Stress is a known risk factor for adverse cognitive outcomes; however, it remains unclear whether race/ethnicity is a moderating factor in the stress-cognition connection. In addition, the mechanisms underlying the influence of stress on learning and memory is an area of growing research, particularly among Hispanic/Latino individuals. The objective of this study was to investigate the associations between perceived stress, cardiometabolic risk, and learning and memory among matched Hispanic/Latino and non-Hispanic White individuals. Cross-sectional data were obtained from the MindCrowd longitudinal observational online study from Hispanic/Latino (n = 91) and age, sex, and education matched non-Hispanic White adults (n = 95). Participants completed the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale and an online measure of learning and memory, the paired associates learning task. Linear regression models were built to investigate the effects of perceived stress, cardiometabolic risk and race/ethnicity on paired associates learning scores. Mediation between perceived stress and paired associates learning through cardiometabolic risk was tested. We found an inverse association between perceived stress and PAL scores among both Hispanic/Latino and non-Hispanic White groups (b = -.08, SE = .03, p = .007). The association between perceived stress and PAL scores was partially mediated by cardiometabolic risk (b = -.01, SE = .008, 95% CI [-.03, -.001]). The associations between perceived stress, cardiometabolic risk, and PAL scores did not differ by race/ethnicity (ps > .05). A mediation model moderated by race/ethnicity indicated no difference in the cardiometabolic risk mediation between perceived stress and PAL (b = .007, SE = .01, 95% CI [-.02, .03]). Perceived stress is a risk factor for poorer paired associates learning scores among Hispanic/Latino and non-Hispanic White individuals. Cardiometabolic risk accounted for some of the association between perceived stress and paired associates learning performance. Further investigation is needed to better understand the complex mechanisms underlying stress-cognition associations among ethnically diverse samples.

Prior research has shown a strong association between insomnia and affective symptoms including depressive and anxiety symptoms. Rumination, defined as repetitive negative thinking, impacts both insomnia and affective symptoms. However, relying solely on self-reported sleep measures, it remains unclear whether rumination and affective symptoms interact with their subjective-objective sleep discrepancy (SOSD) rather than perceived sleep duration per se. SOSD is defined as a mismatch between perceived and objectively measured total sleep time (TST). Negative SOSD (i.e. underestimating TST) is a phenotype of sleep disturbance that increases the risk of insomnia in daily life. Therefore, the cross-sectional study investigated whether trait anxiety and depression influence SOSD performance in the presence of rumination. We measured SOSD using sleep diaries and actigraphy over five days, and assessed subjective sleep quality, rumination, depression, and trait anxiety through self-reported surveys. We further classified 672 participants (20.66 ± 1.89 years old; 68.0% female) into three SOSD groups: underestimating (UE), correctly estimating (CE), and overestimating (OE) TST. The results showed that the CE and UE groups had similar rumination levels, whereas the OE group exhibited significantly lower rumination. We found no differences in depression or trait anxiety across SOSD groups. Linear regression models showed that greater rumination and affective symptoms significantly and separately predicted lower SOSD values, and females showed more underestimation TST compared to males. When rumination was included, neither depression nor anxiety uniquely predicted SOSD, regardless of sex, though each overall model remained significant. These findings suggest that depression and anxiety share overlapping explanatory variance with rumination in relation to SOSD outcomes among young adults and interventions targeting rumination and affective symptoms may hold promise for populations with negative SOSD, especially for females.

This study expands on the Montefiore Einstein Robust Geriatric (MERGER) norms by providing normative data for two word reading tests (WTAR, AMNART). We also developed regression-based prediction formulas for these tests using demographics and a novel measure of cognitive literacy engagement, establishing base rates for discrepancies between actual and predicted scores. Discrepancy base rates for global cognition, derived from regression-based norms using word reading and demographic factors, were also examined to support detection of cognitive decline. The MERGER sample included 420 community-dwelling older adults. Backward regression analyses predicted WTAR and AMNART scores. Base rates were calculated for discrepancies on the WTAR, AMNART, and the RBANS Global Cognition Index (GCI). One-way ANOVAs compared discrepancy scores across MERGER, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia groups. Clinically meaningful cutoffs were set at the 10% base rate, and ROC curves assessed diagnostic accuracy. Normative data for WTAR and AMNART are presented. Cognitive literacy engagement significantly predicted both WTAR and AMNART scores, explaining small but significant variance. Base rate tables for discrepancies in word reading and GCI are provided. Mean discrepancies in the MERGER sample between actual and predicted word reading scores were near zero. ANOVAs showed MERGER participants had significantly smaller negative discrepancies than the MCI and dementia groups. For MCI detection, WTAR and AMNART discrepancies showed low sensitivity (17-24%) at 90% specificity. In the dementia group, sensitivities were fair (24-29%), improving in a subgroup diagnosed at their initial study visit (30-40%) with acceptable diagnostic accuracy. This study provides normative data and discrepancy base rates for word reading and global cognition, enhancing the clinical applicability of MERGER norms. These results support more precise interpretation of word reading abilities in older adults, aiding in the differentiation of typical versus atypical cognitive profiles and improving diagnostic confidence when evaluating potential cognitive decline.

The new Chinese version of the SKT (Syndrom-Kurz-Test) Short Cognitive Performance Test aims to detect early cognitive impairment and is a promising addition to neuropsychological test batteries in China and suitable for Chinese speaking patients. This study has three aims: 1. to assess whether the SKT's diagnostic accuracy is comparable to established cognitive impairment tests (e.g. Addenbrooke´s cognitive examination-III (ACE-III) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Basic (MoCA-B)); 2. to examine whether the three tests show intra-individual differences according to different types of mild cognitive impairment (single-domain amnestic MCI, semantic MCI and multiple-domain amnestic MCI); 3. to determine whether these tests distinguish between individuals with no cognitive impairment and those with subjective cognitive decline (SCD). The validation sample included 1038 older adults (mean age = 70.04, SD = 6.05) from the Chinese Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease Study (C-PAS). Participants underwent cognitive testing and received consensus diagnoses of normal cognition, MCI, or dementia. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for each test. ANOVAs examined differences between MCI subtypes, and t-tests assessed group differences between normal cognition and SCD. Results: The SKT showed the highest discrimination between normal cognition and cognitive impairment (MCI or dementia), with a sensitivity of 85.4% and specificity of 69.8%. All three tests demonstrated significant score differences across MCI subtypes. Additionally, all tests significantly distinguished individuals with SCD from those without cognitive impairment (p < 0.01). Conclusions: The new Chinese produced weaker results than the established tests. However, given its strengths, it could be a useful tool for identifying cognitive impairment in certain situations.

ABSTRACT The intricate role of sleep in sustaining critical physiological functions and preserving cognitive integrity is well-established. Inadequate sleep, whether in duration or quality, profoundly impairs fundamental cognitive functions, including memory consolidation, sustained attention, executive decision-making, and temporal perception. This study endeavors to explore the effects of short-term sleep restriction on subjective time perception employing both retrospective and prospective paradigms to unveil how acute sleep restriction reshapes temporal cognition in healthy adults. Following ethical approval, 31 healthy volunteers aged between 18 and 35 years participated. The experimental protocol which included assessments conducted under two conditions: after four consecutive nights of regular sleep and following three nights of sleep restriction, during which participants’ sleep duration was reduced by two hours per night. Subjective time perception was evaluated using both retrospective and prospective time generation tasks (RTP and PTP). To assess cognitive performance, participants completed the Stroop test, which measures selective attention and cognitive flexibility, and the Wechsler Memory Scale-III (WMS-III), a validated instrument for evaluating short-term and working memory functions. The RTP after sleep restriction showed a significant prolongation compared to regular sleep duration (20.2 ± 8.8 vs 26.6 ± 12.3 sec, respectively; ANOVA p < 0.001). Short-term and working memory performances decreased after sleep restriction (10.8 ± 1.9 vs 10.0 ± 2.1 sec and 12.3 ± 2.1 vs 11.4 ± 2.3 sec respectively; ANOVA p ≤ 0.001 for both). Even moderate sleep restriction (e.g. a two-hour reduction) disrupts temporal cognition and memory, underscoring the critical need for sufficient sleep to sustain optimal cognitive performance in high-demand scenarios.

ABSTRACT Cancer is a significant global health concern and is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Recent projections estimate about 2 million new diagnoses of cancer each year in the United States, with about 20 million new global cases. Despite the rising incidence of new cancer diagnoses, cancer-specific mortality is decreasing due to significant progress in prevention, treatment, and supportive care. This has led to increased attention in the field of cancer survivorship, which aims at improving quality of life and long-term symptom management in cancer survivors. Cognitive dysfunction is among the most prominent symptoms managed by patients with central nervous system and systemic cancer. While there has been significant progress in understanding cancer related cognitive dysfunction and related challenges faced by cancer survivors, future research is needed to identify risk factors and therapeutic options for these important symptoms. In this review, we provide an overview of cancer epidemiology, risk factors, and biology. We next discuss mechanisms and common side effects of cancer therapeutic modalities including surgery, radiation therapy, cytotoxic chemotherapy, molecular targeted therapy, hormone therapy, and immunotherapy. We end with a discussion of malignant and benign central nervous system tumors providing background into tumor types and treatment considerations. This review will provide background for the collection of articles included in this special issue.

ABSTRACT Background Women face disproportionately high Alzheimer’s disease (AD) rates, with Latina women experiencing particularly elevated cognitive impairment rates. Understanding reproductive factors’ impact on brain aging is critical for this underrepresented population. Given sex disparities in AD and reproductive factor influence on brain aging, we examined relations among reproductive history, white matter integrity, and cognitive function in post-menopausal Latina women. Methods Participants were 95 post-menopausal Latina women from the Boston Latino Aging Study, mean age 65.7 (SD = 6.5) years and 11.7 (SD = 4.8) years of education. Reproductive history was obtained via self-report questionnaire. Cognitive assessment included Mini-Mental State Examination, Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test, Category Fluency, Story Memory Delayed Recall, and Symbol Digit Modalities Test administered in Spanish or Portuguese. White matter microstructure was assessed with diffusion weighted imaging using fixel-based methods. Regression models tested associations among reproductive factors, cognitive and imaging outcomes, adjusting for age, education, and cardiovascular risk. Mediation analyses evaluated whether white matter abnormalities explained reproductive-cognitive relations. Results Pregnancy history was associated with worse delayed recall, with women having 1–2 (β = -0.79, p = .016) and 3–4 term pregnancies (β = -0.93, p = .005) performing worse than nulliparous women. Overall, hormone replacement therapy use was associated with better delayed recall (β = 0.58, p = .037). White matter analyses revealed trends suggesting pregnancy-related reductions in fiber density and cross-section across multiple tracts, with 3–4 term pregnancies showing most consistent patterns. Hysterectomy showed trends toward higher fiber density in several tracts. Mediation analyses indicated white matter integrity did not account for reproductive-cognitive associations. Conclusions Reproductive history, particularly pregnancy number, is associated with cognitive performance and white matter microstructure in post-menopausal Latina women. These findings underscore the importance of considering reproductive factors in AD risk assessment and highlight the need for longitudinal studies to clarify mechanisms driving these associations.

ABSTRACT Functional magnetic resonance imaging has shown that most brain regions involved in executive functions (EFs) exhibit abnormalities in functional dyspepsia (FD) patients – for example, decreased cortical thickness in these regions. However, EFs in FD patients have remained poorly understood. This study aimed to compare EFs between healthy controls (HCs) and FD patients and investigate the associations of EFs with clinical characteristics in FD patients. Forty-three FD patients meeting the Rome IV criteria and forty-three sex-, age-, and education level-matched HCs were included in the study. The Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD-17) and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) were used to evaluate the participants’ depression and anxiety. The Stroop color word test (SCWT), Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and digit span test (DST) were used to measure EFs. Disease duration, dyspepsia symptom severity, and Nepean Dyspepsia Life Quality Index (NDLQI) were collected from all patients. On the SCWT, FD patients had longer completion times on color-word cards (CWTs) and greater time interference scores (TIs) than HCs did. On the DST, FD patients had significantly lower forward digit span (DF) and backwards digit span (DB) scores than HCs did. On the WCST, the total errors, percentage (%) of nonperseverative errors and percentage of perseverative errors were significantly greater in FD patients than in HCs. The CWT of FD patients negatively correlated with the severity of early satiation (feeling overly full after eating a small amount of food) or postprandial fullness (excessive fullness felt in the abdomen after eating). Additionally, the percentage of nonperseverative errors was negatively correlated with the severity of early satiation. FD patients have lower EF scores than HCs. And the scores were correlated with disease duration or severity of certain specific dyspepsia symptoms.

ABSTRACT Background Children with comorbid Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often show elevated autistic traits, yet contributing cognitive and behavioral factors remain underexplored. This study compared cognitive-behavioral profiles of ADHD-only and SLD+ADHD groups and identified key autistic trait predictors using a multi-informant approach. Methods The study included 150 children aged 8–12 years, equally divided into ADHD-only and SLD+ADHD groups. Assessments included the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) for autistic traits, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) for emotional-behavioral problems, a teacher-rated SLD Symptom Checklist (SLD-SC), and a clinician-administered cognitive battery (SLD-Battery of Cognitive Skills [SLD-BC]). Results Controlling for ADHD medication, children with SLD+ADHD had significantly higher SRS scores (p < .001), greater impairments on SLD-SC and SLD-BC, and higher SDQ-impact scores (p = .046). Stepwise regression identified SLD diagnosis, SLD-SC motivation and hyperactivity, SLD-BC head test and motor skills, and SDQ peer problems and hyperactivity as significant predictors of SRS scores, explaining 48.0% of the variance (R2 = .480, F(7, 142) = 18.703, p < .001). Conclusion Autistic traits in children with neurodevelopmental comorbidity are closely tied to motivational, executive, and sensorimotor deficits. Findings emphasize the need for integrated cognitive, behavioral, and teacher-reported evaluations to guide targeted interventions in complex developmental profiles.