Changes In Cognitive Function Research Articles

Preoperative Geriatric Characteristics Associated with Changes in Postoperative Cognitive Function and Quality of Life: a Prospective, Observational Analytic Multicenter Study.

Changes in cognitive function are associated with increased depression and decreased quality of life (QOL). This study aimed to determine the relationship between the characteristics of geriatric patients and anesthetic management with changes in postoperative cognitive function and QOL of geriatric patients undergoing elective surgery. This prospective observational analytic multicenter study included patients aged ≥60 years who underwent elective surgery in hospitals in Indonesia. We used the whole sampling method and performed follow-up 30 days after surgery. Data were analyzed using bivariate chi-square and multivariate regression tests with a confidence interval of 95% and α=5%. Among the 933 geriatric patients included in this study (55.0% female), most (59.8%) received general anesthesia. Factors including age (p<0.001, B=-0.374, odds ratio [OR]=0.688), body mass index (BMI) (p<0.05, B=0.129, OR=1.138), and physical status based on American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification (p<.001, B=-0.458, OR=0.633) were significantly associated with postoperative cognitive function. BMI (p<.001, B=-0.218, OR=1.244), absence of comorbidities (p<0.05, B=-0.312, OR=0.732), regional anesthesia (p<0.05, B=0.606, OR=1.883), and changes in cognitive function (p<0.05, B=0.288, OR=1.334) were significantly correlated with changes in postoperative QOL. Age, BMI, and ASA physical status were significantly associated with postoperative cognitive function in geriatric patients, whereas BMI, comorbidities, regional anesthesia, and changes in postoperative cognitive function were associated with QOL. These preoperative factors can predict postoperative cognitive function and QOL and may be useful during preoperative planning.

The Relationship Between 10-Year Changes in Cognitive Control Beliefs and Cognitive Performance in Middle and Later Adulthood.

The present study used a cross-lagged panel design with longitudinal data to test if there is a reciprocal relationship between cognitive control beliefs and cognition (e.g., executive functioning and episodic memory) over 10-years, whether frequency of engaging in stimulating cognitive activities mediated this relationship, and if these relationships varied by age. Data were collected as part of the second (M2, 2004-05) and third (M3, 2013-14) waves of the Midlife in the United States Study (MIDUS). The analysis sample included 2,532 participants with all variables at M2 and M3. Participants' ages ranged from 33 to 83 (M=54.92, SD=11.13) at M2. There was a reciprocal relationship between cognitive control beliefs and executive functioning. Higher executive functioning was related to greater maintenance of cognitive control beliefs for older, not younger, adults. Higher cognitive control beliefs were related to less decline in executive functioning. Though cognitive control beliefs predicted 10-year changes in episodic memory, the inverse relationship was not supported. Frequency of engaging in stimulating cognitive activities mediated the relationship between executive functioning and 10-year changes in cognitive control beliefs, but not cognitive control beliefs and 10-year changes in cognition. Cognitive control beliefs are a promising mechanism to help protect against age-related declines in both executive functioning and episodic memory. Moreover, executive functioning also impacts cognitive control beliefs. Specifically, those with higher executive functioning engage more frequently in stimulating cognitive activities, which helps maintain higher cognitive control beliefs.

Changes in facial appearance alter one's sensitivity not only to the self but also to the outside world.

Changes in facial appearance due to orthognathic surgery are known to improve a patient's postoperative quality of life, however, potential changes in cognitive function are unknown. This study examined the effects of changes in facial appearance due to orthognathic surgery on the sensitivity to self and to outside objects in patients with jaw deformities. Patients with jaw deformities (n = 22) and healthy controls (n = 30) were tested at 3 months preoperatively, at 1 month preoperatively, and at 1 month postoperatively to assess their impression of objects (positive, negative, and neutral pictures) and their evaluation of their own face and body. The results showed that changes in facial appearance improved self-evaluation and increased their sensitivity to emotional objects even when the objects were identical. Furthermore, the improving rating for own face was associated with the sensitivity for objects. The changes in facial appearance in patients may have helped to clear the sensitivity to these emotional objects. These findings may provide a new indicator of efficacy in orthognathic surgery.

Changes in S100 calcium-binding protein β (S100β) and cognitive function from pre- to post-chemotherapy among women with breast cancer

Many patients with cancer experience cancer-related cognitive decline (CRCD). Previous studies have shown that elevated S100β, a calcium-binding protein commonly found in glial cells, can exhibit neurotoxic effects, including disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). We studied changes in S100β levels in patients with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy, and the relationship to changes in cognitive function. A total of 505 women with breast cancer (mean (sd) age; 53.4 (53.6)) and 336 age-matched controls without cancer (52.8 (10.3)) were included from a nationwide study as part of the National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP). Both groups provided blood samples and completed neurocognitive assessments within 7 days before the patients with breast cancer received their first chemotherapy dose (pre-chemotherapy; T1) and within 1 month of their last chemotherapy administration (post-chemotherapy; T2). Utilizing a linear mixed model, multivariate linear regressions, and Spearman rank correlations (rs), we investigated longitudinal changes in serum S100β concentrations and their relationships to changes in neurocognitive outcomes over time. We observed an increase in S100β for patients with breast cancer (p = 0.002), but not for controls without cancer over time (p = 0.683). Additionally, we identified subtle relationships between increases in serum S100β and worsening in cognitive performance on the Backward Counting test (rs = 0.11, p = 0.041) and self-reported FACT-Cog Perceived Cognitive Abilities (rs = −0.10, p = 0.025). Regression analyses adjusted for age, race, body-mass index (BMI), education, menopausal status, anxiety, and depression revealed a trend remained for the relationship of S100β with Backward Counting. In conclusion, we found that patients with breast cancer experience a significant increase in concentration of serum S100β over the course of chemotherapy. This increase is correlated with worsening in some neurocognitive outcomes from pre-to post-chemotherapy, with trending results remaining following adjustment for covariates.

Changes in 24(S)-Hydroxycholesterol Are Associated with Cognitive Performance in Early Huntington's Disease: Data from the TRACK and ENROLL HD Cohorts.

There is evidence for dysregulated cholesterol homeostasis in Huntington's disease (HD). The brain-specific cholesterol metabolite 24(S)-hydroxycholesterol (24(S)-OHC) is decreased in manifest HD. 24(S)-OHC is an endogenous positive allosteric modulator (PAM) of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, suggesting lower 24(S)-OHC may contribute to NMDA receptor hypofunction in HD. We hypothesized changes in 24(S)-OHC would be associated with cognitive impairment in early HD. To determine the interactions between oxysterols (24(S)-OHC, 25-OHC, and 27-OHC) at the NMDA receptor, the plasma levels of these oxysterols, and how these levels relate to cognitive performance. An in vitro competition assay was used to evaluate interactions at the NMDA receptor, liquid chromatography coupled tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to measure plasma 24(S)-OHC, 25-OHC, and 27-OHC levels, and correlation analyses investigated their relationship to performance on cognitive endpoints in TRACK and ENROLL-HD (NCT01574053). In vitro, 25-OHC and 27-OHC attenuated the PAM activity of 24(S)-OHC on the NMDA receptor. Lower plasma 24(S)-OHC levels and 24(S)/25-OHC ratios were detected in participants with early HD. Moderate and consistent associations were detected between plasma 24(S)/25-OHC ratio and performance on Stroop color naming, symbol digit modality, Trails A/B, and emotion recognition. Little association was observed between the ratio and psychiatric or motor endpoints, suggesting specificity for the relationship to cognitive performance. Our findings support growing evidence for dysregulated CNS cholesterol homeostasis in HD, demonstrate a relationship between changes in oxysterols and cognitive performance in HD, and propose that NMDA receptor hypofunction may contribute to cognitive impairment in HD.

Derivation of Indices of Cognitive Change Among Hispanic Adults and Elders.

Determining the influence of race and ethnicity on change in cognitive test performance has significant implications for clinical practice and research in populations at risk for Alzheimer disease. To evaluate the significance of race and ethnicity in predicting longitudinal cognitive test performance and to develop models to support evidence-based practice. This prognostic study included baseline and 24-month follow-up data that were obtained from the Health and Aging Brain Study-Health Disparities (HABS-HD) study, an ongoing longitudinal observational study of aging and dementia in a multiracial, multiethnic cohort. Participants included community-dwelling adults and elders living in the Dallas and Fort Worth metropolitan area who were Hispanic and non-Hispanic adults older than the age of 50 years and were cognitively unimpaired. The primary exposure of interest was time, measured in months. Demographic variables included age, sex, education, and race and ethnicity. Cognitive domains included attention and working memory, processing speed, language, memory, and executive functioning. Linear regression models predicted follow-up performance from baseline performance and demographic variables for 13 commonly used neuropsychological tests. Follow-up testing was the primary outcome for all domains. Raw scores from 13 standardized tests were used for analyses. This study included 799 adults who were cognitively unimpaired (352 Hispanic individuals [44.1%]; 447 non-Hispanic individuals [55.9%]; 524 female [65.6%]; mean [SD] age, 65.4 [8.1] years). In the regression models, all 13 follow-up scores were significantly predicted from their respective baseline scores and demographic variables. Baseline performance and education were the most consistent predictors of follow-up scores, contributing to all 13 models. Age was significantly associated with follow-up in 11 models, and sex was significant in 5 models. Race and ethnicity contributed to 10 of 13 models, with Hispanic participants predicted to have poorer follow-up scores than their non-Hispanic White counterparts on each test. In this longitudinal study of cognitive change in Hispanic and non-Hispanic older adults who were cognitively unimpaired, standardized regression-based models were influenced by multiple demographic variables, including race and ethnicity. These findings highlight the importance of including race and ethnicity in such cognitive change models. This ability to accurately predict cognitive change is expected to become increasingly important as clinical practice and clinical trials need to become more diverse and culturally appropriate in this burgeoning global medical and societal crisis.

Assessing the efficacy and safety of combined buspirone and venlafaxine treatment in late-life depression accompanied by cognitive impairment: A randomized controlled trial

BackgroundLate-life depression, often accompanied by cognitive impairment, poses significant clinical challenges owing to its complex etiology and diverse manifestations. While antidepressants like venlafaxine and anxiolytics such as buspirone are effective for treating depression, their effects on cognitive function remain less well-understood. With the aging population increasingly experiencing geriatric depression, there is an urgent need for innovative treatment approaches that address both depressive symptoms and cognitive impairments. ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of combined buspirone and venlafaxine therapy in elderly patients diagnosed with geriatric depression accompanied by cognitive impairment. MethodsA 12-week, randomized controlled trial was conducted involving 170 elderly patients. Participants were randomized into two groups: one receiving venlafaxine alone (control group) and the other receiving a combination of venlafaxine and buspirone (experimental group). The primary analysis was performed using an Intent-to-Treat (ITT) approach with mixed-effects linear models to assess changes in depressive symptoms, cognitive function, and anxiety levels. A supplementary Per-Protocol (PP) analysis, utilizing repeated measures ANOVA, was also conducted. ResultsThe ITT analysis showed that the combination therapy significantly reduced depressive symptoms, as indicated by the HAMD-17 scores (p = 0.033 at week 12). Cognitive function, as measured by MoCA scores, also improved significantly in the experimental group by week 12 (p = 0.025). However, no statistically significant differences were observed in anxiety reduction between the groups (p = 0.127). The PP analysis confirmed these findings, demonstrating consistent improvements in depressive symptoms and cognitive function, particularly in those who completed the full course of treatment. The incidence of adverse events was comparable between groups, primarily mild and manageable symptoms like dry mouth, dizziness, and fatigue. ConclusionThe combination of buspirone and venlafaxine was found to be effective in reducing depressive symptoms and enhancing cognitive function in elderly patients with geriatric depression. However, the long-term benefits, especially regarding anxiety reduction, require further investigation. Future studies should consider larger sample sizes, longer follow-up periods, and the inclusion of placebo controls to fully assess the efficacy and safety of this treatment approach.

Trajectory of Cognitive Decline After Incident Heart Failure Hospitalization: Findings From the REGARDS Study.

Cognitive impairment is common among adults with heart failure (HF) and associated with poor outcomes. However, less is known about the trajectory of cognitive decline after a first HF hospitalization. We examined the rate of cognitive decline among adults with incident HF hospitalization compared with those without HF hospitalization. The REGARDS (Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke) study is a prospective longitudinal study of 23 894 participants aged ≥45 years free of HF at baseline. HF hospitalization was expert adjudicated. Changes in global cognitive function (primary outcome) were assessed with the Six-Item Screener (range, 0-6). Secondary outcomes included change in Word List Learning (range, 0-30), Word List Delayed Recall (WLD; range, 0-10), and Animal Fluency Test (range, 0+). Segmented linear mixed-effects regression models were used. Over 5 years, mean scores across all 4 cognitive tests declined for all participants regardless of HF status. Those with incident HF hospitalization experienced faster declines in the Six-Item Screener versus those who were HF free (difference, -0.031 [95% CI, -0.047 to -0.016]; P<0.001), a finding that persisted in fully adjusted models. Those with incident HF hospitalization did not experience faster declines in Word List Learning, Word List Delayed Recall, or Animal Fluency Test scores compared with those without HF hospitalization. Participants with hospitalization for HF with preserved, compared with reduced, ejection fraction had faster decline in Animal Fluency Test. Global cognitive decline occurred faster among adults with incident HF hospitalization compared with those who remained free of HF hospitalization. This pattern was not seen for the other cognitive domains.

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Cognitive Change in Late-Life Depression

ObjectivesTo determine the relationship of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) with change in cognitive performance over a 1-year period among older adults in treatment for depression. MethodsOlder depressed adults completed the ACEs questionnaire and the Consortium to Establish a Registry of Alzheimer's disease (CERAD) cognitive battery at baseline and were re-assessed with the CERAD 1 year later. ResultsChildhood physical abuse, sexual abuse, and verbal/emotional abuse, respectively, were reported by 25%, 17.5%, and 42% of participants. Total ACEs score was not associated with baseline cognitive performance or 1-year change. However, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and a measure of cumulative verbal/emotional, physical, and sexual abuse were inversely associated with 1-year change in total CERAD score. ConclusionsChildhood abuse may have long-term adverse effects, including placing depressed older adults at risk for progressive cognitive decline. ACEs should be considered in research and clinical management of depression in older adults.

Brain structure and activity predicting cognitive maturation in adolescence.

Cognitive abilities of primates, including humans, continue to improve through adolescence 1,2. While a range of changes in brain structure and connectivity have been documented 3,4, how they affect neuronal activity that ultimately determines performance of cognitive functions remains unknown. Here, we conducted a multilevel longitudinal study of monkey adolescent neurocognitive development. The developmental trajectory of neural activity in the prefrontal cortex accounted remarkably well for working memory improvements. While complex aspects of activity changed progressively during adolescence, such as the rotation of stimulus representation in multidimensional neuronal space, which has been implicated in cognitive flexibility, even simpler attributes, such as the baseline firing rate in the period preceding a stimulus appearance had predictive power over behavior. Unexpectedly, decreases in brain volume and thickness, which are widely thought to underlie cognitive changes in humans 5 did not predict well the trajectory of neural activity or cognitive performance changes. Whole brain cortical volume in particular, exhibited an increase and reached a local maximum in late adolescence, at a time of rapid behavioral improvement. Maturation of long-distance white matter tracts linking the frontal lobe with areas of the association cortex and subcortical regions best predicted changes in neuronal activity and behavior. Our results provide evidence that optimization of neural activity depending on widely distributed circuitry effects cognitive development in adolescence.

Neuroprotective Dietary Patterns and Longitudinal Changes in Cognitive Function in Older Adults

BackgroundNumerous studies have examined the association between neuroprotective diets and cognitive function during aging; however, these studies have produced divergent findings. Some studies find that greater adherence to these dietary patterns is associated with preserved cognition, whereas others find no effect. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to examine the association of the Mediterranean, the Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH), and Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegeneration Delay (MIND) dietary patterns with global cognition over 4 waves of data from the Health and Retirement Study, a longitudinal panel study conducted at the University of Michigan. DesignThis is a longitudinal secondary data analysis using Health and Retirement Study data drawn from the Food Frequency Questionnaire completed as part of the Health Care and Nutrition Survey administered in 2013 to 2014, neuropsychological assessment data obtained from the Core questionnaire in 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020, and demographic data from the Core questionnaire in 2014. Participants/settingParticipants with total daily energy intake below 600 or 800 kcal and above 6000 and 8000 kcal for women and men, respectively, were excluded based on criteria from a similar study using the same dataset. In addition, participants with a diagnosis of dementia, Alzheimer disease, or stroke as of 2014 were excluded. There were 6154 participants in the Mediterranean diet and DASH diet analyses and 5143 participants in the MIND diet analyses. Main outcome measureA global cognitive measure incorporating immediate and delayed recall, serial 7s, and backward counting scores was calculated for each participant at each wave. Statistical analysisThe primary analyses examined the association between each diet type and cognition over 4 waves using separate multilevel models that controlled for age, gender, self-rated health, years of education, total energy intake, weekly exercise, and body mass index. ResultsMediterranean and DASH diet adherence were positively and significantly associated with baseline cognition and were associated with slower cognitive decline over a 6-year period. MIND diet adherence was positively and significantly correlated with baseline cognition but was not significantly associated with slower cognitive decline over a 6-year period. Cross-level interactions for adherence to each dietary pattern and cognitive change over time, computed with standardized diet scores, were as follows: Mediterranean diet (β = .03; P = .002), DASH diet (β = .04; P = .004), and MIND diet (β = .02; P = .094). ConclusionsThe Mediterranean, DASH, and MIND dietary patterns are associated with better cognitive performance at baseline and the Mediterranean and DASH diets were associated with slower cognitive decline over time. Adherence to the DASH diet had the greatest magnitude of association with baseline cognition and rate of cognitive change.

An Investigation of the Correlation Between Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness with Blood Biochemical Indices and Cognitive Dysfunction in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

The study aimed to explore the correlation between retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) with blood biochemical indicators and cognitive dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the possible mechanism, thereby providing more theoretical basis for the occurrence and prevention of diabetes related complications. Eighty T2DM patients treated in our hospital from March 2022 to September 2022 were selected as the study subjects, and the clinical data of the patients were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) to analyze the changes in retinal blood vessels. Patients who met the inclusion criteria were divided as the diabetic retinopathy (DR) group (n=46) and simple diabetes group (n=34). The RNFLT, blood biochemical indexes and changes in cognitive functions of the patients were detected. The correlation between RNFLT with blood biochemical indexes and cognitive dysfunction was analyzed. Compared with the simple diabetes group, patients in the DR group had much lower mean, nasal, inferior and superior thicknesses (P<0.01). There existed no significant difference in blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), blood lipids (triglycerides, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein) between the two groups (P>0.05). Compared with the simple diabetes group, patients in the DR group had much higher fasting blood glucose (FBG), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), fasting insulin (FINS), insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index, apolipoprotein B (ApoB)/apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) (P<0.001). Besides, the DR group had sharply lower scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scale and higher levels of the Trail Making Test-A (TMT-A) and TMT-B (P<0.001). Spearman correlation analysis confirmed that the mean RNFLT was negatively correlated with the levels of FBG, HbA1c, HOMA-IR index, TMT-A and TMT-B (P<0.05), positively correlated with the score of mini-mental state examination (MMSE) (P<0.05), and was no significant correlation with FINS and ApoB/ApoA1 (P>0.05). DR patients had significantly reduced RNFLT, elevated levels of blood glucose related indicators, and cognitive dysfunction. There existed a correlation between RNFLT and FBG, HbA1c, HOMA-IR index, TMT-A, TMT-B and MMSE.

Abstract P348: Effects of Different Antihypertensive Regimens on Cognitive Function and Blood Pressure Changes in Elderly Hypertensive Patients: Network Meta-Analysis

Background: Elderly hypertensive patients with cognitive impairment not only exhibit reduced processing speed and executive function but also suffer significant deficits in memory and motor speed, adversely affecting their quality of life. This study employs a network meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of different antihypertensive regimens on cognitive function and blood pressure changes in elderly hypertensive patients. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang and VIP databases for randomized controlled trials on different antihypertensive regimens for elderly hypertensive patients. Data analysis and graphing were performed using Review Manager 5.3 and Stata 16.0 software. Results: A total of 16 studies involving 11,694 elderly hypertensive patients and six antihypertensive regimens were included. The network meta-analysis results indicated that elderly hypertensive patients treated with angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) had a greater change in cognitive function scores compared to those receiving usual care (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.46, 95% CI [0.23, 0.70]), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) (SMD = 0.33, 95% CI [0.06, 0.61]), beta-blockers (BBs) (SMD = 0.48, 95% CI [0.17, 0.78]), and diuretics (SMD = 0.32, 95% CI [0.01, 0.63]). Similarly, patients treated with calcium channel blockers (CCBs) showed greater changes in cognitive function scores compared to those receiving usual care (SMD = 0.37, 95% CI [0.04, 0.70]) and BBs (SMD = 0.38, 95% CI [0.02, 0.74]). The SUCRA rankings for changes in cognitive function scores among different antihypertensive regimens were ARB (93.6%), CCB (81.2%), diuretics (47.1%), ACEI (43.4%), usual care (17.9%), and BB (16.8%). Conclusion: The current evidence suggests that, compared to usual care, ACEIs, BBs, CCBs, and diuretics, ARBs might be the optimal regimen for improving cognitive function in elderly hypertensive patients.

INTIMASY-TBI Guideline: Optimization of INTIMAcy, SexualitY, and Relationships Among Adults With Traumatic Brain Injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can negatively impact intimacy, relationships, and sexual functioning through changes in physical, endocrine, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional function. Without intervention, diminished intimacy and/or sexual functioning in individuals with TBI may persist. Although most health care professionals agree that sexuality and intimacy in relationships are significant concerns and should be addressed in rehabilitation, these concerns are not typically discussed during rehabilitation and discharge planning for people with TBI. To address this gap, an expert panel of North American clinicians and researchers convened to develop evidence-informed recommendations to assist clinicians in providing a framework and guidance on how clinicians can support individuals after TBI. A systematic search of multiple databases was conducted to identify relevant evidence published from 2010 to 2023. The INTIMASY-TBI Expert Panel developed recommendations for optimizing discussions and interventions related to intimacy and sexuality for people with TBI in rehabilitation and community-based programs. For each recommendation, the experts evaluated the evidence by examining the study design and quality to determine the level of evidence. A total of 12 recommendations were developed that address the following topic areas: (1) interprofessional team training, (2) early education on the effects of TBI on intimacy, relationships, and sexuality, (3) creating individualized interventions, (4) education, assessment, and management of the causes of sexual dysfunction, and (5) providing written materials and relationship coaching to persons with TBI and their partners. Two recommendations were supported by Level A evidence, 1 was supported by Level B evidence, and 9 were supported by Level C (consensus of the INTIMASY-TBI Expert Panel) evidence. A decision algorithm was developed to assist clinicians in navigating through the recommendations. The INTIMASY-TBI Guideline is one of the first comprehensive clinical practice guidelines to offer strategies to trained clinicians to discuss the physical, psychosocial, behavioral, and emotional aspects of intimacy and sexuality with persons with TBI.

Longitudinal associations of effort and reward at work with changes in cognitive function: evidence from a national study of U.S. workers.

This study aimed to examine longitudinal associations of workplace effort and reward with changes in cognitive function among United States workers. Data from the national, population-based Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study with a 9-year follow-up were used. Validated workplace effort and reward scales were measured at baseline, and cognitive outcomes (including composite cognition, episodic memory, and executive functioning) were measured with the Brief Test of Adult Cognition by Telephone (BTACT) at baseline and follow-up. Multivariable linear regression analyses based on generalized estimating equations (GEE) examined the longitudinal associations under study. Among this worker sample of 1,399, after accounting for demographics, socioeconomics, lifestyle behaviors, health conditions, and job control, high reward at baseline was associated with increased composite cognition (regression coefficient: 0.118 [95% CI: 0.049, 0.187]), episodic memory (0.106 [0.024, 0.188]), and executive functioning (0.123 [0.055, 0.191]) during follow-up. The joint exposure of 'high effort and high reward' was also associated with increased composite cognition (0.130 [0.030, 0.231]), episodic memory (0.131 [0.012, 0.250]), and executive functioning (0.117 [0.017, 0.216]), while the combination of 'low effort and high reward' was associated with increased composite cognition (0.106 [0.009, 0.204]) and executive functioning (0.139 [0.042, 0.235]). Findings suggest that workplace high reward is related to improved cognitive scores among United States workers. Future research should investigate larger cohorts over longer timespans and expand into disease outcomes such as dementia. If these findings emerge as causal, relevant workplace rewards to promote worker cognitive health should be considered.

Therapeutic Cerebral Fluid Puncture in Patients with Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension: No Short-Term Effect on Neurocognitive Function.

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is typically characterized by headaches and vision loss. However, neurocognitive deficits are also described. Our study aimed to test the influence of therapeutic lumbar puncture on the latter. A total of 15 patients with IIH were tested with a battery of neurocognitive tests at baseline and after therapeutic lumbar drainage. Hereby, Logical Memory of the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised Edition (WMS-R), the California Verbal Learning Test Short Version (CVLT), alertness, selective attention, and word fluency were used. Changes in cognitive functioning in the course of CSF pressure lowering were analysed and compared with age, sex, and education-matched healthy controls. Before intervention, scores of Logical Memory, the RWT, and the HADS-D were significantly lower in IIH patients compared to matched controls. After short-term normalization of CSF pressure, the RWT improved significantly. Additionally, significant positive correlations were found between headache intensity and subjective impairment, as well as between BMI and CSF opening pressure. Our findings confirm lower performance in terms of long-term verbal memory and word fluency compared to controls, as well as depressive symptoms in IIH patients. Significant improvement after short-term normalization of intracranial pressure by means of CSF drainage was seen only for word fluency. This indicates that short-term normalization of CSF pressure is not sufficient to normalize observed neurocognitive deficits.

Hub disruption in HIV disease and cocaine use: A connectomics analysis of brain function

BackgroundCocaine use (CU) is prevalent in people with HIV (PWH). Both conditions are linked to changes in cognitive functioning and neural network topology. The current study utilizes graph theory to investigate functional connectomics associated with HIV and CU, focusing on disruption of densely connected nodes called hubs. MethodsResting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) from 206 adults (ages 22–55 years) were analyzed. A HIV x CU factorial design was implemented with participants in four groups: HIV+CU (n= 41), HIV only (n= 88), CU only (n= 36), and controls (n= 41). Functional connectomes were constructed, and thresholded graph metrics were calculated. Network centrality metrics – betweenness centrality (BC), participation coefficient (PC), and within module degree (WD) – were quantified into hub disruption indices (HDI). For each index, a 2×2 ANCOVA was performed controlling for education. ResultsParticipants were 68 % male and 74 % African-American with a mean age of 44.4 years. HIV and CU were associated with hub disruption in all three indices. Interactions were significant for HDI-PC and HDI-WD, such that HIV disease was associated with greater hub disruption among participants without CU, but not among participants with CU. Overall, lower global cognitive functioning was associated with greater hub disruption on all three indices. ConclusionsWidespread hub disruption was evident in HIV disease and CU, highlighting topological reorganization in both diseases with neurocognitive effects. Hub-related measures inform functional connectivity disruptions in HIV disease and CU, particularly with respect to changes in network topology throughout the connectome.

Evaluation of sensomotor development, behavioral reactions and cognitive functions of the second generation of rats with hyperhomocysteinemia

The adverse maternal exposure during pregnancy leads to developmental disorders in the offspring that can be passed on to later generations. Epigenetic regulation of DNA transcription may mediate inherited metabolic diseases. An increase in homocysteine concentration in the blood is associated with epigenetic modifications of the genome, which can alter the fetal brain’s development program and cause cognitive impairment. The aim of our work was to identify changes in sensomotor development, behavioral reactions and cognitive functions of offspring of second generation rats (HcyF2) of hyperhomocysteinemia. Our results indicate that unconditioned reflexes and physical parameters are delayed in HcyF2 rats. In “open field”, HcyF2 rats showed higher levels of anxiety and decreased exploratory and motor activity, while coordination of movements studied in “rotarod” test was not impaired. Decreased limb muscle strength was shown in the “grip strength” test. Additionally, HcyF2 rats demonstrated an impaired learning and longterm memory in the Morris water maze. Biochemical analysis revealed an imbalance in the antioxidant systems, which was attributed to decreased activity of glutathione peroxidases and H2S synthesis enzymes. It was suggested that elevated homocysteine levels during pregnancy may result in epigenetic modifications of the genome, which can impact the metabolism of offspring and be inherited by future generations.

Longitudinal Trajectories of Self-Reported Cognitive Function and Associated Factors Among Older Cancer Survivors.

Cancer-associated cognitive decline may result in difficulties in maintaining daily life activities for older patients with cancer. It is, therefore, critical to identify changes in cognitive function throughout illness trajectories. To determine the longitudinal patterns and factors associated with cognitive function among older cancer survivors. A secondary analysis was conducted using data from the 2012 to 2020 Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging database. A total of 207 cancer survivors aged 60 years and above were included in the analysis. Latent class growth modeling was employed to identify the trajectories of self-reported cognitive function, and logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with these trajectories. The cognitive function of older adults with cancer was divided into 2 distinct trajectories, characterized by differences in intercept (8) and slope (0.7): the "low and declining class" and the "high and sustainable class." The proportion of individuals belonging to the "high and sustainable class" (n = 153, 73.9%) was significantly and considerably higher than those in the "low and declining class" (n = 54, 26.1%). Individuals with low and declining cognitive function were more likely to be older, have a lower education level, live in rural areas, have poor handgrip strength, experience depression, and have lower social participation compared to those with high and sustainable cognitive function. Our findings can help health care professionals develop tailored interventions for older cancer survivors with low cognitive function based on their physical and mental health status, as well as their environmental backgrounds.

Time course of cognitive functions and physiological response under heat exposure: Thermal tolerance exposure time based on ECG and fNIRS

Thermal discomfort has a great dynamic impact on cognitive performance and occupants’ well-being during prolonged working. However, few studies have focused on the dynamic changes in cognitive functions and physiological responses under extreme heat stress. This study investigated the cognitive impairment over exposure time at various ambient temperatures, ranging from 21.15℃ WBGT to 38.93℃ WBGT, and its underlying physiological mechanism. 30 well-trained volunteers and 8 occupational operators participated in the experiments, with typical cognitive tests, ECG, and fNIRS measurements. Negative correlations were mainly observed between cognitive test accuracy, ECG RRI, ECG RMSSD, ECG HF/LF, fNIRS ALFF, fNIRS functional connectivity (CORRz, COH, PLV), and exposure time. This indicated that increased physical load, stress, and decreased regulation ability to sudden changes, cognitive resource input, and inter-regional brain cooperation were key factors contributing to cognitive impairments over time. A comprehensive performance index (CPI) was established by the weighted sum of accuracy in cognitive tests and physiological features of ECG and fNIRS. The weights suggested fNIRS ALFF, ECG RRI, and fNIRS functional connectivity could be potential biomarkers for cognitive assessment. A set of linear quantitative CPI curves over exposure time was supplied to calculate the thermal tolerance exposure time at various risk tolerances and ambient temperatures. A power-law relationship (R2>0.997) was observed between the thermal tolerance exposure time and the standardized temperature. This study provides a physiological insight into cognitive impairment under prolonged heat exposure, and quantitative thermal tolerance exposure curves to evaluate safe thermal working duration for both low-risk groups (officers and drivers) and high-risk groups (operators in industry).