided into two groups. One which endorsed feelings of apathy in the last month (n = 102; mean age = 84,SD = 8.33) and a second group which denied feelings of apathy within the last month (n = 215; mean age = 86, SD = 8.02). Results After controlling for depression [as measured by the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)], age, gender, and motor impairment, the results of an ANCOVA showed that those who reported apathy performed significantly slower on the Trail Making Test—Part B than those who did not report it [F(1,312 = 6.01, p = .02]. Conclusions It has previously been found that cognitive performance can be impacted by depression on stroke patients. However, recently, it has been identified that apathy specifically, can have an effect on cognitive domains such as verbal learning, short-term, and long-term memory. The present study further supports that apathy may play a role in overall cognitive performance. Therefore, even if patients do not meet criteria for depression, the presence of apathy should still be taken into account. Future research should examine other possible contributing factors such as processing speed should be taken into account as they could be affecting the scores. Finally, researchers should utilize additional measures of executive functioning as only one was available for this study.

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Trail Making Test, Part B as a Measure of Executive Control: Validation Using a Set-Switching Paradigm

Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology ◽

10.1076/1380-3395(200008)22:4;1-0;ft518 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 22 (4) ◽

pp. 518-528 ◽

Cited By ~ 478

Author(s):

Katherine Arbuthnott ◽

Janis Frank

Keyword(s):

Executive Control ◽

Trail Making Test ◽

Test Part ◽

Set Switching ◽

Trail Making

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Neuropsychological Features of Asymptomatic c.709-1G>A Progranulin Mutation Carriers

Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society ◽

10.1017/s1355617712000823 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 18 (6) ◽

pp. 1086-1090 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Myriam Barandiaran ◽

Ainara Estanga ◽

Fermín Moreno ◽

Begoña Indakoetxea ◽

Ainhoa Alzualde ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Trail Making Test ◽

Neuropsychological Battery ◽

Boston Naming Test ◽

Prodromal Phase ◽

Test Part ◽

Mutation Carriers ◽

Trail Making ◽

Clinically Significant ◽

Study Participants ◽

Naming Test

AbstractMutations in the progranulin (PGRN) gene have been identified as a cause of frontotemporal dementia (FTD). However, little is known about the neuropsychological abilities of asymptomatic carriers of these mutations. The aim of the study was to assess cognitive functioning in asymptomatic c.709-1G>A PGRN mutation carriers. We hypothesized that poorer neuropsychological performance could be present before the development of clinically significant FTD symptoms. Thirty-two asymptomatic first-degree relatives of FTD patients carrying the c.709-1G>A mutation served as study participants, including 13 PGRN mutation carriers (A-PGRN+) and 19 non-carriers (PGRN-). A neuropsychological battery was administered. We found that the A-PGRN+ participants obtained significantly poorer scores than PGRN- individuals on tests of attention (Trail-Making Test Part A), mental flexibility (Trail-Making Test Part B), and language (Boston Naming Test). Poorer performance on these tests in asymptomatic PGRN mutation carriers may reflect a prodromal phase preceding the onset of clinically significant symptoms of FTD. (JINS, 2012, 18, 1086–1090)

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Neuropsychological performance changes following subthalamic versus pallidal deep brain stimulation in Parkinson’s disease: a systematic review and metaanalysis

CNS Spectrums ◽

10.1017/s1092852917000062 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 23 (1) ◽

pp. 10-23 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Ahmed Elgebaly ◽

Mohamed Elfil ◽

Attia Attia ◽

Mayar Magdy ◽

Ahmed Negida

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Deep Brain Stimulation ◽

Verbal Fluency ◽

Neuropsychological Performance ◽

Trail Making Test ◽

Test Part ◽

Trail Making ◽

Neuropsychological Outcomes ◽

Naming Test ◽

Deep Brain

BackgroundStudies comparing subthalamus (STN) and globus pallidus internus (GPi) deep brain stimulation (DBS) for the management of Parkinson’s disease in terms of neuropsychological performance are scarce and heterogeneous. Therefore, we performed a systematic review and metaanalysis to compare neuropsychological outcomes following STN DBS versus GPi DBS.MethodsA computer literature search of PubMed, the Web of Science, and Cochrane Central was conducted. Records were screened for eligible studies, and data were extracted and synthesized using Review Manager (v. 5.3 for Windows).ResultsSeven studies were included in the qualitative synthesis. Of them, four randomized controlled trials (n=345 patients) were pooled in the metaanalysis models. The standardized mean difference (SMD) of change in the Stroop color-naming test favored the GPi DBS group (SMD=–0.31,p=0.009). However, other neuropsychological outcomes did not favor either of the two groups (Stroop word-reading:SMD=–0.21,p=0.08; the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) digits forward:SMD=0.08,p=0.47; Trail Making Test Part A:SMD=–0.05,p=0.65; WAIS–R digit symbol:SMD=–0.16,p=0.29; Trail Making Test Part B:SMD=–0.14,p=0.23; Stroop color–word interference:SMD=–0.16,p=0.18; phonemic verbal fluency: bilateral DBSSMD=–0.04,p=0.73, and unilateral DBSSMD=–0.05,p=0.83; semantic verbal fluency: bilateral DBSSMD=–0.09,p=0.37, and unilateral DBSSMD=–0.29,p=0.22; Boston Naming Test:SMD=–0.11,p=0.33; Beck Depression Inventory: bilateral DBSSMD=0.15,p=0.31, and unilateral DBSSMD=0.36,p=0.11).ConclusionsThere was no statistically significant difference in most of the neuropsychological outcomes. The present evidence does not favor any of the targets in terms of neuropsychological performance.

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A-029 The Clinical Utility of the Trail Making Test- Part B Efficiency Score in a Memory Disorder Clinic

Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology ◽

10.1093/arclin/acaa068.029 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 35 (6) ◽

pp. 819-819

Author(s):

Grueninger K ◽

Yousif M ◽

Denny A ◽

Sohoni R ◽

Webbe F ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Utility ◽

Clinical Information ◽

Efficiency Score ◽

Trail Making Test ◽

Scoring Method ◽

Memory Disorder ◽

Test Part ◽

Trail Making ◽

Normal Cognition ◽

B Efficiency

Abstract Objective Trail Making Test—Part B (TMTB) is a common neuropsychological instrument measuring aspects of executive functioning such as set shifting and cognitive flexibility. Typically, TMTB is discontinued if not completed within 300 seconds, limiting variability in interpretation for individuals who discontinue. This study aims to alleviate this limitation by examining whether a TMT-B Efficiency (TMT-Be) score can provide useful clinical information in a memory disorder clinic population. Methods TMTB was administered to 167 patients (101 females, 66 males) as part of a neuropsychological evaluation. Diagnostic groups included: Alzheimer’s Disease (AD; N = 83), Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI; N = 58), and Normal Cognition (N = 26). Ages ranged from 65–94. Participants completed TMTB according to standardized instructions. TMT-Be scores accounted for time, number of errors, and number of incomplete moves. Results TMT-Be scores differed significantly across diagnostic groups (ANOVA, F (2, 164) = 44.81, p < .001). Post-hoc tests using the Bonferroni correction revealed TMT-Be scores in the AD group (M = 17.48, SD = 9.23) were significantly higher than scores of the MCI group (M = 7.91, SD = 5.68) and WNL group (M = 4.65, SD = 1.67). Significant correlations between TMT-Be score and other neuropsychological measures were also found and will be presented and discussed. Conclusion Results support clinical utility of TMT-Be scores for diagnostic purposes, such as differential diagnosis of normal cognition, MCI, and AD. Further research with a larger number of participants and other populations may lend further support to the clinical utility of the TMT-Be scoring method.

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A-104 Examining Methods of Executive Ability from Trail Making Test Part B in Retired Football Players

Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology ◽

10.1093/arclin/acab062.122 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 36 (6) ◽

pp. 1153-1153

Author(s):

Daniel W Lopez-Hernandez ◽

Bethany A Nordberg ◽

Alexis Bueno ◽

Pavel Y Litvin ◽

Amy Bichlmeier ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Executive Functioning ◽

Cognitive Deficits ◽

Football Player ◽

Group Differences ◽

Football Players ◽

Trail Making Test ◽

Test Part ◽

Trail Making ◽

The Difference ◽

Executive Ability

Abstract Introduction Repeated sports-related concussions have been associated with cognitive deficits, similar to other forms of traumatic brain injury. We investigated three different measures of executive ability derived from the Trail Making Test part B (TMT-B) in healthy comparison (HC) adults and retired football players. Methods The sample consisted of 32 HC, 15 retired football speed players (FSP; e.g., quarterbacks), and 53 retired football non-speed players (FNP) participants. Participants were administered both TMT part A (TMT-A) and TMT-B, and total time for completion was recorded. A series of ANCOVAs, controlling for age and education were conducted to evaluate group differences in executive abilities. Executive measures included the TMT-B raw score (i.e., seconds to complete TMT-B), the raw score difference (in seconds) between TMT-A and TMT-B (TMT-BA), and the difference between a predicted TMT-B score (TMT-BP) and the obtained TMT-B score (TMT-BBP). Correlations between TMT-B, TMT-BA, and TMT-BBP and other executive functioning tests (i.e., letter fluency and animal naming) were evaluated. Results Results revealed that the HC group outperformed both retired football player groups on all measures of executive ability derived from TMT-B, p’s < 0.05, ηps2 = 0.18–0.45. Furthermore, the retired FNP TMT-B and TMT-BA were significantly correlated with both letter fluency and animal naming, r’s = −0.40 to −0.36, p’s < 0.05. Discussion We found that the HC group outperformed both retired football player groups on all three TMT variables. In our retired FNP sample, more TMT variables correlated with executive functioning measures which suggests that TMT-B and TMT-BA are likely better measures of executive ability than TMT-BBP.

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