Spectral changes following resective epilepsy surgery and neurocognitive function in children with epilepsy

Decelerated resting cortical oscillations, high frequency activity and enhanced cross-frequency interactions are features of focal epilepsy. The association between electrophysiological signal properties and neurocognitive function, particularly following resective surgery is, however, unclear. In the current report, we studied intraoperative recordings from intracranial electrodes implanted in seven children with focal epilepsy and analyzed the spectral dynamics both before and after surgical resection of the hypothesized seizure focus. The associations between electrophysiological spectral signatures and each child's neurocognitive profiles were characterized using a partial-least squares analysis. We find that extent of spectral alteration at the periphery of surgical resection, as indexed by slowed resting frequency and its acceleration following surgery, is associated with baseline cognitive deficits in children. The current report provides evidence supporting the relationship between altered spectral properties in focal epilepsy and neuropsychological deficits in children. In particular, these findings suggest a critical role of disrupted thalamocortical rhythms, which are believed to underlie the spectral alterations we describe, in both epileptogenicity and neurocognitive function.

A-73 Neurocognitive Profiles in Patients Following Covid-19 Infection

Objective Little is known about neurocognitive function in patients with persisting cognitive complaints following Covid-19 infection. Initial studies, utilizing cognitive screening measures or case reports, suggest presence of deficits in attention and executive function. This study investigated cognitive functioning among individuals with Covid-19 infection. Methods The sample included 20 individuals referred to an outpatient Covid-19 recovery clinic at the Cleveland Clinic. At the time of Covid-19 diagnosis, 45% required hospitalization, 15% were in an intensive care unit, 10% needed mechanical ventilation, and 10% had delirium. Patients underwent neuropsychological evaluation on average 157 days after a Covid-19 positive PCR test. Results This sample (n = 20) was predominately female (85%), White non-Hispanic (70%), with a mean education of 15 years. For the majority of patients, neurocognitive test results were interpreted as within expectation compared to normative samples. Cognitive deficits, when present, were largely seen on isolated tests involving attention or executive function. Seventy percent of patients were treated for a mood disorder prior to Covid-19. At the time of testing, 45% of the sample endorsed moderate to severe symptoms of depression and/or anxiety and 92% noted significant fatigue as measured by the Fatigue Severity Scale. Conclusions Cognitive deficits, when observed, are consistent with prior research. These findings suggest that in patients with similar presentations, psychological implications of Covid-19 and other persisting symptoms (e.g., fatigue) may play a significant role in subjective cognitive complaints. These patients would likely benefit from resources to manage persisting or new mood symptoms and compensatory strategies for cognitive inefficiencies they experience.

Neuropsychological care guidelines for people with spina bifida

While the neuropsychological profile for individuals with Spina Bifida (SB) can vary, often certain patterns of strengths and weaknesses are evident across the lifespan. Understanding variability related to neural structure, genetics, ethnicity, and the environment is key to understanding individual differences in outcomes and can be vital in planning interventions and tracking progress. This article outlines the SB Guideline for the Neuropsychological Care of People with Spina Bifida from the 2018 Spina Bifida Association’s Fourth Edition of the Guidelines for the Care of People with Spina Bifida and acknowledges that further research in SB neurocognitive profiles is warranted.

Disorder-specific brain volumetric abnormalities in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder relative to Autism Spectrum Disorder

The overlap/distinctiveness between Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has been increasingly investigated in recent years, particularly since the DSM-5 allows the dual diagnosis of ASD and ADHD, but the underlying brain mechanisms remain unclear. Although both disorders are associated with brain volumetric abnormalities, it is necessary to unfold the shared and specific volume abnormalities that could contribute to explain the similarities and differences in the clinical and neurocognitive profiles between ADHD and ASD. In this voxel-based morphometry (VBM) study, regional grey matter volumes (GMV) were compared between 22 children with ADHD, 18 children with ASD and 17 typically developing (TD) children aged 8 to 12 years old, controlling for age and total intracranial volume. When compared to TD children or children with ASD, children with ADHD had a larger left precuneus, and a smaller right thalamus, suggesting that these brain abnormalities are specific to ADHD relative to ASD. Overall, this study contributes to the delineation of disorder-specific structural abnormalities in ADHD and ASD.