Deficits In People Research Articles

HIV Stigma is Associated with Two-Year Decline in Cognitive Performance Among People with HIV.

HIV stigma is associated with suboptimal clinical outcomes and has been cross-sectionally linked to cognitive deficits in people with HIV (PWH). However, it is unclear whether HIV stigma precedes cognitive decline or vice versa. We examined associations in 303 adult PWH (mean age 50.01 (11.91) years; 46% female; 67% non-Hispanic Black) between the abbreviated Berger Stigma Scale score and longitudinal change across the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery measures. 89% of participants reported experiencing HIV stigma. In unadjusted analyses, greater HIV stigma was associated with worse attention performance at yearly follow-up visits (B = -0.07, 95% CI = -0.13 - -0.01, p = 0.025). When adjusting for clinicodemographic variables, HIV stigma was associated with worse processing speed and global cognition at yearly follow-up visits. This finding suggests that HIV stigma precedes subsequent cognitive decline and highlights the importance of reducing stigma to improve cognitive functioning among PWH.

Suicidal thoughts are associated with reduced source attribution of emotion.

Approximately 9% of people think about suicide during their lifetime. Suicidal thoughts are consistently associated with perceived failures in emotion regulation. However, factors contributing to these perceptions remain insufficiently clear. New evidence suggests that when people know little about the cause of their emotions (i.e., low source attribution of emotion), they perceive themselves as less successful in regulating them. Therefore, emotion regulation deficits in people with suicidal thoughts might be related to lower knowledge about sources of emotions. We examined this question in two ecological momentary assessment studies (N₁ = 396, N₂ = 195). We found that participants with current suicidal thoughts knew less about the sources of their emotions compared to participants with no suicidal thoughts history (Studies 1 and 2), and even when compared to controls with similar levels of psychiatric symptoms but no history of suicidal thoughts (Study 2). Using language processing, we found that written descriptions of the source of participants' emotions were less concrete among those with suicidal thoughts compared to participants with no suicidal thoughts history. Among suicidal participants, suicidal thoughts were more likely to be present in moments when participants knew less than usual about the source of their negative emotions (Study 2), and low knowledge of the source was associated with more frequent and prolonged suicidal thoughts (Studies 1 and 2). Finally, lower perceived success in emotion regulation mediated the association between source attribution of emotion and the occurrence of suicidal thoughts. Findings suggest that reduced knowledge about the source of negative emotions might increase the risk for suicidal thinking. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Comparative study of emotional facial expression recognition among Prader-Willi syndrome subtypes.

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a congenital disease caused by a rare and generally non-inherited genetic disorder. The inability to recognise facial expressions of emotion is an apparent social cognition deficit in people diagnosed with PWS. The main objective of the present study is to compare the ability to recognise emotional facial expression, in both non-contextualised and contextualised scenarios, among the main subtypes of PWS and a control group. The sample consisted of 46 children divided into three groups: deletion (n=10), maternal uniparental disomy (mUPD) (n=13) and control (n=23). The protocol included the Facially Expressed Emotion Labeling and the Deusto-e-Motion 1.0. The control group recognised facial emotions more accurately and quickly in both non-contextualised and contextualised scenarios than children with PWS, regardless of genetic subtype. Despite no differences being detected between PWS subtypes when non-contextualised scenarios were analysed, in contextualised situations, a longer reaction time was observed in children with the mUPD subtype. This is the first study to assess the ability to recognise emotional facial expressions in contextualised situations among PWS subtypes and a control group. The findings suggest that some of the social cognitive deficits evidenced in children with mUPD PWS may be similar to those in autism spectrum disorder.

Psychometric Properties of Vestibular and Ocular Measures Used for Concussion Assessments: A Scoping Review.

Concussions most commonly affect the vestibular and ocular systems. Clinical measures used in the assessment of vestibular and ocular deficits should contain strong psychometric properties so that clinicians can accurately detect abnormality to guide treatment interventions. The aim of this scoping review was: (1) to identify the measures used to evaluate the vestibular and ocular domains postconcussion and (2) to document the psychometric properties of the measures. Two databases (Medline (Ovid) and Embase) were searched from inception to May 2023. An updated search was completed in January 2024 using the same databases and search terms. Studies were screened and data were extracted independently by 2 reviewers. Measures were categorized into vestibular, ocular, or both (vestibular and ocular) domains, and relevant psychometric properties were documented. Fifty-two studies were included in this review. 28 studies explored the use of vestibular measures, 12 explored ocular measures, and 12 explored both vestibular and ocular measures or explored the use of vestibulo-ocular reflex measures. Most studies explored the properties associated with balance measures, particularly the balance error scoring system. Diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity and specificity metrics) of the associated measures was the most frequently documented characteristic in the literature. Identification of clinical measures used to evaluate vestibular and ocular deficits postconcussion is needed to understand the evidence supporting their use in practice. Documenting the psychometric properties will allow clinicians and researchers to understand the status of the current literature and support for the use of certain measures in practice in terms of their ability to appropriately detect deficits in people with concussion when deficits are truly present.

Eccentricity Dependency of Retinal Electrophysiological Deficits in People With Episodic Migraine.

During the non-attack period, people with migraine may show retinal dysfunction. This study builds on previous work by exploring the possibility of foveal and non-foveal visual field and electroretinographic deficits and determining the overlap in eccentricity of such localized visual deficits in people with migraine. Visual fields and multifocal electroretinography (mf-ERG) were tested in 27 people with migraine (aged 19-45 years) and 18 non-headache controls (aged 20-46 years). Data were averaged according to 5 concentric rings at < 1.5 degrees (foveal) and 5 degrees, 10 degrees, 15.5 degrees, and 22 degrees eccentricities (non-foveal). Linear mixed effects modelling was used to predict mf-ERG amplitude, mf-ERG peak time, and visual field sensitivity with fixed effects of eye, group, and eccentricity. Foveal mf-ERG responses, and visual field sensitivity across all eccentricities (foveal and non-foveal) were similar between the migraine and control groups (P>0.05). In contrast, the non-foveal mf-ERG was reduced in amplitude in people with migraine relative to controls (P<0.001), and this group difference depended on eccentricity (P<0.001) - most prominently, in the parafoveal region (ring 2, P=0.001). Retinal electrophysiological deficits were observed in people with migraine in the parafoveal region (between 1.5 degrees and 5 degrees eccentricity), without corresponding visual field deficits. This suggests a spatially localized area of retinal neuronal dysfunction in people with migraine that is insufficient to manifest as a visual field sensitivity loss using standard perimetric methods. Our study highlights the added confound of migraine when conducting standard clinical retinal electrophysiological tests for conditions such as glaucoma, particularly non-foveally.

Independent inheritance of cognition and bipolar disorder in a family sample.

Cognitive deficits in people with bipolar disorder (BD) may be the result of the illness or its treatment, but they could also reflect genetic risk factors shared between BD and cognition. We investigated this question using empirical genetic relationships within a sample of patients with BD and their unaffected relatives. Participants with bipolar I, II, or schizoaffective disorder ("narrow" BD, n = 69), related mood disorders ("broad" BD, n = 135), and their clinically unaffected relatives (n = 227) completed five cognitive tests. General cognitive function (g) was quantified via principal components analysis (PCA). Heritability and genetic correlations were estimated with SOLAR-Eclipse. Participants with "narrow" or "broad" diagnoses showed deficits in g, although affect recognition was unimpaired. Cognitive performance was significantly heritable (h2 = 0.322 for g, p < 0.005). Coheritability between psychopathology and g was small (0.0184 for narrow and 0.0327 for broad) and healthy relatives of those with BD were cognitively unimpaired. In this family sample, cognitive deficits were present in participants with BD but were not explained by substantial overlaps in genetic determinants of mood and cognition. These findings support the view that cognitive deficits in BD are largely the result of the illness or its treatment.

Teaching the way I wish I was taught: Design and implementation of a class on historically excluded and underrepresented scientists.

As the first Inupiaq person to earn a PhD in microbiology, I learned the hard way that groups of people have been excluded from science, technology, engineering and mathematics in the United States since the first University was built by Black and Indigenous slaves. Students from historically excluded and underrepresented (HEU) backgrounds typically do not see themselves in textbooks, conferences, or classrooms, especially in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM) fields. Similarly, students from these backgrounds and non-excluded backgrounds typically do not understand the history or consequences of exclusion. Here I describe the development and implementation of a class that teaches undergraduate students about the current state of diversity in STEMM jobs in the US, the history of exclusion that resulted in a deficit of people from various backgrounds, the consequences of excluding these people from research specifically, current leaders in research from HEU backgrounds, and how to implement changes. The students are taught how to communicate their findings in oral and written communication to various audiences. Based on decades of experiences, discussions, readings, and more, I teach students the reasons there are so few people from HEU backgrounds in academia and in STEMM specifically, and what can be done at the University level to ensure that people from all backgrounds are represented in STEMM. In this way, I teach students what I wish I had been taught decades ago.

Profiles of objective and subjective cognitive function in Post-COVID Syndrome, COVID-19 recovered, and COVID-19 naïve individuals

Post-COVID Syndrome has emerged as a significant public health concern worldwide with increasing evidence to suggest that individuals who have had an acute COVID-19 infection report lingering memory and attention difficulties, even in individuals who have fully recovered and no longer experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. The present study sought to investigate the profile of objective and subjective cognitive difficulties in people who have Post-COVID Syndrome, people who have fully recovered from an acute COVID infection and people who have never had COVID-19. We further sought to explore the extent to which self-reported fatigue and stress are related to subjective and objective cognitive difficulties. 162 participants including 50 people living with Post-COVID Syndrome, 59 people who have had COVID-19 but have fully recovered and 53 people who have never experienced symptoms of COVID-19 and had never tested positive for COVID-19 were recruited from Academic Prolific to complete a series of online questionnaires and neurocognitive tasks. Subjective cognitive function was measured using the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire and objective cognitive function was measured using the Cognitron cognitive test battery. We found that objective and subjective measures of cognitive function were not significantly related, suggesting that self-reports of “brain fog” are not reflecting objectively measured cognitive dysfunction. A MANOVA revealed that subjective cognitive deficits were driven by heightened perceived stress and fatigue and not significantly related to COVID-19 status. Objective cognitive function, however, was significantly related to perceived stress and COVID status whereby we observed significant objective cognitive deficits in people who have been exposed to an acute COVID-19 infection regardless of whether they had Post-COVID Syndrome or had fully recovered, as compared to people who had never had COVID-19. This suggests that an acute infection can have long term effects on cognitive function, even without persistent COVID-19 symptoms. Encouragingly, objective cognitive function was significantly associated with time since initial infection showing that cognitive deficits improved over time for people who had recovered from COVID-19. However, we did not observe the same improvement in individuals with Post-COVID Syndrome and observed that cognitive dysfunction was significantly related to the number of neurological symptoms presently experienced. These results add to the accumulating literature that COVID-19 is associated with significant cognitive difficulties following a COVID-19 infection, which appear to improve over time for those who have recovered from COVID-19 yet persist in people living with Post-COVID Syndrome.

Comprehensive Assessment of the Impact of Alcohol Use on Cognitive Deficits in People with HIV

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection profoundly impacts the nervous system, leading to neurological deficits such as HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND). HAND represents the most common neurological comorbidity among people with HIV (PWH), and alcohol use may exacerbate the cognitive deficits seen in this condition, especially in underserved populations. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between alcohol use patterns and cognitive performance in an underserved cohort of PWH, with the hypothesis that alcohol misuse would exacerbate cognitive deficits in this population. Data collected from participants (n=259; 66.7% male; mean age 52 ± 10 years) enrolled in the New Orleans Alcohol Use in HIV (NOAH) study were utilized for cross-sectional analysis. Cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and alcohol use was comprehensively measured by four metrics: Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), 30-day timeline followback (TLFB), lifetime drinking history, and phosphatidylethanol (PEth) levels. The average MoCA score among participants was 20.7 ± 4.5, with 86.5% demonstrating cognitive impairment (MoCA &lt; 26). Notably, individuals with total MoCA scores below 18 (classified as moderately or severely cognitively impaired) had a higher frequency of recent severe alcohol misuse (as assessed by PEth levels) and greater lifetime alcohol consumption. Participants at increased risk for AUD (as assessed by the AUDIT) also had worse global cognition and memory task performance, particularly those aged 50 and older. Further analysis of MoCA sub-score data indicated that participants with increased AUD risk had significant impairments in the cognitive domains of language, delayed recall, and memory. These findings highlight the importance of considering alcohol use and AUD risk as important factors that may exacerbate cognitive decline in vulnerable populations, including older patients and PWH. Future analyses will compare the relationship between cognition and alcohol in these HIV-positive patients with a cohort of HIV-negative patients to better understand the impact of concurrent HIV and alcohol misuse on cognitive function. This research was supported by grant #F30AA030941, #T32AA007577, and #P60AA009803 from the NIAAA at the National Institutes of Health. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

A machine-learning approach to investigating the complexity of theory of mind in individuals with schizophrenia

Individuals with schizophrenia have difficulty attributing mental states to themselves and to others - Theory of Mind (ToM). ToM is a complex, multifaceted theoretical construct comprising first and second order, first and third person, egocentric and allocentric perspective, and cognitive and affective ToM. Most studies addressing ToM deficit in people with schizophrenia consider it an "all-or-nothing" ability and use a classical statistical methodology to test a null hypothesis. With the present study, we investigated ToM in individuals with schizophrenia, considering its complex nature and degrees of impairment. To do this, we used a machine-learning approach to detect patterns in heterogeneous and multivariate data. Our findings highlight the complex nature of ToM deficit in individuals with schizophrenia and reveal the relationship between various different aspects of ToM.

PsyCog: A computerised mini battery for assessing cognition in psychosis

Despite the functional impact of cognitive deficit in people with psychosis, objective cognitive assessment is not typically part of routine clinical care. This is partly due to the length of traditional assessments and the need for a highly trained administrator. Brief, automated computerised assessments could help to address this issue. We present data from an evaluation of PsyCog, a computerised, non-verbal, mini battery of cognitive tests. Healthy Control (HC) (N = 135), Clinical High Risk (CHR) (N = 233), and First Episode Psychosis (FEP) (N = 301) participants from a multi-centre prospective study were assessed at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. PsyCog was used to assess cognitive performance at baseline and at up to two follow-up timepoints. Mean total testing time was 35.95 min (SD = 2.87). Relative to HCs, effect sizes of performance impairments were medium to large in FEP patients (composite score G = 1.21, subtest range = 0.52–0.88) and small to medium in CHR patients (composite score G = 0.59, subtest range = 0.18–0.49). Site effects were minimal, and test-retest reliability of the PsyCog composite was good (ICC = 0.82–0.89), though some practice effects and differences in data completion between groups were found. The present implementation of PsyCog shows it to be a useful tool for assessing cognitive function in people with psychosis. Computerised cognitive assessments have the potential to facilitate the evaluation of cognition in psychosis in both research and in clinical care, though caution should still be taken in terms of implementation and study design.

Prefrontal Cortex Activity During Gait in People With Persistent Symptoms After Concussion

Background Concussions result in transient symptoms stemming from a cortical metabolic energy crisis. Though this metabolic energy crisis typically resolves in a month, symptoms can persist for years. The symptomatic period is associated with gait dysfunction, the cortical underpinnings of which are poorly understood. Quantifying prefrontal cortex (PFC) activity during gait may provide insight into post-concussion gait dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of persisting concussion symptoms on PFC activity during gait. We hypothesized that adults with persisting concussion symptoms would have greater PFC activity during gait than controls. Within the concussed group, we hypothesized that worse symptoms would relate to increased PFC activity during gait, and that increased PFC activity would relate to worse gait characteristics. Methods The Neurobehavior Symptom Inventory (NSI) characterized concussion symptoms. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy quantified PFC activity (relative concentration changes of oxygenated hemoglobin [HbO2]) in 14 people with a concussion and 25 controls. Gait was assessed using six inertial sensors in the concussion group. Results Average NSI total score was 26.4 (13.2). HbO2 was significantly higher (P = .007) for the concussed group (0.058 [0.108]) compared to the control group (−0.016 [0.057]). Within the concussion group, HbO2 correlated with NSI total symptom score (ρ = .62; P = .02), sagittal range of motion (r = .79; P = .001), and stride time variability (r = −.54; P = .046). Conclusion These data suggest PFC activity relates to symptom severity and some gait characteristics in people with persistent concussion symptoms. Identifying the neurophysiological underpinnings to gait deficits post-concussion expands our knowledge of motor behavior deficits in people with persistent concussion symptoms.

Visual Field Deficits in Albinism in Comparison to Idiopathic Infantile Nystagmus.

This is the first systematic comparison of visual field (VF) deficits in people with albinism (PwA) and idiopathic infantile nystagmus (PwIIN) using static perimetry. We also compare best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and optical coherence tomography measures of the fovea, parafovea, and circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer in PwA. VF testing was performed on 62 PwA and 36 PwIIN using a Humphrey Field Analyzer (SITA FAST 24-2). Mean detection thresholds for each eye were calculated, along with quadrants and central measures. Retinal layers were manually segmented in the macular region. Mean detection thresholds were significantly lower than normative values for PwA (-3.10 ± 1.67 dB, P << 0.0001) and PwIIN (-1.70 ± 1.54 dB, P<0.0001). Mean detection thresholds were significantly lower in PwA compared to PwIIN (P<0.0001) and significantly worse for left compared to right eyes in PwA (P=0.0002) but not in PwIIN (P=0.37). In PwA, the superior nasal VF was significantly worse than other quadrants (P<0.05). PwIIN appeared to show a mild relative arcuate scotoma. In PwA, central detection thresholds were correlated with foveal changes in the inner and outer retina. VF was strongly correlated to BCVA in both groups. Clear peripheral and central VF deficits exist in PwA and PwIIN, and static VF results need to be interpreted with caution clinically. Since PwA exhibit considerably lower detection thresholds compared to PwIIN, VF defects are unlikely to be due to nystagmus in PwA. In addition to horizontal VF asymmetry, PwA exhibit both vertical and interocular asymmetries, which needs further exploration.

Impaired perception of a partner's synchronizing behavior reduces positive attitude toward humanoid robot in schizophrenia patients

As interpersonal synchrony plays a key role in building rapport, the perception of another agent's synchronizing behavior could be an important feature to assess, especially with patients with social deficits such as in schizophrenia. Twenty-four schizophrenia patients and twenty-four matched healthy controls performed jointly fitness movements with another agent embodied by a humanoid robot which was programmed to either synchronize with the participants or move at a fixed frequency with them. Self-report of participants' perception of the robot's synchronizing behavior was collected after each interaction. Results indicated that patients were impaired in their ability to accurately perceive the robot's synchronizing behavior. Patients' subjective perception of the robot's synchronizing behavior was associated with positive attitude toward it, suggesting that the belief to be synchronized with others could have similar impact on affiliation than real interpersonal synchrony. It leads to new perspectives for understanding social deficits in people with severe mental illness.

Strategi Upaya Pencegahan Defisit Perawatan Diri Pada ODGJ Di Pasar Minggu Kelurahan Belakang Pondok Kecamatan Ratu Samban Kota Bengkulu

Mental health disorders are health disorders that cause psychological behavioral disorders due to disturbances in social, psychological, hereditary, physical, chemical and biological functions. Self-care deficit is a condition where sufferers experience problems with their ability to carry out or complete self-care activities such as bathing, dressing, eating and toileting. The aim of this community service is to provide effective implementation of SPTK in improving self-care and quality of life for ODGJ. The method used is the implementation of SPTK for ODGJ with self-care deficits. This activity was carried out at Pasar Minggu, Behind Pondok sub-district, Ratu Samban sub-district, Bengkulu City. Meanwhile, this research was carried out on Monday 30 October 2023. After carrying out this activity, ODGJ can find out how to care for personal hygiene and nail care and know how to do it independently. The conclusion of this activity is that strategies for preventing self-care deficits in people with homeless mental disorders need to be developed and implemented holistically by involving various related parties.

Cognitive impairment and liver fibrosis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

BackgroundData regarding the prevalence and phenotype of cognitive impairment in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are limited.ObjectiveWe assessed the prevalence and nature of cognitive deficits in people with NAFLD and...

Characteristics of drawing deficits in people with aphasia: Differences between symbolic and realistic drawn objects.

Pictures drawn by people with aphasia (PWA) are often more challenging to understand than those drawn by healthy people. There are two types of objects: those that tend to be drawn symbolically (symbolically drawn objects-SOs) and those that are likely to be drawn realistically (realistically drawn objects-ROs). To compare the identification rate and number of misunderstanding types between SOs and ROs drawn by PWA and healthy controls (HCs). To reveal trends in the misunderstandings of drawings by PWA, and to identify the language or cognitive abilities related to the identification rate of pictures drawn by PWA. We designed a drawing task involving SOs and ROs. A total of 18 PWA and 30 HCs completed the task, and respondents identified the drawings. The identification rate and number of misunderstandings were analysed with two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) including group (PWA and HCs) and object type (SOs and ROs). The misunderstandings were divided into four categories varying in semantic and morphological similarity; these ratios were examined with a chi-square test. The relationships of language and cognitive abilities with the identification rate were investigated with multiple regression analyses. There was a significant effect of the interaction between group and object type on the identification rate (F(1.1387) = 3.90, Mean Squared Error (MSE) = 4139.67, p = 0.04): the identification rates for ROs were lower in the PWA than in the HCs. For the number of misunderstanding types, an interaction was observed between group and object type (F(1.56) = 8.26, MSE = 26.93, p < 0.01): the number of misunderstanding types for ROs in the PWA was greater than that in the HCs. The misunderstanding patterns differed between ROs and SOs (χ2(3) = 694.30, p < 0.001, V = 0.37). ROs were semantically related, whereas SOs were morphologically related. The identification rates of ROs and SOs were correlated only with Kanji writing scores (ROs: β = 3.66, p = 0.01; SOs: β = 6.57, p < 0.01). In drawings by the PWA, SOs had a higher identification rate, while ROs had a lower identification rate and a greater variety of misunderstandings. SOs may increase drawing motivation. Interventions to improve the identifiability of SOs and ROs should reflect each character. Identification rates were correlated only with Kanji writing scores. The PWA, whose native language was Japanese and had preserved Kanji writing abilities, and their communication abilities may be increased through drawing. What is already known on the subject PWA often have impaired drawing abilities and draw pictures that third parties misinterpret. Some objects tend to be drawn symbolically, and some are drawn realistically. However, it is not clear whether there is a difference between these types of drawings depicted by PWA in identifiability and the tendency to be misunderstood by ordinary people. In addition, the relationships between language or cognitive abilities and the identification rate of drawn pictures are not clear. What this paper adds to the existing knowledge The identification rate differed between SOs and ROs. In drawings by PWA, SOs had a higher identification rate, while ROs had a lower identification rate and the greatest variety of misunderstandings. Approximately half of the misunderstandings were related to the target object. SOs tended to be confused with morphologically related objects, while ROs tended to be confused with semantically related objects. Identification rates were correlated only with Kanji writing scores. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? To motivate PWA's drawing, it is suitable to begin with SOs. Examining drawing ability from the perspective of SOs and ROs increases the chance of identifying drawing ability. PWA whose native language is Japanese and have preserved Kanji writing abilities may be able to increase their communication abilities through drawing.

Cognitive profile of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (INPH)

AbstractBackgroundCognitive deficits in people with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (INPH) are thought to differ from Alzheimer’s dementia (AD) but this has not been systematically explored.MethodWe undertook a systematic review and meta‐analysis. Peer‐reviewed studies publishing new data, with defined diagnostic criteria for INPH, and using formal cognitive tools were included. Quality was assessed using the Newcastle‐Ottawa Scale. Weighted mean difference (WMD) in score was calculated using random‐effects meta‐analysis for cognitive tests used in at least 2 studies. We assessed heterogeneity using I2. Sensitivity analyses explored results according to global cognition.Result13 studies met inclusion criteria. Participants with INPH had a pooled weighted MMSE score of 22.6 (95% confidence interval (CI) 21.3‐23.9). Studies were divided into those that matched AD participants to INPH participants for global cognition or selected mild AD (n = 6) and those that did not (n = 7). Participants with INPH performed better on the Boston Naming Task across all studies (n = 2; WMD: 1.41; 95% CI: 0.50, 2.31; I2 47%). There were no significant differences in semantic or phonemic fluency, delayed verbal recall, digit span backwards or forwards, or constructional praxis between AD and INPH across all studies. However, sensitivity analyses examining INPH participants compared to mild or matched AD showed significantly worse performance in INPH for semantic (n = 3; WMD: ‐1.37; 95% CI: ‐2.19, ‐0.55; I2 0%) and phonemic fluency (n = 3; WMD: ‐5.18; 95% CI: ‐6.95, ‐3.41; I2 0%), and in the Frontal Assessment Battery (n = 3; WMD: ‐2.33 points; 95% CI: ‐3.30, ‐1.36; I2 0%). Worse performance was also seen on sensitivity analysis in digit span backward (MD: ‐0.70; 95% CI: ‐1.20, ‐0.20) and constructional praxis (MD: ‐0.50; 95% CI: ‐0.90, ‐0.10) but only 1 study was available for each test.ConclusionIn this meta‐analysis, people with INPH tended to score within the mild dementia range on global cognitive testing. There were observable differences in cognitive profile between INPH and AD. People with INPH may have less aphasia but score significantly lower on tests of executive function than people with mild AD. These results could inform identification of INPH in memory services.

Using Virtual Reality to Assess Spatial Cognition in Subjective Cognitive Decline and Mild Cognitive Impairment due to Alzheimer’s Disease

AbstractBackgroundSpatial navigation impairment (SNI) is prevalent in people with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) continuum and may appear in the initial clinical stage. To detect this deficit in people at risk may not only help to prevent getting lost or missing incidents, but also provide a useful clinical feature for diagnosis. Traditional assessments for SNI include questionnaires, paper pencil and maze tests, or video games. Although a real‐world setting is more valid, direct, and accurate, it has many unexpected conditions such as weather, obstacles, or accidents. Thanks to technology, virtual reality (VR) is a new way to assess SNI.MethodWe used PJVR to test spatial navigation ability in cognitively unimpaired (CU), subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and mild cognitive impairment due to AD (MCI‐AD). The PJVR is the VR version (Vive Pro Eye Head‐mounted Display, HTC) of the PJ device, which was developed by Pai and Jan and has been successfully verified its power to discriminate each other among CU, MCI, and mild AD. With a map provided and using joysticks or handles, participants were requested to reach five points in a 660‐meter path on our university campus. Linear deviation in meters in each point was treated as the variable for comparison. A pre‐test training course was given to facilitate the procedure.Result118 subjects signed informed consent and 87 (73.7%) completed the trials, including 18 CU, 41 SCD and 28 MCI‐AD. Fourteen, or 11.9%, of all participants failed the trials due to cybersickness. The averaged linear deviations of the CU, SCD and MCI‐AD were 36.1 (38.2), mean (S.D.), 40.8 (44.4), and 93.7 (46.8) meters respectively (p&lt;0.000). The linear deviation of the PJVR of the participants was correlated with the Questionnaire on Everyday Navigation Abilities (p&lt;0.001), indicating a good real‐world validity.ConclusionAlthough the rate of cybersickness is higher as compared with the reports from Western countries, most of the participants completed the trials. The PJVR is feasible to assess spatial cognition and able to discriminate CU/SCD from MCI‐AD. To simplify PJVR to be practical is important to welcome the era of digital cognitive assessment.

Understanding Cognitive Deficits in People with High Blood Pressure.

High blood pressure is associated with an elevated risk of dementia. However, much less is known about how high blood pressure is related to cognitive deficits in domains including episodic memory, semantic verbal fluency, fluid reasoning, and numerical ability. By analyzing data from 337 participants (57.39% female) with a history of clinical high blood pressure diagnosis with a mean age of 48.78 ± 17.06 years and 26,707 healthy controls (58.75% female) with a mean age of 45.30 ± 15.92 years using a predictive normative modeling approach and one-sample t-tests, the current study found that people with high blood pressure have impaired immediate (t(259) = -4.71, p < 0.01, Cohen's d = -0.08, 95% C.I. [-0.11, -0.05]) and delayed word recall (t(259) = -7.21, p < 0.01, Cohen's d = -0.11, 95% C.I. [-0.15, -0.08]) performance. Moreover, people with high blood pressure also exhibited impaired performance in the animal naming task (t(259) = -6.61, p < 0.0001, Cohen's d = -0.11, 95% C.I. [-0.15, -0.08]), and number series (t(259) = -4.76, p < 0.01, Cohen's d = -0.08, 95% C.I. [-0.11, -0.05]) and numeracy tasks (t(259) = -4.16, p < 0.01, Cohen's d = -0.06, 95% C.I. [-0.09, -0.03]) after controlling for demographic characteristics. Clinicians and health professionals should consider including these tasks as part of the neuropsychological assessment for people with high blood pressure, to detect their cognitive deficits. Moreover, they should also come up with ways to improve cognitive performance in people with high blood pressure.