Cognitive Function Research Articles

Abstract 27: The Brain-behaviour Mechanisms of Impaired Linguistic and Cognitive Function Impairments in Stroke Patients with Aphasia

Introduction: The combination of verbal and non-verbal cognitive dysfunction in post-stroke aphasia (PSA) patients may ultimately affect social interactions. However, the underlying neural mechanisms of both verbal and non-verbal cognitive impairment remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the activity and functional abnormalities of local and remote brain regions and their relationship with cognitive behaviour, to provide more effective guidance in future clinical therapy. Methods: We recruited 46 PSA patients and 40 normal controls(NCs) matched for general characteristics in this study and evaluated their verbal and non-verbal cognitive functions. Functional magnetic resonance imaging(fMRI) was used to examine the fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations(fALFF), regional homogeneity(ReHo), and functional connectivity(FC) in PSA patients. Independent two-sample t-tests were used to identify differences in these measures between two groups. Moreover, partial correlation analyses were performed to determine the correlation between FC from the affected brain regions and language and cognitive performance in PSA patients. Results: This study revealed that PSA patients presented significantly lower fALFF and ReHo values in right cerebellum superior (CRBL.Superior.R), left thalamus(THA.L), and left middle frontal gyrus(MFG.L). Moreover, the FC in the MFG.L-left inferior frontal gyrus, orbital part was significantly lower among PSA patients and was positively correlated with language and cognitive performance(p< 0.05). The CRBL. Superior. R-left caudate nucleus and right lenticular nucleus FC were also decreased and were associated with cognitive function(p< 0.05). In addition, PSA patients were further divided into fluent and nonfluent groups. The results revealed that nonfluent patients performed worse in verbal and non-verbal cognitive performance(p< 0.05) and had weaker performance in the THA.L and left supplementary motor area FC(p< 0.001). Conclusions: This study provides new evidence that abnormal neural activity and functional connectivity within specific brain regions may play crucial roles in language and cognitive processing. The underlying mechanisms of impaired linguistic function accompanied by decline in cognition may be a partial overlap between language and cognitive-related brain networks. In future, combining cognitive and linguistic functions and designing a comprehensive treatment plan will be the focus of rehabilitation.

The mediating effect of psychosomatic symptoms between physical activity and cognitive function among breast cancer patients: A path analysis.

Psychosomatic symptoms are frequently observed side effects in breast cancer (BC) patients and significantly influence cognitive function. However, limited research has addressed the role of psychosomatic symptoms in the relationship between physical activity and cognitive function. This study aimed to examine the mediating effect of psychosomatic symptoms on the relationship between physical activity and cognitive function in BC patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted across 10 hospitals in China from April 2022 to February 2023. Cognitive function was assessed using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cognitive Function scale. Exercise frequency, sleep quality, fatigue, anxiety, and depression were measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire, Cancer Fatigue Scale, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire-7, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9, respectively, among 741 BC patients. Correlation analysis and path analysis were performed to explore associations between variables. The prevalence of cognitive impairment in BC patients was found to be 9.58%. The path model demonstrated the best fit when age was included as a moderating variable, and the association between age and sleep disorders was controlled. Physical activity showed a negative correlation with both psychosomatic symptoms and cognitive impairment (p<0.05). It exerted a direct impact on cognitive impairment (20.3%, p<0.001) and an indirect impact mediated through anxiety and depression (6.3%, p<0.001). The total effect in the model was 38.6% (p<0.001). Physical activity has a pivotal role in improving cognitive function in BC patients, both through direct mechanisms and indirectly by reducing anxiety and depression. While enhancements in sleep quality and fatigue levels were observed, their influence on cognitive function did not reach statistical significance, indicating the need for further research. These findings underscore the importance of incorporating psychological symptom management into supportive care plans to aid cognitive recovery. A combination of physical activity and psychological interventions could provide synergistic benefits, potentially boosting cognitive improvement and enhancing the overall quality of life in BC patients.

Correlations Between Oculometric Measures and Traditional Clinical Assessments in Multiple Sclerosis.

Oculomotor abnormalities are common in multiple sclerosis (MS) but are not quantitatively evaluated in clinical practice. Oculometric measures (OMs) are characteristics of eye movements captured while performing a visual task, e.g., the latency of saccadic and anti-saccadic metrics. Physical and cognitive deficits are prevalent among persons with MS, including disease-related oculomotor dysfunction. Recently, we have implemented a novel software-based platform enabling the extraction of OMs using a PC and a webcam. The objective of this study is to investigate the relationships between OMs and traditional outcome measures of physical and cognitive dysfunction in MS. Oculometric evaluation using a novel software-based platform (NeuraLight, Israel) was performed in patients with relapsing-remitting MS (n = 57; 36 females, age 41.4 ± 8.6). Physical disability was assessed by an MS-specific neurologic exam (Expanded Disability Status Scale; EDSS) and quantitative measures of cognitive and sensorimotor function (Symbol Digit Modalities Test; SDMT and Nine Hole Peg Test; NHPT). Various OMs were calculated out of multiple measures: Saccadic latency, gain and gaze during fixation, as well as error rate of saccades. Spearman's rank correlation was computed for each OM to assess the relationship with clinical scores. Various OMs were correlated with EDSS scores, as pro- and anti-saccadic latency (OM1 r = 0.36, OM2 r = 0.50, OM3 r = 0.39, OM4 r = 0.49; P-values<0.0001), initial gain during saccades (OM6 r = 0.47, OM7 r = 0.30, OM8 r = 0.59; p < 0.0001), stability of gaze during fixation (OM9 r = 0.48, OM10 r = 0.41; p < 0.0001) and error rate of anti-saccades (OM11 r = 0.59; p < 0.0001). Similar correlations were found between these OMs and NHPT scores (OM1 r = 0.41, OM2 r = 0.46, OM3 r = 0.31, OM4 r = 0.50; P-values<0.0001), initial gain (OM6 r = 0.40, OM7 r = 0.39, OM8 r = 0.58; Ps<0.0001) and error rate (OM11 r = 0.36; p < 0.0001). Finally, OMs were correlated with SDMT scores: OM1 and OM2 r=-0.31, OM3 r=-0.26, SD r=-0.38; p < 0.05), OM7 r=-0.36, OM8 r=-0.45; Ps<0.0001) and fixation stability (OM9 r=-0.36, Om10 r=-0.45; p < 0.05). OMs captured using a novel software-based platform were found to be associated with physical and cognitive function, suggesting that they can be used as a relevant tool in MS clinical assessment. Further studies will include larger cohorts and assess participants longitudinally to determine the potential value of OMs as predictors of future MS-related disability.

The impact of dietary claims on behaviour: Expectations qualify how actual satiety affects cognitive performance.

Dietary choices significantly impact health and daily cognitive performance, prompting various recommendations for eating habits. Whereas much research has focused on the effects of actual satiety on cognitive performance, the influence of expectations regarding effects of satiety on performance remains underexplored. This study aims to address this gap by examining how the expectation of satiety influences cognitive outcomes, building on existing findings that highlight the role of placebo effects in shaping eating behaviour. This study manipulated participants' expectations of how their satiety (satiated versus hungry) affects their concentration through verbal placebo suggestions and measured effects on their cognitive performance. The sample consisted of four groups who were either satiated or hungry and either read the suggestion that their satiety state enhances or deteriorates their concentration. The suggestion was formulated as a scientific finding. Cognitive performance was measured remotely using a Simon Task. Results showed that if participants' actual satiety state was paired with a positive expectation regarding the state they were in, their performance was better than if it was paired with a negative expectation regarding their current satiety state. So, actual satiety state was not the main driver of cognitive performance, but what participants were led to believe about their current satiety state was. These findings suggest that instructions in intervention studies should be phrased carefully to avoid expectation-related confounds. Additionally, verbal placebo suggestions could be a promising method to enhance cognitive performance in daily life.

The effects of balance training on cognitive function in persons with multiple sclerosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

There is growing literature examining the effects of balance training on cognitive function in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), yet the findings remain inconsistent. This study aimed to investigate methodological characteristics of balance training studies and examine the effects of this modality on cognitive function. This study performed literature search using MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, SPORTSDiscus, and CINAHL databases from inception to April 2024. Randomized and non-randomized controlled trials of balance training studies that assessed cognitive function were included. The Tool for the Assessment of Study Quality and Reporting in Exercise was used to evaluate methodological quality of included studies. We calculated effect sizes as standardized mean differences (SMD) using Hedge's g and employed multi-level random-effects model for meta-analysis. Fourteen articles with 1,020 participants were included in this review, and a subset of seven studies with 26 effect sizes were further used for meta-analysis. Balance training indicated medium effects on global cognition (SMD [95 % CI] = 0.39 [0.13, 0.64]), processing speed (SMD [95 % CI] = 0.36 [0.00, 0.73]), and visuospatial memory (SMD [95 % CI] = 0.53 [0.12, 0.93]) and large effect on verbal memory (SMD [95 % CI] = 0.66 [0.25, 1.06]). We found that intervention characteristics and exercise doses significantly moderated the effects on cognition. Balance training may effectively improve overall and specific domains of cognitive function in persons with MS. Exercise doses of at least 120 min per week and a total duration of 720 min or more were significant moderators for greater cognitive improvement.

LncRNA PART1 improves sevoflurane-induced impairments in learning and cognitive function by regulating miR-16-5p expression and reducing neuroinflammation.

Sevoflurane is a commonly utilized inhalational anesthetic in surgical settings. Nevertheless, sevoflurane has been demonstrated to possess neurotoxic properties. The objective was to examine the neuroprotective function of long non-coding RNA prostate androgen-regulated transcript 1 (PART1) in sevoflurane-induced neurotoxicity and to elucidate its potential mechanism. The level of PART1 was quantified by RT-qPCR. The proliferation and apoptosis of HT22 cells were evaluated through CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry, respectively. To assess the protein level of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α, ELISA was conducted. The levels of malondialdehyde, nitrite, and reduced glutathione along with the activity of superoxide dismutase were determined to evaluate oxidative stress. Verification of the targeting relationship between miR-16-5p and PART1 was performed using the dual-luciferase reporter assay. The Morris water maze test was used to assess the impact of PART1 on sevoflurane-induced learning and cognitive function in rats. PART1 levels were decreased in sevoflurane-treated HT22 cells and rats. PART1 suppressed sevoflurane-induced apoptosis and attenuated its inhibitory effect on cell proliferation. PART1 mitigated sevoflurane-induced inflammatory response and oxidative stress in HT22 cells through the regulation of miR-16-5p. PART1 suppressed oxidative damage and inflammatory response leading to improvement of learning and cognitive function in rats subjected to sevoflurane exposure. PART1 has the potential to regulate the sevoflurane-induced inflammatory response and oxidative stress via miR-16-5p, which in turn improves learning and cognitive function. Consequently, PART1 may be a promising therapeutic target for sevoflurane-induced neurotoxicity.

Cognitive function differs across healthy lifestyle behavior profiles: a 10-year population-based prospective cohort study.

Modifiable lifestyle behaviors significantly influence the risk of cognitive impairment. However, the cumulative effects of multidimensional lifestyle profiles on cognitive function remain poorly understood, as most studies examine individual lifestyle behaviors in isolation. This study aimed to identify distinct profiles of individuals based on healthy lifestyle behaviors and to examine associations between these profiles and cognitive function in older Chinese adults. We used a prospective cohort, including 5381 participants of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) between 2008 and 2018, aged 65 years and older with normal cognition at baseline. Questionnaires were used to collect self-reported data on healthy diet, sleep quality, physical activities, cognitive activities, and social activities. Repeated measures of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) were utilized to assess cognitive function. Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) was conducted to identify profiles characterized by similar characteristics of lifestyle behaviors. The resultant profiles, were then used to further explore associations with cognitive function using cox proportional hazard regression and linear mixed models. During a 10-year follow-up period, 2017 (37.5%) out of 5381 participants developed cognitive impairment. Three latent profiles were identified: (1) "active engagement" (n = 347, 6.4%); (2) "moderate engagement" (n = 627, 11.7%); and (3) "negative engagement" (n = 4407, 81.9%). Compared to negative engagement, the active profile had the lower risk of cognitive impairment (HR = 0.693, 95% CI: 0.553-0.868), longer years to develop cognitive impairment (mean = 7.818, range: 6.701, 8.935) and slower rate of annual cognitive decline (0.407 points per year). Similarly, the moderate engagement profile had the lower risk of cognitive impairment (HR = 0.781, 95% CI: 0.664-0.919), longer years to develop cognitive impairment (mean = 7.541, 95%CI: 6.464, 8.619) and slower rate of annual cognitive decline (0.297 points per year) compared to negative profile. Subgroup analysis revealed that there were no significant differences observed across any of the subgroups, including age, gender, year of schooling, marital status, residence, live alone, family economic status. These findings imply the likelihood of an inverse correlation between the levels of engagement in healthy lifestyle behavior and the risk of cognitive impairment. Even adopting a few healthy lifestyle habits is superior to none at all, underscoring the value of lifestyle modifications for cognitive health.

Ezrin-mediated astrocyte-synapse signaling regulates cognitive function via astrocyte morphological changes in fine processes in male mice

Astrocytes, which actively participate in cognitive processes, have a complex spongiform morphology, highlighted by extensive ramified fine processes that closely enwrap the pre- and post-synaptic compartments, forming tripartite synapses. However, the role of astrocyte morphology in cognitive processes remains incompletely understood and even controversial. The actin-binding protein Ezrin is highly expressed in astrocytes and is a key structural determinant of astrocyte morphology. Here, we found that Ezrin expression and astrocyte fine process volume in the hippocampus of male mice increased after learning but decreased after lipopolysaccharide injection and in a mouse model of postoperative cognitive dysfunction, both of which involved models with impaired cognitive function. Additionally, astrocytic Ezrin knock-out led to significantly decreased astrocytic fine process volumes, decreased astrocyte-neuron proximity, and induced anxiety-like behaviors and cognitive dysfunction. Astrocytic Ezrin deficiency in the hippocampus was achieved by using a microRNA silencing technique delivered by adeno-associated viruses. Down-regulation of Ezrin in hippocampal astrocytes led to disrupted astrocyte-synapse interactions and impaired synaptic functions, including synaptic transmission and synaptic plasticity, which could be rescued by exogenous administration of D-serine. Remarkably, decreased Ezrin expression and reduced astrocyte fine processes volumes were also observed in aged mice with decreased cognitive function. Moreover, overexpression of astrocytic Ezrin increased astrocyte fine process volumes and improved cognitive function in aged mice. Overall, our results indicate Ezrin-mediated astrocyte fine processes integrity shapes astrocyte-synapse signaling contributing to cognitive function.

Can intelligent virtual assistants improve cognitive function in older adults? A two-wave mediation study.

This study aims to investigate whether social networks and physical exercise mediate the relationship between new and constant use of intelligent virtual assistants (IVAs) and cognitive function in older adults in China and explore the potential differences across living arrangements and education levels. This study utilized nationally representative longitudinal data from 2018 to 2020, including a sample of 8343 older adults aged 60-80. A path-analytic model was employed to examine the relationship between IVAs use and cognitive function, as well as the mediating roles of social networks and physical exercise. Constant and new IVAs use significantly affected cognitive function, mediated by social networks and physical exercise. For older adults living alone, both types of IVAs use had positive direct and indirect effects. Those living with children benefited mainly from new IVAs use, with indirect effects through physical exercise. Among less educated older adults, only new IVAs use showed significant effects through social networks. For those with higher education, both constant and new IVAs use positively impacted cognitive function directly and indirectly. The use of IVAs can significantly improve cognitive function in older adults, with social networks and physical exercise being important mediating pathways. Policy suggestions were provided based on these results.

MIR218 polygenic risk score is associated with cognitive function and neurochemical metabolites among patients with depressed bipolar disorders.

Evidence from animal and population studies has consistently revealed that microRNA 218 (MIR218) is involved in susceptibility to depression and cognitive functions. Nevertheless, few studies have evaluated the association between MIR218 and clinical features in patients with depressed bipolar disorder (BD). A total of 66 patients with depressed BD and 49 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited for this study. MIR218 polygenic risk score (PRS) was used to assess the addictive effects of the MIR218 regulated genes. We compared the MIR218 PRS between patients with depressed BD and HCs to investigate whether it can be used to predict the risk of BD, and further explored the association between MIR218 PRS and cognitive performance as well as neurochemical metabolites among depressed BD. We found that there was a significant difference in MIR218 PRS between patients with depressed BD and HCs. The correlation analysis indicated that MIR218 PRS was negative associated with the number of disease onset (r=-0.311, P=0.033) and choline (Cho)/creatine (Cr) in right thalamus (r=-0.285, P=0.021). Additionally, as supported by previous findings, patients with lower MIR218 PRS presented more domains of impaired cognitive function than those with higher scores. These findings suggested MIR218 PRS might be useful in differentiating patients with depressed BD from HCs. Moreover, depressed BD with lower MIR218 PRS showed more pronounced cognitive impairment than those with higher scores, which may be associated with disease recurrence and Cho metabolism in right thalamus.

The effectiveness of real-life cognitive and physical interventions on cognitive functioning in healthy older adults: A systematic review of the effects of education and training duration.

Physical and cognitive interventions are deemed the primary methods of improving cognitive functioning in healthy older adults. However, the effectiveness of these interventions is still debated. This systematic review, synthesised findings from the literature on four different types of interventions: physical activities, cognitive training, cognitive stimulation and a combined intervention. We searched six databases for each intervention category. Findings demonstrated that 65% of the studies across all intervention groups reported improvement in the experimental group following the intervention. Furthermore, memory, executive and global cognitive functions were the most reported improvements post-intervention. Additionally, participants with higher education benefited more from cognitive training (an intervention that targets a specific cognitive domain), while those with lower education gained more following cognitive stimulation (an intervention that targets general domains). Lastly, in sub-types of physical activity, cognitive stimulation and combined category, longer durations (more than 20 sessions) were associated with significant cognitive improvements. Conversely, in cognitive training, having less than 20 sessions led to significant results. Findings indicated an interaction of education and intervention duration with significant outcomes post-intervention. In conclusion, this review demonstrated the importance of intervention type, duration and education in understanding cognitive improvement post-intervention.

The association between depressive symptoms and lower urinary tract symptoms and impact among women: Investigating behavioural, cognitive and physiological pathways.

Mechanistic studies are needed to understand why depressive symptoms are associated with poorer physical health. The objective of this study was to examine whether behavioural, cognitive and physiological factors mediated an association between depressive symptoms, measured in early adulthood, and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and their impact, a composite variable measured in mid-life adulthood, among women in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study, conducted in four regions of the United States. Prospective cohort study. Data were examined for 871 women. Depressive symptoms were measured and averaged across Years 5, 10 and 15. Year 20 health behaviour combined information about smoking, physical activity and diet. Year 25 cognitive function combined performance on different cognitive tests. Year 25 metabolic syndrome combined standard risk criteria for waist circumference, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, blood pressure and glucose. A cluster analysis of urinary incontinence, other LUTS and impact data-collected two years after Year 25-was used to group women into one of four categories: no or very mild symptoms with no impact (bladder health) versus mild, moderate or severe symptoms/impact. Structural equation modelling showed a statistically significant direct path between depressive symptoms and LUTS/impact. Tests of indirect paths showed that health behaviours, cognitive function and metabolic syndrome did not mediate the association between depressive symptoms and LUTS/impact. Depressive symptoms in early adulthood appear to be associated with LUTS and their impact in mid-life adulthood over and above health behaviours, cognitive function and metabolic syndrome.

Can memantine treat autism? Answers from preclinical and clinical studies.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) represents a clinical challenge due to its diverse behavioral symptoms and complex neuro-pathophysiology. Finding effective treatments that target the fundamental mechanisms of ASD remains a top priority. This narrative review presents the potential of the NMDA-receptor blocker memantine in managing ASD symptoms. Preclinical studies indicate that memantine could abrogate excitotoxicity, GABA/glutamate imbalance, reduced levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), blood-brain barrier (BBB) leakage, and neuroinflammation, offering hope for managing core deficits associated with ASD like impaired social interaction and repetitive behaviors. However, clinical trials yield conflicting results, with some showing slight improvements in symptom severity and cognitive function, while others demonstrate limited efficacy. Further exploration of memantine's neurobiological mechanisms and refinement of treatment approaches are crucial for comprehensively tackling ASD complexities. Drawing from both animal models and clinical data, this review examines memantine's impact on core ASD symptoms, cognitive function, and potential mechanisms of action. Lastly, it identifies research gaps and proposes avenues for future investigations to enhance our understanding and utilization of memantine in ASD management.

Sex-specific differences in the relationship between thyroid hormones and neurocognition in schizophrenia: A large-scale cross-sectional study.

Sex differences in thyroid hormones, cognitive function, and psychiatric symptoms in schizophrenia remain underexplored. The study aimed to investigate the cross-sectional relationships between thyroid hormone levels, cognitive impairments, and clinical symptoms in people with chronic schizophrenia, with a focus on sex differences. We included 1007 people with schizophrenia (602 males and 405 females), and 326 healthy controls (193 males and 133 females). Cognitive function and psychiatric symptoms were assessed using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), respectively. Blood samples were collected to measure serum total thyroxine (TT4), total triiodothyronine (TT3), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4), and free triiodothyronine (FT3). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and two-way ANOVA were used to compare clinical characteristics and sex differences. Pearson correlation and hierarchical linear regression were conducted to assess the relationships between thyroid hormone levels, cognitive impairments, and clinical symptoms. People with schizophrenia exhibited lower levels of thyroid hormones compared to the healthy control group (both P < 0.01). Male patients had higher TT3 and FT3 levels than female patients (both P < 0.01). The cognitive scores of the healthy controls were generally higher than those of people with schizophrenia (P < 0.001). Additionally, there were significant sex differences in visuospatial/constructive abilities and language (both P < 0.01) among people with schizophrenia, with males scoring higher than females. The linear regression found that in the cognitive domain, TT4 was negatively associated with Visuospatial/Constructive abilities and RBANS total scores in male patients (both P < 0.05), whereas TT4 was positively associated with these abilities and attention in female patients (all P < 0.05). Additionally, in male patients, TT3 was negatively associated with most of PANSS scale (all P < 0.05). In female, TT3 was only negatively associated with the PANSS Negative scale (P < 0.05). Sex differences exist in thyroid hormone T3 levels in people with schizophrenia. The association between thyroid hormones and cognitive performance varies by sex in chronic schizophrenia.

From movement to mind: Early fine motor skills are associated with cognitive performance at school age in very preterm infants.

Although preterm birth is associated with deficits in both motor and cognitive functioning, the association between early motor skills and cognitive outcomes at a later age remains underexplored. To evaluate associations between motor skills at age 5.5 and cognitive functioning at age 8. Single-center cohort study including children born below 30weeks' gestation or below 1000g, between September 1st 2010 and September 1st 2015. Three motor skills (aiming and catching, balance and manual dexterity) were assessed at age 5.5 using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children, 2nd edition (MABC-2-NL). Total intelligence quotient and its five subdomains (fluid reasoning, processing speed, verbal comprehension, visual spatial, and working memory) were assessed at age 8 using the fifth version of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-V-NL). Multiple linear regression analysis was used to investigate associations between MABC-2-NL scores and WISC-V-NL outcomes. In total, 327 live born children without congenital malformations were included, of whom 281 survived to 8years. Of these, 185 (66%) had follow-up assessments at both 5.5 and 8years. Scores on motor and cognitive subdomains were lower compared to the normative mean. Regression analysis showed that manual dexterity was significantly associated with better scores on all subdomains of cognitive performance, except for verbal comprehension. Our main finding is that fine motor function at age 5.5 is associated with later cognitive performance. Early assessment of motor performance may be helpful for early diagnosis and targeted intervention to support optimal cognitive development of preterm children.

The relationship between cognitive and affective control and symptoms of depression and anxiety across the lifespan: A 3-wave longitudinal study

IntroductionThe association between cognitive functioning and mental health symptoms across the lifespan remains poorly understood. Understanding the directional associations between mental health and cognition is important as most gold-standard psychological therapies, such as cognitive-behaviour therapy, are cognitively demanding. Here, we examined the directionality of the association between cognitive and affective control with symptoms of depression and anxiety across the lifespan. Methods1002 participants (87.2 % female, age range: 11–89 years) completed self-report measures of depressive and anxiety symptoms and an affective backward digit span task thrice at 3-month intervals. Cross-lagged panel models (CLPMs) were used to model the longitudinal relationships between affective and cognitive control with depressive and anxiety symptoms. Multiple-group CLPMs were applied to test the model invariance between adolescents and adults. ResultsThe results supported a unidirectional relationship, where symptoms of depression and anxiety predicted impaired affective control across time points, over and above cognitive control. There was no evidence for affective or cognitive control capacity predicting emotional disorder symptomatology. In addition, multiple-group analysis revealed that depressive symptoms also predicted impaired cognitive control among adolescents only. There were no age-related differences in the associations between cognitive and affective control with anxiety symptoms. ConclusionsOur findings support depression and anxiety as antecedents, but not consequences, of impaired affective control, suggesting that timely management of emotional disorders, in particular for adolescents, is essential to prevent deterioration in cognitive functioning. The results further signal that practitioners should consider impaired affective control capacity in therapeutic contexts.

Are you tuned in to others' mind? A cross-modal evaluation of affective theory of mind in people with Parkinson's disease.

Affective Theory of Mind (ToM) is the ability to understand other peoples' emotional states and feelings. Several studies showed impaired affective ToM abilities in people with Parkinson's disease (PD). However, most studies tested this ability by using single-stimulus modality tasks (visual cues). The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether affective ToM abilities are impaired in PD using multiple stimulus modalities and whether they are related to disease duration and cognitive/emotional abilities. Twenty mid-stage, non-demented people with PD and 20 matched controls were evaluated by means of two tasks requiring subjects to infer others' mental states from the eyes' expression - the Reading the Mind in the Eyes (RME) test, and from the emotional prosody - a modified version of the Reading the Mind in the Voice (RMV) test. In people with PD, cognitive function and emotional processes were assessed through cognitive tasks and batteries of facial and prosodic emotion recognition tests. Compared to controls, the PD group showed significantly impaired performances in both RME and RMV tests (p<0.0001). Affective ToM abilities in people with PD were not correlated with cognitive function or disease duration. Visual recognition of anger and auditory recognition of fear were positively correlated with RME (p=0.0028) and RMV (p<0.0001) test scores, respectively. Cross-modal impairment of affective ToM abilities is a non-motor feature of PD, unrelated to disease stage or cognitive status. A dysfunctional amygdala-centred network might represent the shared bases for impairments in fear and anger recognition and affective ToM abilities in PD.

Cortical Structure of left superior parietal cortex is associated with cognition and dual tasking: a cross-sectional preliminary study between mild cognitive impairment and healthy controls

BackgroundIndividuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) exhibit poorer performance in cognition and dual-task paradigm, while the related cortical thickness and surface area alterations remains unclear. Methods: Thirty participants with MCI and thirty healthy controls (HC) were recruited. Magnetic resonance imaging, cognitive assessments and dual-task Timed Up and Go test (DT-TUG) were performed to assess cerebral cortical thickness and surface area, cognitive functions, and dual-task cost (DTC) of the execution time in TUG. Spearman correlations were conducted to assess the relationships between the cognitive, TUG performance with the cortical morphological measures. Results: MCI participants performed worse in the Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA), WAIS Digit Span, TMT and the modified Posner peripheral cuing task. Their execution time on the DT-TUG was also prolonged. WAIS Digit Span Backwards was correlated with DT-TUG in HC group. A significant between-group difference was observed in the surface area of the left SPC. The cortical thickness of this brain region was positively correlated with the total scores and attention subdomain of MoCA in HC group. The cortical thickness and the surface area were correlated with the time of DT-TUG in HC group only. Conclusions: Individuals with MCI demonstrated declines in both cognitive function and dual-task walking performance. This study provides further evidence of surface-based structural differences in the left SPC in individuals with and without MCI, and supports the role of the left SPC in cognition and dual-task walking.

Social functioning mediated the relationship between childhood emotional neglect and cognitive deficits in patients with schizophrenia.

Childhood maltreatment is frequently reported to be associated with cognitive deficits in patients with schizophrenia, but research on the childhood neglect subtype in childhood maltreatment is limited. This study sets out from the impact of childhood neglect on cognitive impairment in schizophrenia, and explores the interrelationship of childhood neglect, social functioning, resilience, and cognitive functioning. Two-hundred and thirty-two patients who met the DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia were recruited at the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS), Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), and Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) were used to assess childhood emotional and physical neglect, social functioning, resilience, and cognitive functioning respectively. The results indicate that (1) both emotional neglect (Spearman's r=-0.167, p=0.015) and physical neglect (Spearman's r=-0.263, p<0.001) are associated with cognitive deficits in patients with schizophrenia; (2) social functioning partially mediated the cognitive impairment in schizophrenia that related to emotional neglect (βtotal=-0.15, SE=0.07, 95% CI: LL=-0.31~UL=-0.03); (3) resilience is associated with emotional neglect (Spearman's r=-0.244, p=0.002) and appears to be independent of cognitive impairment (Spearman's r=-0.006, p=0.942). Social functioning is a significant mediating factor between childhood emotional neglect and cognitive impairment in patients with schizophrenia. This suggests that interventions aimed at improving social functioning may help ameliorate cognitive deficits in patients with schizophrenia who have high levels of emotional neglect scores.

What happens after menopause? (WHAM): A prospective controlled study of cognition 24months after premenopausal risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy.

Women with BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants considering risk-reducing bilateral oophorectomy (RRSO) may be concerned about potential effects of surgical menopause on cognition. Whether RRSO affects cognition and whether hormone therapy (HT) modifies this effect remains uncertain. This study aimed to prospectively measure the effect of premenopausal RRSO on cognition and the modifying effects of HT up to 24months. The design was a prospective, multisite (4 sites in Australia), 24-month observational study. Participants were premenopausal BRCA1/2 carriers (n=83) planning RRSO referred from gynecology-oncology and familial cancer centers and a premenopausal comparison group (n=98) not planning oophorectomy or pregnancy who self-referred. Baseline data were collected within 8weeks of eligibility screening, and RRSO was scheduled between baseline and 3months. Of 687 screened, 181 were analysed. Cognitive performance (verbal learning and memory, psychomotor speed, fluency) was assessed at baseline, 3, 12 and 24months with the a priori outcomes of verbal learning and memory. After RRSO, 65% initiated HT. In multivariable models of group differences in cognitive performance over time, RRSO and comparison groups showed similar performance improvements except for verbal learning. The RRSO group showed a small, statistically significant lower improvement in verbal learning vs comparisons, after adjustment for HT and other factors (p=0.03). After RRSO, verbal learning was higher in HT users vs non-users (p=0.04). Over 24months RRSO minimally impacted cognition except for a small adverse effect on verbal learning, partly offset by HT. Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (anzctr.org.au); Identifier #: ACTRN12615000082505; URL: https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=363554&isReview=true.