Assessment Of Memory Function Research Articles

Lipidomic Analysis Reveals Systemic Alterations in Servicemen Exposed to Repeated Occupational Low-Level Blast Waves.

Occupational exposure to blast is a prevalent risk experienced by military personnel. While low-level exposure may not manifest immediate signs of illness, prolonged and repetitive exposure may result in neurophysiological dysfunction. Such repeated exposure to occupational blasts has been linked to structural and functional modifications in the brain, adversely affecting the performance of servicemen in the field. These neurological changes can give rise to symptoms resembling concussion and contribute to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder. To understand long-term effects of blast exposure, the study was conducted to assess memory function, serum circulatory protein and lipid biomarkers, and associated concussive symptomology in servicemen. Concussion-like symptoms were assessed using the Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPSQ) along with memory function using PGI memory scale. The serum protein biomarkers were quantified using a sandwich ELISA assay, and the serum lipid profile was measured using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer. The findings revealed that repeated low-level blast exposure resulted in impaired memory function, accompanied by elevated levels of serum neurofilament light chain (neuroaxonal injury) and C-reactive protein. Furthermore, alterations in the lipid profile were observed, with an increase in lipid species associated with immune activation. These changes collectively point to systemic inflammation, neuronal injury, and memory dysfunction as pathological characteristics of repeated low-level blast exposure. The results of our preliminary investigation offer valuable insights for further large-scale study and provide a guiding principle that necessitates a suitable mitigation approach to safeguard the health of personnel against blast overpressure.

Association between Neuron-Specific Enolase, Memory Function, and Postoperative Delirium after Transfemoral Aortic Valve Replacement.

Although transfemoral aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a safe treatment for elderly patients with severe aortic valve stenosis, postoperative microembolism has been described. In this secondary endpoint analysis of the POST-TAVR trial, we aimed to investigate whether changes in neuron-specific enolase (NSE)-a biomarker of neuronal damage-are associated with changes in memory function or postoperative delirium (POD). This was a prospective single-center study enrolling patients undergoing elective TAVR. Serum NSE was measured before and 24 h after TAVR. POD was diagnosed using CAM-ICU testing. Memory function was assessed before TAVR and before hospital discharge using the "Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease" (CERAD) word list and the digit span task (DST) implemented in "∆elta-App". Subjects' median age was 82 years (25th to 75th percentile: 77.5-85.0), 42.6% of subjects were women. CERAD scores significantly increased from pre- to post-TAVR, with p < 0.001. POD occurred in 4.4% (6/135) of subjects at median 2 days after TAVR. After TAVR, NSE increased from a median of 1.85 ng/mL (1.30-2.53) to 2.37 ng/mL (1.69-3.07), p < 0.001. The median increase in NSE was 40.4% (13.1-138.0) in patients with POD versus 17.3% (3.3-43.4) in those without POD (p = 0.17). Memory function improved after TAVR, likely due to learning effects, with no association to change in NSE. Patients with POD appear to have significantly higher postoperative levels of NSE compared to patients without POD after TAVR. This finding suggests that neuronal damage, as indicated by NSE elevation, may not significantly impair assessed memory function after TAVR.

Memory Performance in Asymptomatic and Prodromal Familial Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration: Findings from the ALLFTD Consortium (P13-6.001)

Memory Performance in Asymptomatic and Prodromal Familial Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration: Findings from the ALLFTD Consortium (P13-6.001)

Alpha-Lipoic Acid Ameliorates Doxorubicin-Induced Cognitive Impairments by Modulating Neuroinflammation and Oxidative Stress via NRF-2/HO-1 Signaling Pathway in the Rat Hippocampus.

Chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment (CICI) is a common complication associated with the use of chemotherapeutics. Doxorubicin (DOX) is a reactive oxygen species (ROS) producing anticancer agent capable of causing potential neurotoxic effects via cytokine-induced oxidative and nitrosative damage to brain tissues. On the other hand, alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), a nutritional supplement, is reputable for its excellent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic activities. Consequently, the objective of the current investigation was to examine any potential neuroprotective and memory-improving benefits of ALA against DOX-induced behavioral and neurological anomalies. DOX (2mg/kg/week, i.p.) was administrated for 4weeks to Sprague-Dawley rats. ALA (50, 100, and 200mg/kg) was administered for 4weeks. The Morris water maze (MWM) and novel objective recognition task (NORT) tests were used to assess memory function. Biochemical assays with UV-visible spectrophotometry were used to analyze oxidativestress markers [malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonylation (PCO)], endogenous antioxidants [reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px)] and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in hippocampal tissue. Inflammatory markers [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)], nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor-2 (NRF-2) and hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1) levels were estimated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In addition, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured in hippocampus tissue using 2-7-dichlorofluorescein-diacetate (DCFH-DA) assay with fluorimetry. ALA treatment significantly protected against DOX-induced memory impairment. Furthermore, ALA restored hippocampal antioxidants, halted DOX-induced oxidative and inflammatory insults via upregulation of NRF-2/HO-1 levels, and alleviated the increase in NF-κB expression. These results indicate that ALA offers neuroprotection against DOX-induced cognitive impairment, which could be attributed to its antioxidant potential via the NRF-2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

Practice effect and test–retest reliability of the Wechsler Memory Scale-Fourth Edition in people with dementia

BackgroundThe Wechsler Memory Scale-Fourth Edition (WMS-IV) has been widely used to assess memory function in people with dementia. The older adult battery of the WMS-IV includes four indices and seven subtests. The aims of this study were to examine the practice effect and test–retest reliability and calculate the reliable change index modified for practice (RCIp) for the indices and subtests of the older adult battery of the WMS-IV for people with dementia.MethodsFifty-six participants completed the WMS-IV twice, two weeks apart. The practice effect was investigated using effect size (Cohen’s d) and bootstrapping mixed design analysis of variance while considering the severity of dementia. The test–retest reliability was estimated using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).ResultsThe results showed non-significant practice effects with Cohen’s d < 0.20 in different severities of dementia on two indices and five subtests. The ICC values of these indices and subtests were 0.82–0.85 and 0.57–1.00, respectively. The other two indices (i.e., auditory memory and immediate memory) and two subtests (i.e., logical memory delayed recall and visual reproduction immediate recall) demonstrated small to moderate practice effect (d = 0.46–0.74) for people with mild severity of dementia.ConclusionOn the whole, the WMS-IV has no to moderate practice effects and moderate to excellent test–retest reliability in people with dementia. The values of the RCIp with 95% confidence interval for the indices and subtests were provided in this study, which are useful to clinicians and researchers for interpreting the real score change in persons with dementia. The two indices (i.e., auditory memory and immediate memory) and two subtests (i.e., logical memory delayed recall and visual reproduction immediate recall) with noticeable practice effect should be used with caution when assessing memory function repeatedly in people with mild severity of dementia.

EXPLORE: a novel deep learning-based analysis method for exploration behaviour in object recognition tests

Object recognition tests are widely used in neuroscience to assess memory function in rodents. Despite the experimental simplicity of the task, the interpretation of behavioural features that are counted as object exploration can be complicated. Thus, object exploration is often analysed by manual scoring, which is time-consuming and variable across researchers. Current software using tracking points often lacks precision in capturing complex ethological behaviour. Switching or losing tracking points can bias outcome measures. To overcome these limitations we developed “EXPLORE”, a simple, ready-to use and open source pipeline. EXPLORE consists of a convolutional neural network trained in a supervised manner, that extracts features from images and classifies behaviour of rodents near a presented object. EXPLORE achieves human-level accuracy in identifying and scoring exploration behaviour and outperforms commercial software with higher precision, higher versatility and lower time investment, in particular in complex situations. By labeling the respective training data set, users decide by themselves, which types of animal interactions on objects are in- or excluded, ensuring a precise analysis of exploration behaviour. A set of graphical user interfaces (GUIs) provides a beginning-to-end analysis of object recognition tests, accelerating a fast and reproducible data analysis without the need of expertise in programming or deep learning.

Neuroprotective effects of methyl jasmonate in male Wistar rats exposed to delayed acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis: involvement of antioxidant status, GFAP, and IBA-1 immunoreactivities.

Neurobehavioral deficits have been severally reported as a comorbid outcome in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). This study evaluated neurological changes in the experimental model of IBDs, as well potential protective effects of methyl jasmonate (MJ). The study used the acetic acid model of colitis and thereafter delayed the healing process by the administration of indomethacin (Indo) (2mg/kg, SC). Thirty male Wistar rats (120-160g) were divided into 5 groups (n = 6). Control, Colitis, Colitis + Indo, MJ (50mg/kg, IP) + Colitis and MJ + Colitis + Indo. Colitis was induced by intrarectal administration of 2mL, 4% acetic acid. Neurobehavioral studies were carried out to assess memory function, depression, and anxiety on day 7 of post-colitis induction. Animals were thereafter sacrificed to collect the brain tissues for routine histology, immunoreactivity of GFAP and IBA-1, and biochemical assays. Neurobehavioral tests showed anxiety, depression, and memory deficits, especially in the Colitis + Indo group which were accompanied by increased IBA-1 and GFAP count. MJ reversed these effects and reduced GFAP count in the hippocampus and amygdala as well as IBA-1 count in the hippocampus, amygdala, and cortex. Histological observations of these areas showed no significant histopathological changes across all groups. GPx and CAT levels were significantly reduced, while MPO was significantly increased in colitis and Colitis+indo groups when compared with control, which was attenuated in groups administered with MJ. These findings tuggest that MJ possesses neuroprotective, anti-oxidant, and neuron-regeneration properties. Therefore, it could be considered as a potential treatment for behavioral deficits associated with ulcerative colitis.

Magnoflorine-Loaded Chitosan Collagen Nanocapsules Ameliorate Cognitive Deficit in Scopolamine-Induced Alzheimer's Disease-like Conditions in a Rat Model by Downregulating IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and Oxidative Stress and Upregulating Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and DCX Expressions.

Dementia or the loss of cognitive functioning is one of the major health issues in elderly people. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the common forms of dementia. Treatment chiefly involves the use of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors in AD. However, oxidative stress has also been found to be involved in the proliferation of the disease. Magnoflorine is one of the active compounds of Coptidis Rhizoma and has high anti-oxidative properties. Active principle-loaded nanoparticles have shown increased efficiency for neurodegenerative diseases due to their ability to cross the blood-brain barrier more easily. An in vitro study involving magnoflorine-loaded chitosan collagen nanocapsules (MF-CCNc) has shown them to possess inhibitory effects against oxidative stress and to some extent on AChE as well. In the current study, both nootropic and anti-amnesic effects of magnoflorine and MF-CCNc on scopolamine-induced amnesia in rats were evaluated. The treatment was done intraperitoneally (i.p.) once daily for 17 consecutive days with MF-CCNc (0.25, 0.5, and 1 mg), magnoflorine (1 mg), and donepezil (1 mg). To induce amnesia, hence, cognitive deficit rats were induced with scopolamine (1 mg/kg) daily for the last 9 days. Novel object recognition (NOR) and elevated plus maze (EPM) behavioral analysis were done to assess memory functioning. Hippocampal tissues were extracted to study the effect on biochemicals (AChE, MDA, SOD, and CAT), pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α), and immunohistochemistry (brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and DCX). MF-CCNc showed memory-enhancing effects in nootropic as well as chronic scopolamine-treated rats in NOR and an increase in inflexion ratio in EPM. MF-CCNc reduced the levels of AChE and MDA while increasing SOD and CAT levels in the hippocampus. MF-CCNc further lowered the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. These nanocapsules further increased the expression of BDNF and DCX that are necessary for adult neurogenesis. From the research findings, it can be concluded that MF-CCNc has high anti-amnesic properties and could be a promising candidate for the treatment of AD.

SNCA genetic lowering reveals differential cognitive function of alpha-synuclein dependent on sex

Antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapy for neurological disease has been successful in clinical settings and its potential has generated hope for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We previously described that ablating SNCA encoding for α-synuclein (αSyn) in a mouse model of AD was beneficial. Here, we sought to demonstrate whether transient reduction of αSyn expression using ASOSNCA could be therapeutic in a mouse model of AD. The efficacy of the ASOSNCA was measured via immunocytochemistry, RT-qPCR and western blotting. To assess spatial learning and memory, ASOSNCA or PBS-injected APP and non-transgenic (NTG) mice, and separate groups of SNCA-null mice, were tested on the Barnes circular maze. Hippocampal slice electrophysiology and transcriptomic profiling were used to explore synaptic function and differential gene expression between groups. Reduction of SNCA transcripts alleviated cognitive deficits in male transgenic animals, but surprisingly, not in females. To determine the functional cause of this differential effect, we assessed memory function in SNCA-null mice. Learning and memory were intact in male mice but impaired in female animals, revealing that the role of αSyn on cognitive function is sex-specific. Transcriptional analyses identified a differentially expressed gene network centered around EGR1, a central modulator of learning and memory, in the hippocampi of SNCA-null mice. Thus, these novel results demonstrate that the function of αSyn on memory differs between male and female brains.

Connectivity between default mode and frontoparietal networks mediates the association between global amyloid-β and episodic memory.

Βeta-amyloid (Aβ) is a neurotoxic protein that deposits early in the pathogenesis of preclinical Alzheimer's disease. We aimed to identify network connectivity that may alter the negative effect of Aβ on cognition. Following assessment of memory performance, resting-state fMRI, and mean cortical PET-Aβ, a total of 364 older adults (286 with clinical dementia rating [CDR-0], 59 with CDR-0.5 and 19 with CDR-1, mean age: 74.0 ± 6.4 years) from the OASIS-3 sample were included in the analysis. Across all participants, a partial least squares regression showed that lower connectivity between posterior medial default mode and frontoparietal networks, higher within-default mode, and higher visual-motor connectivity predict better episodic memory. These connectivities partially mediate the effect of Aβ on episodic memory. These results suggest that connectivity strength between the precuneus cortex and the superior frontal gyri may alter the negative effect of Aβ on episodic memory. In contrast, education was associated with different functional connectivity patterns. In conclusion, functional characteristics of specific brain networks may help identify amyloid-positive individuals with a higher likelihood of memory decline, with implications for AD clinical trials.

The cupboard task: An immersive virtual reality-based system for everyday memory assessment

Background and objectiveVirtual Reality (VR) has the capacity to be used in cognitive rehabilitation interventions for diagnostic and training purposes. This technology allows the development of proposals that traditionally have been only implemented using physical elements that imply greater resources and a lesser degree of automation. This work presents an immersive virtual reality (IVR) application (the Cupboard task) for the evaluation of memory in a more ecological way and based on an activity of daily living (ADL). MethodsTo appraise its construct validity, we have carried out a comparative study with a traditional method of memory assessment (method of loci). To check for any association between performance and age, performance with years of education, and reaction time with age, the Pearson's correlation was used. One-way ANOVA was used to check for differences in performance by gender. We also performed a reliability analysis with a two way mixed effects model where people effects are random and measures effects are fixed. Therefore, intra-class correlation coefficient with absolute agreement was reckoned to assess the consistency or concordance of the measures made by both the method of loci and the cupboard IVR task. ResultsBoth tasks were evaluated on a sample of 22 healthy participants who voluntarily took part in the experiment. The results obtained showed a high degree of concordance between both memory performance measures, which assumes good clinical relevance. In addition, other age-related effects were found, common to memory assessment tasks. ConclusionsThis work showed that it is possible to use an IVR application to successfully assess everyday memory. We have also demonstrated the potential of IVR to develop valid tests that assess memory functions reliably and efficiently and within ecologically valid contexts. The results obtained open the door to its use in clinical settings for cognitive training (and promoting cognitive health) of patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), severe cognitive impairment (SCI) such as Alzheimer or Dementia, etc., with full guarantees of application, although it must first be validated through a randomized control trial (RCT). The degree of usability of the Cupboard task was very high according to the test carried out by the participants.

Tetramethylpyrazine Attenuates Cognitive Impairment Via Suppressing Oxidative Stress, Neuroinflammation, and Apoptosis in Type 2 Diabetic Rats.

Cognitive dysfunction is an important complication observed in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. Tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) is known to exhibit anti-diabetic and neuroprotective properties. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the possible therapeutic effects of TMP against type 2 diabetes-associated cognitive impairment in rats. High-fat diet (HFD) followed by a low dose of streptozotocin (35mg/kg) was used to induce diabetes in Sprague-Dawley rats. TMP (20, 40, and 80mg/kg) and Pioglitazone (10mg/kg) were administered for 4weeks. The Morris water maze (MWM) and novel objective recognition task (NOR) tests were used to assess memory function. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), lipid profile, HOMA-IR, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and glucose tolerance were measured. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and choline acetytransferase (ChAT) activity, acetylcholine (ACh) levels, oxidative stress, apoptotic (Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3), and inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-1β, and NF-kβ) were assessed. BDNF, p-AKT, and p-CREB levels were also measured. In the present work, we observed that treatment of diabetic rats with TMP alleviated learning and memory deficits, improved insulin sensitivity, and attenuated hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia. Furthermore, treatment with TMP increased BDNF, p-Akt, and p-CREB levels, normalized cholinergic dysfunction, and suppressed oxidative, inflammatory, and apoptotic markers in the hippocampus. Collectively, our results suggest that the TMP may be an effective neuroprotective agent in alleviating type 2 diabetes-associated cognitive deficits.

Episodic and prospective memory difficulties in 13-year-old children born very preterm.

Children born very preterm (VP) are susceptible to a range of cognitive impairments, yet the effects of VP birth on long-term, episodic, and prospective memory remains unclear. This study examined episodic and prospective memory functioning in children born VP compared with their term-born counterparts at 13 years. VP (n = 81: born <30 weeks' gestation) and term (n = 26) groups were aged between 12 and 14 years. Children completed: (i) standardized verbal and visuospatial episodic memory tests; and (ii) an experimental time- and event-based prospective memory test that included short-term (within assessment session) and long-term (up to 1-week post-session) tasks. Parents completed a questionnaire assessing memory functions in everyday life. The VP group performed worse on all measures of verbal and visuospatial episodic memory than the term group. While there were no group differences in event-based or long-term prospective memory, the VP group performed worse on time-based and short-term prospective memory tasks than term-born counterparts. Parents of children born VP reported more everyday memory difficulties than parents of children born at term, with parent-ratings indicating significantly elevated rates of everyday memory challenges in children born VP. Children born VP warrant long-term surveillance, as challenges associated with VP birth include memory difficulties at 13 years. This study highlights the need for greater research and clinical attention into childhood functional memory outcomes.

Risperidone and ethyl pyruvate have protective effects against ketamine-induced cognitive impairments in mice.

Ketamine, an N-methyl D-aspartic acid receptor antagonist drug, is reported to produce memory disruptions. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of ethyl pyruvate (EP), a pyruvic acid derivative, and risperidone, an atypical antipsychotic drug, against ketamine-induced cognitive disturbances. A passive-avoidance test, a novel object recognition test, and a modified elevated plus maze test were used to assess memory functions. Hippocampal malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured to determine the oxidation levels. Ketamine applications produced memory deficits in all tests and insignificantly increased MDA levels, which were alleviated by risperidone, EP, and combination treatments. Increased oxidative stress and neurotransmission imbalance can be responsible for ketamine-induced memory disruptions. With its antioxidant effects, EP may be helpful to reduce cognitive impairments related to schizophrenia either alone or in combination with antipsychotics.

Nesfatin-1 ameliorates oxidative brain damage and memory impairment in rats induced with a single acute epileptic seizure

AimsWe aimed to investigate putative neuroprotective effects of nesfatin-1 on oxidative brain injury and memory dysfunction induced by a single epileptic seizure and to compare these effects with those of antiepileptic phenytoin. Main methodsWistar albino rats were randomly divided into a control group and pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-seizure groups pretreated intraperitoneally (ip) with saline or nesfatin-1 (NES-1; 0.3, 1 or 3 μg/kg/day) or phenytoin (PHE; 40 mg/kg/day) or PHE + NES-1 (0.3 μg/kg/day) at 30 min before the single-dose PTZ injection (45 mg/kg; ip). All treatments were repeated at the 24th and 48th h of the provoked epileptic seizure. Passive-avoidance test was performed to assess memory function. The rats were decapitated at the 72nd hour of seizures and brain tissues were analyzed for histopathological changes and for measuring levels of malondialdehyde, glutathione, myeloperoxidase activity and reactive oxygen/nitrogen species. Key findingsIn parallel to the effects of phenytoin, NES-1 reduced seizure score, elevated antioxidant glutathione content, depressed generation of nitric oxide and protected against seizure-induced neuronal damage. Additionally, increased malondialdehyde levels and elevated glial fibrillary acidic protein immunoreactivity in the cortex and hippocampus were decreased and memory dysfunction was improved by NES-1. However, NES-1 had no impact on myeloperoxidase activity or production of reactive oxygen species in the brain. SignificanceThe findings of the present study demonstrate that nesfatin-1 treatment provides neuroprotection against seizure-induced oxidative damage and memory dysfunction by inhibiting reactive nitrogen species and upregulating antioxidant capacity, indicating its potential in alleviating memory deficits and increasing the effectiveness of conventional anti-convulsant therapies.

Quercetin mitigates memory deficits in scopolamine mice model via protection against neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration

AimsNeurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease (AD) are outcomes of neuroinflammatory processes that result in memory impairment. Quercetin (QT), a plant based flavonoid, has demonstrated notable effects against neurodegeneration and inflammation in models of dementia. However, the underlying mechanisms have not been well elucidated. This study evaluated the possible effects of QT against neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in scopolamine (SC) induced memory impairment. Main methodsSC was used to induce memory loss in mice after which novel object recognition test (NORT) was used to assess memory function. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the brain tissues of the animals. Brain histology was carried out on the hippocampus (cornus ammonis 1, cornus ammonis 3 and dentate gyrus), and the prefrontal cortex. The population of healthy neuronal cells was counted, using ImageJ software. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) was employed for the identification of cells undergoing apoptosis. Key findingsQT reversed memory impairment in the NORT. Increases in TNF-α and IL-6 were attenuated by QT, and histology revealed that QT attenuated SC-induced cell degeneration and death in the hippocampal sub-regions and prefrontal cortex. QT diminished the population of dead cells in SC-treated mice, and also reversed the process of apoptosis induced by SC. SignificanceFindings from the study suggest that QT mitigates pro-inflammatory mediators and reverses neurodegeneration to restore memory function.

Preliminary analysis of a shortened picture version of the Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test

IntroductionA picture version of the Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test (FCSRT) would assist in the assessment of memory function in patients with low levels of schooling. A shortened version would improve the test's applicability. ObjectivesTo analyse the diagnostic usefulness of a shortened picture version of the FCSRT for distinguishing patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) from controls, without excluding participants with a low level of schooling. MethodsPhase I study of a diagnostic evaluation (convenience sampling; pre-test prevalence 50%). A blinded researcher independently administered the FCSRT to 30 patients with aMCI and 30 controls matched for age, sex, level of schooling and literacy, using images and omitting the usual 30-minutes delayed recall item. Three variables were recorded: free recall, total recall, and cue efficiency. Diagnostic accuracy was calculated using receiver operating characteristic curves and the area under the curve. The Youden index was used to identify optimal cut-off points. ResultsOf all participants, 41.7% had not completed primary education. There were no differences between groups as regards sociodemographic variables. Area under the curve was excellent for free recall (0.99), total recall (0.95), and cue efficiency (0.93). The optimal cut-off points were 21/22, 43/44, and < 0.77, respectively. ConclusionsThis preliminary analysis shows that a shortened picture version of the FCSRT may be useful and applicable for the diagnosis of aMCI without excluding individuals with a low level of schooling.

Neuroprotective Effects of ZiBuPiYin Recipe on db/db Mice via PI3K-Akt Signaling Pathway by Activating Grb2.

Background Diabetes-associated cognitive decline (DACD) is one of the nervous system dysfunctions induced by diabetes mellitus with cognitive impairment as the major symptom. In a previous preliminary proteomic study, we found that endoplasmic reticulum processing and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway might be impaired in DACD pathogenesis. In addition, growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 might be a crucial protein as a molecular target of the neuroprotective effects of ZiBuPiYin recipe (ZBPYR). Methods In this study, 6-8 weeks aged db/db mice were treated with excipients or ZBPYR for 6 weeks. Body weight and RBG were recorded weekly. Oral glucose tolerance and insulin tolerance tests were used to assess insulin sensitivity. Morris water maze (MWM) tests were used to assess memory function. The expression of Grb2, Gab2, Akt, and GSK3β in mouse hippocampus and cerebral cortex were analyzed by Western blotting. Results ZBPYR not only significantly reduced RGB and improved glucose tolerance and insulin resistance, but also improved spatial cognition in DACD mice. The expression of Grb2 and Gab2 in hippocampus and cerebral cortex of db/db mice was upregulated after treated with ZBPYR, and then affected the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, and inhibited GSK3β overactivity. Conclusions This study showed that ZBPYR could enhance the memory and learning ability of db/db mice. Such neuroprotective effect might be related to the activation of Grb2-PI3K/Akt signaling which might provide a novel therapeutic target for the clinical treatment of DACD.

Validation and Norms for a Recognition Task for the Spanish Version of the Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test.

The aim of the present work was to develop and validate a recognition task to be used with the Spanish version of the 16 items Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test (FCSRT). A total of 96 (67.7% women) cognitively healthy, functionally independent community-dwelling participants aged 55years or older underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment. A recognition task for the FCSRT was developed that included the original 16 items, 16 semantically related items, and eight unrelated foils. Indices of discriminability (d') and response bias (C), as well as 95% confidence intervals for chance-level responding were calculated. On average, our sample was 65.71years old (SD=6.68, range: 55-87), had 11.39years of formal education (SD=3.37, range: 3-19), and a Mini-Mental State Examination score=28.42 (SD=1.49, range: 25-30). Recognition scores did not differ statistically between sexes, nor did they correlate with demographics. Participants scored at ceiling levels (mean number of Hits=15.52, SD=0.906, mean number of False Alarms=0.27, SD=0.589). All the participants scored above chance levels. Normative data from a novel recognition task for the Spanish version of the FCSRT are provided for use in clinical and research settings. Including a recognition task in the assessment of memory functioning might help uncover the pattern of memory impairments in older adults, and can help improve the memory profile of people with amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment. Future research is warranted to validate and expand the recognition task.

Feasibility of mobile app‐based assessment of memory functions: Insights from a citizen science study

AbstractBackgroundMobile app‐based, high‐frequency monitoring of cognition holds the promise to facilitate the individual detection of cognitive change. However, there are several factors in everyday life that potentially influence estimates of cognitive performance in an unsupervised remote test setting. Characterizing these factors is critical to guide the interpretation of results from mobile app‐based studies of cognitive function in the future.MethodsWe conducted a Germany wide Citizen Science Project (after accreditation with the Citizen Science Portal of the German Ministry for Science and Education) with the goal to identify everyday life factors influencing cognitive performance estimates acquired via smartphone‐based assessments. To that end, every participant was pseudo‐randomly assigned to one of three memory tests: 1) pattern separation of objects and scenes (Berron et al., 2018, 2019); 2) complex (photographic) scene recognition memory (Düzel et al., 2011, 2018); 3) pattern completion of object‐in‐scene associations. Participants were asked to perform one test per week over a period of 15 weeks.Results1765 participants (70% female) completed 7900 weekly test sessions. The age‐range of participants was between 18 and 89 years of age. Mean age was 53 (SD=15). We found significant effects of age, time of the day of test performance, time between encoding and retrieval as well as the screen size of the mobile device. Further, our results indicate minor or even no practice effects with repeated tests and indicate that between 4‐5 test sessions are sufficient in order to define a measure of baseline performance.ConclusionOur results indicate several factors influencing cognitive measures in an unsupervised setting of remote smartphone‐based assessment of memory functions. While some factors were specific to only some tests, most factors were associated to all three tests suggesting that they are of general nature. Finally, several sets of different parallel test versions for each memory test resulted in marginal practice effects with repeated assessments.