Executive Function Deficits Research Articles

Body mass index, internalizing behavior and executive function: examining trait-state effects from age 2 to 15.

This study aimed to examine the reciprocal relation between body mass index and internalizing behavior from age 2 to 15, and also the predictive role of executive function. This study included a subset sample of 640 children (47% were male) from the National Institute of Child Health and Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development. A refined random-intercept cross-lagged model was employed to analyze: (1) the reciprocal relation between children's body mass index and internalizing behavior assessed in eight waves from age 2 to 15; (2) the predictive role of executive functioning in both children's body mass index and internalizing behavior. Trait-level body mass index-to-internalizing behavior association was not found; a significant state-level prediction from body mass index in 5th grade to internalizing behavior in 6th grade was found. Executive function was significantly associated with trait-level body mass index, trait-level internalizing behaviors, and state-level internalizing behaviors. The findings suggest that deficits in children's executive functioning may be a shared risk associated with both high body mass index and internalizing behaviors. From an intervention perspective, this study highlighted the importance of targeting executive function to intervene in children's obesity or internalizing behaviors.

Assessing the Role of Physical Performance and Executive Functioning in Predicting the Quality of Life of Adults With Intellectual Disability in Northwest Iran

Background and Aims People with intellectual disabilities (ID) are a vulnerable social group whose physical performance, quality of life (QOL), and ability to live independently are affected. This study aims to investigate the relationship between QOL, executive functioning, and physical performance of adults with ID in northwest Iran. Methods This is a descriptive-correlational study. Participants were 61 adults (Mean age=34.31±8.895 years) with ID in Ardabil, Tabriz, and Urmia cities who were selected by a convenience sampling method.. The 26-item WHO QOL Questionnaire, the Barclay deficits in executive functioning scale - short form, and the short physical performance short battery were used to measure QOL, executive functioning, and physical performance. Pearson correlation test to investigate the relationship between these three variables. Regression analysis was used to assess the role of executive functioning and physical performance in predicting QOL. Results The results showed a significant relationship between QOL and physical performance (r=0.31, P=0.015), between QOL and deficits in executive functioning (r=-0.37, P=0.004), and between physical performance and deficits in executive functioning (r=-0.42, P=0.001). Executive functioning and physical performance together predicted 16% of changes in the QOL of patients. Conclusion Executive functioning and physical performance have a relationship with the QOL in adults with ID in northwest Iran. There is a positive relationship between QOL and physical performance, and a negative relationship between QOL and deficits in executive functioning and between physical performance and deficits in executive functioning. The QOL of patients can be predicted based on their executive functioning. Keywords

בדיקת תוקף של מטלה ביצועית בלתי מובנית (UPT), למדידת תפקודים ניהוליים בקרב ילדים

Background: Executive Functions (EFs) are assessed by performance-based measures in clinical settings and rating scales in ecological settings. Research has shown a lack of a correlation between both methods. In order to bridge the gap, the Unstructured Performance-Based Task (UPT) was developed. This assessment includes 42 questions randomly presented on a large piece of paper and is accompanied by a behavioral checklist. Aim: To examine the construct validity of the UPT and the behavioral checklist by examining group differences in UPT scores between children with and without Attention Deficit Hyper Disorder (ADHD) and EF deficits A further aim is to examine associations between the UPT and performance-based measures and rating scales. Method: The UPT was translated and culturally adapted for Hebrew speaking children in Israel. Participants were 42 children (aged 8-11 years), 21 with ADHD and EF deficits and 21 without a diagnosis or EF deficit. Parents completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Performance Skills Questionnaire, and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) to assess EF deficits in ecological settings. Children completed the UPT and other widely used assessments: Digit Span Forward and Backward, Verbal Working Memory, Trail Making Test, and Tower of Hanoi. Results: Significant differences were found between groups in some of the UPT measures and the behavioral checklist. Associations were found between some UPT measures and the behavioral checklist and performance-based EF measures, as well as the BRIEF rating scale. Conclusions: The measures of Total Correct Items, Total Blank Items, and completion time in UPT may be valid for EFs assessment. The behavioral checklist may be a valid assessment for behavior in ecological settings. The UPT may assist in identifying EF deficits in children and setting goals in Occupational Therapy interventions.

Executive function deficits mediate the relationship between employees' ADHD and job burnout.

Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often face significant deficits in executive function and adverse work-related outcomes. This study aimed to explore the role of executive function deficits in job burnout of employees with ADHD. We hypothesized that employees with ADHD, relative to employees without ADHD, will experience higher levels of job burnout and deficits in executive function. We also hypothesized that the ADHD-job burnout relationship would be mediated through executive function deficits, specifically by self-management to time and self-organization/problem-solving. A field study with 171 employees provided support for the research hypotheses and mediation model in which the employees' ADHD-job burnout relationship was mediated through executive function deficits. Additional mediation analyses indicated that the specific executive function of self-management to time and self-organization/problem-solving mediated the effect of ADHD on job burnout and its facets. Specifically, for physical fatigue, the mediation was realized through self-management to time, and for emotional exhaustion and cognitive weariness, the mediation was significant through self-organization/problem-solving. The present findings shed light on the relevance of referring ADHD among employees, their vulnerability to job burnout, and the role of executive function deficits in job burnout of employees with ADHD.

Sex Differences in Sleep Architecture After Traumatic Brain Injury: Potential Implications on Short-Term Episodic Memory and Recovery.

Sleep-wake disturbances (SWDs) are common after TBI and often extend into the chronic phase of recovery. Such disturbances in sleep can lead to deficits in executive functioning, attention, and memory consolidation, which may ultimately impact the recovery process. We examined whether SWDs post-TBI were associated with morbidity during the post-acute period. Particular attention was placed on the impact of sleep architecture on learning and memory. Because women are more likely to report SWDs, we examined sex as a biological variable. We also examined subjective quality of life, depression, and disability levels. Data were retrospectively analyzed for 57 TBI patients who underwent an overnight polysomnography. Medical records were reviewed to determine cognitive and functional status during the period of the sleep evaluation. Consideration was given to medications, owing to the fact that a high number of these are likely to have secondary influences on sleep characteristics. Women showed higher levels of disability and reported more depression and lower quality of life. A sex-dependent disruption in sleep architecture was observed, with women having lower percent time in REM sleep. An association between percent time in REM and better episodic memory scores was found. Melatonin utilization had a positive impact on REM duration. Improvements in understanding the impact of sleep-wake disturbances on post-TBI outcome will aid in defining targeted interventions for this population. Findings from this study support the hypothesis that decreases in REM sleep may contribute to chronic disability and underlie the importance of considering sex differences when addressing sleep.

Novel Surgical Approaches in Childhood Epilepsy: Laser, Brain Stimulation, and Focused Ultrasound.

Pediatric epilepsy has a worldwide prevalence of approximately 1% (Berg et al., Handb Clin Neurol 111:391-398, 2013) and is associated with not only lower quality of life but also long-term deficits in executive function, significant psychosocial stressors, poor cognitive outcomes, and developmental delays (Schraegle and Titus, Epilepsy Behav 62:20-26, 2016; Puka and Smith, Epilepsia 56:873-881, 2015). With approximately one-third of patients resistant to medical control, surgical intervention can offer a cure or palliation to decrease the disease burden and improve neurological development. Despite its potential, epilepsy surgery is drastically underutilized. Even today only 1% of the millions of epilepsy patients are referred annually for neurosurgical evaluation, and the average delay between diagnosis of Drug Resistant Epilepsy (DRE) and surgical intervention is approximately 20years in adults and 5years in children (Solli et al., Epilepsia 61:1352-1364, 2020). It is still estimated that only one-third of surgical candidates undergo operative intervention (Pestana Knight et al., Epilepsia 56:375, 2015). In contrast to the stable to declining rates of adult epilepsy surgery (Englot et al., Neurology 78:1200-1206, 2012; Neligan et al., Epilepsia 54:e62-e65, 2013), rates of pediatric surgery are rising (Pestana Knight et al., Epilepsia 56:375, 2015). Innovations in surgical approaches to epilepsy not only minimize potential complications but also expand the definition of a surgical candidate. In this chapter, three alternatives to classical resection are presented. First, laser ablation provides a minimally invasive approach to focal lesions. Next, both central and peripheral nervous system stimulation can interrupt seizure networks without creating permanent lesions. Lastly, focused ultrasound is discussed as a potential new avenue not only for ablation but also modulation of small, deep foci within seizure networks. A better understanding of the potential surgical options can guide patients and providers to explore all treatment avenues.

Unraveling the spectrum: overlap, distinctions, and nuances of ADHD and ASD in children.

This review explores the clinical presentation of similarities and differences in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This paper investigates the deficits in executive function, social function, and emotional intelligence that are seen in both conditions and how the presence of both conditions can exacerbate these deficiencies. Understanding the clinical presentations in these domains is critical to refine diagnostic methods and treatments and improve outcomes for those affected by these neurodevelopmental disorders. The similarities in clinical presentation between ADHD and ASD present a significant diagnostic challenge, with individuals often exhibiting similar behaviors and difficulty navigating the complexities that encompass reacting to their environment. Further research is paramount in gaining more knowledge of the disorders and challenges faced by these individuals, especially those with the presence of both conditions.

Coupling neurologic music therapy with immersive virtual reality to improve executive functions in individuals with Parkinson’s disease: A Quasi-Randomized Clinical Trial

IntroductionParkinson’s disease (PD) is one the most common neurodegenerative movement disorder, leading to motor and non-motor symptoms, including deficits in executive functions (EF), memory, visuospatial abilities, and psychomotor speed. Current treatments are primarily symptomatic, involving pharmacological, surgical strategies. Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT) has gained recognition for its effectiveness in neurorehabilitation of PD patients and improving motor and cognitive domains, such as EF. This study combines NMT with the virtual reality (VR) platform Computer-Assisted Rehabilitation Environment (CAREN), offering customizable environments for rhythmic cue practice to provide an innovative approach to Parkinson’s rehabilitation. MethodsIn our single-blind quasi-randomized controlled trial, forty patients were assigned to either an experimental group (EG = 20) or a control group (CG = 20). Both groups underwent two months of training with CAREN scenarios (three times a week for 24 sessions). The experimental group additionally received NMT applied to the selected scenarios. Participants were evaluated by a neuropsychologist at baseline and immediately after training. ResultsIntra-group analysis showed significant improvements in the EG for MOCA (p = 0.007), FAB (p = 0.008), Stroop Error (p = 0.003), Stroop Time (p < 0.001), and Visual Search (p < 0.001). The CG showed a significant difference only in Stroop Error (p = 0.02). ConclusionsThis pilot study is the first to combine NMT with CAREN in PD patients. Our findings suggest that NMT, within an immersive VR environment, effectively improves cognitive and EF in PD. Music structured within NMT techniques, coupled with advanced audio-visual feedback from VR, offers an innovative and potentially more effective approach for managing cognitive and executive deficits associated with PD.

Early adversity and family resilience factors in children with autism spectrum disorder: A narrative review

Global estimates indicate that autism is a neurodevelopmental condition that is currently diagnosed in 1 in 100 people across the world. Autistic children can experience deficits in social communication, often linked to difficulties with joint attention and facial emotion recognition. Restrictive repetitive behaviors and interests (RRBIs) are also part of the diagnostic criteria of autism and are associated with lower adaptive skills. Due to social challenges and RRBIs exhibited by autistic children, they may be at higher risk for experiencing social and familial stressors. In non-autistic children, early adversity is predictive of deficits in executive functioning, neurological changes, and poor adult health. However, resilience factors have been identified, which can offset the negative impacts of adversity. In autistic children, these protective factors may have differential downstream influences on children's outcomes due to cognitive and social difficulties. In this narrative review, we report that autistic children are more likely to experience familial and environmental stressors compared to non-autistic children. Resilience factors such as positive parenting, sleep, social relationships, and executive functioning skills were identified as key areas for future research. Lay summary Children with autism are statistically more likely than their peers to be exposed to adverse childhood events including bullying, parental divorce, and poverty. The more severely affected a child is by autism the greater the likelihood they will be exposed to early life stress. This indicates that the most vulnerable children with autism who have limited adaptive skills to promote resilience to stress may have the highest exposure to stressful events during their childhood. In turn, a better understanding of how early adversity impacts children with autism is needed as well to characterize resilience factors that promote optimal outcomes. In this review of the literature, it was found that children with autism may experience more stress from their family and surroundings compared to children without autism. Factors that can help these children cope better were identified, including supportive parenting, getting enough sleep, having friends, and having good problem-solving skills. This research could help parents and teachers better understand how to support children with autism who are experiencing early adversity.

Cognitive Profile of Children with Autistic Traits

Background Three neuropsychological theories have been extensively studied in both autism spectrum disorders and the broader autism phenotype ndash Theory of Mind Executive Function and Central Coherence. The exact profile is still under debate.Objective The objective of this study was to compare the neuropsychological profile of children with high and low levels of autistic traits. Methodology Around 771 children between the ages of 5 and 11 years from mainstream schools were assessed using the Social Responsiveness Scale SRS. Two hundred children among the 771 assessed children were administered a battery of neuropsychological tests. Further the SRS scores were subjected to factor analysis FA and the 28 items from the SRS which were common across factor analyses were taken and scores were recalculated based on these items. The neuropsychological profiles on this were further compared.Results Executive Function difficulties were apparent among the high scorers across all comparisons. Children with higher levels of autistic traits post FA had weaker central coherence. The difference in central coherence was apparent even when the comparison was made without the lower socio-economic group. While there was no significant difference in the performance on the Theory of Mind there was a trend towards significance in the group without the lower socio-economic group.Conclusion Executive function deficits are strongly associated with higher levels of autistic traits. The influence of Central Coherence is apparent only when the autistic traits are more closely woven. Theory of Mind appears to be a more downstream effect of Executive Function and Central Coherencenbsp

Relationship between emotion recognition and cognition in multiple sclerosis: a meta-analysis protocol

IntroductionMultiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory and neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system characterised by a broad and unpredictable range of symptoms, including cognitive and socio-cognitive dysfunction. Alongside...

Possible Implications of Managing Alexithymia on Quality of Life in Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review.

Alexithymia, characterized by difficulty in recognizing and verbalizing emotions, is reported to be more prevalent in subjects with Parkinson's disease (PD) than in the general population. Although it is one of the nonmotor symptoms of PD, alexithymia is often overlooked in clinical practice. The aim of this systematic review is to investigate the prevalence of alexithymia in PD, assess its impact on quality of life, and explore the rehabilitation approaches for alexithymia. Research articles, selected from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, were limited to those published in English from 2013 to 2023. The search terms combined were "Alexithymia," "Parkinson's disease,", and "Quality of life." Current literature review indicates that alexithymia is commonly assessed using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), and it is associated with deficits in visuospatial and executive functions. Presently, rehabilitation interventions for alexithymia are scarce, and their effectiveness remains controversial. Future research should focus on developing comprehensive assessments and rehabilitation strategies for emotional processing, considering its significant impact on the quality of life of both patients and caregivers.

Neuropsychological parameters in male offenders with substance use disorders.

The impact of cognitive functions on treatment outcomes in forensic psychiatric patients with substance use disorders is not well understood. This study investigates whether neuropsychological deficits, such as in attention, executive functions, and social-emotional cognition, are associated with impulsivity and criminal history. 109 male patients with substance use disorders at the Clinic for Forensic Psychiatry in Rostock were screened using inclusion and exclusion criteria, with 30 consenting to participate. The tests included the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) to assess cognitive functions in the areas of attention, psychomotor speed, social and emotional perception, and executive functions, with a particular focus on decision making, planning and problem solving. The Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) was used to measure impulsiveness. Participants displayed significantly higher impulsivity levels on the BIS-11 compared to the general population and showed marked deficits in attention, psychomotor speed, and executive functions. There was a minimal correlation between impulsivity and cognitive performance, suggesting that impulsivity does not directly predict cognitive impairments. Notably, extensive criminal histories correlated with poorer cognitive performance, particularly in tasks requiring planning and problem-solving. We found mixed support for the hypothesized associations between neuropsychological functions and criminal histories among patients with substance use disorders. While tasks related to planning and sustained attention showed clearer links, broader cognitive functions displayed inconsistent correlations. These findings emphasize the complexity of the relationship between cognitive deficits, impulsivity, and criminal history, highlighting the necessity for tailored assessments and rehabilitation strategies to enhance outcomes. Future research should focus on larger, longitudinal studies to validate these findings and refine therapeutic approaches.

Abnormal large-scale resting-state functional networks in anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis.

Patients with anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis often experience severe symptoms. Resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) has revealed widespread impairment of functional networks in patients. However, the changes in information flow remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the intrinsic functional connectivity (FC) both within and between resting-state networks (RSNs), as well as the alterations in effective connectivity (EC) between these networks. Resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) data were collected from 25 patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis and 30 healthy controls (HCs) matched for age, sex, and educational level. Changes in the intrinsic functional connectivity (FC) within and between RSNs were analyzed using independent component analysis (ICA). The functional interaction between RSNs was identified by granger causality analysis (GCA). Compared to HCs, patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis exhibited lower performance on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), both in terms of correct numbers and correct categories. Additionally, these patients demonstrated decreased scores on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Neuroimaging studies revealed abnormal intra-FC within the default mode network (DMN), increased intra-FC within the visual network (VN) and dorsal attention network (DAN), as well as increased inter-FC between VN and the frontoparietal network (FPN). Furthermore, aberrant effective connectivity (EC) was observed among the DMN, DAN, FPN, VN, and somatomotor network (SMN). Patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis displayed noticeable deficits in both memory and executive function. Notably, these patients exhibited widespread impairments in intra-FC, inter-FC, and EC. These results may help to explain the pathophysiological mechanism of anti-NMDAR encephalitis.

Neurocognitive Features of Mild Cognitive Impairment and Distress Symptoms in Older Adults Without Major Depression.

Two distinct symptom dimensions were identified in older adults who did not have major depressive disorder (MDD): a) a dimension associated with mild cognitive dysfunction, and b) a dimension related to distress symptoms of old age (DSOA). It is uncertain whether previous findings regarding the features of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) remain valid when patients with MDD are excluded. To examine the neurocognitive features of aMCI (n = 61) versus controls (n=59) and the objective cognitive characteristics of DSOA in participants without MDD. Neurocognition was evaluated utilizing the Cambridge Neurological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) and memory tests. This research demonstrated that CANTAB tests may differentiate between aMCI and controls. The One Touch Stockings of Cambridge, probability solved on first choice (OTS_PSFC), Rapid Visual Information Processing, A prime (RVP_ A´), and the Motor Screening Task, mean latency, were identified as the significant discriminatory CANTAB tests. 37.6% of the variance in the severity of aMCI was predicted by OTS_PSFC, RVP_ A´, word list recognition scores, and education years. Psychosocial stressors (adverse childhood experiences, negative life events), subjective feelings of cognitive impairment, and RVP, the probability of false alarm, account for 40.0% of the DSOA score. When MDD is ruled out, aMCI is linked to deficits in attention, executive functions, and memory. Psychosocial stressors did not have a statistically significant impact on aMCI or its severity. Enhanced false alarm response bias coupled with heightened psychological stress (including subjective perceptions of cognitive decline) may contribute to an increase in DSOA among older adults.

Relationship Between Executive Function Subdomains and Postural Balance in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Executive function (EF) deficits are a significant risk factor for falls among older adults (OAs). However, relationship between EF subdomains (shifting, updating, and inhibition), postural balance (PB), and fall risk in healthy OAs, remains poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between EF subdomains (shifting, updating, and inhibition) and PB, and to assess their impact on risk of falls in community-dwelling OAs. A cross-sectional study involving 50 OAs aged over 60years (average age of 72years)was conducted. Participants underwent assessments of EF subdomains and PB using validated tests. A correlation analysis was employed to examine the relationships between EF and PB. The study revealed significant correlations between subdomains and PB. Mental set shifting (r = -.539; p < .001) and inhibition (r = -.395; p = .050) exhibited inverse relationships with PB. Stepwise multiple linear regression showed that Trail Making Test Part B was associated with the PB (R2 = .42, p < .001). These findings highlight the importance of assessing EF subdomains, particularly shifting and inhibition, to identify risk of falls. Trail Making Test Part B largely explains the variability of the PB. Integrating PB assessments and EF training, such as the Mini-BESTest, into routine care can be vital for fall prevention strategies. Significance/Implications: This knowledge underscores the need for cognitive training interventions focusing on shifting and inhibition to enhance PB and potentially reduce falls. Additionally, incorporation of EF assessment tools as Trail Making Test Part B and the Mini-BESTest into routine clinical practice for community-dwelling OAs is recommended to address fall prevention strategies.

Does Anxiety Systematically Bias Estimates of Executive Functioning Deficits in Pediatric Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder?

Growing evidence suggests that childhood ADHD is associated with larger impairments in working memory relative to inhibition. However, most studies have not considered the role of co-occurring anxiety on these estimates - a potentially significant confound given prior evidence that anxiety may increase working memory difficulties but decrease inhibition difficulties for these children. The current study extends prior work to examine the extent to which co-occurring anxiety may be systematically affecting recent estimates of the magnitude of working memory/inhibitory control deficits in ADHD. The carefully-phenotyped sample included 197 children with ADHD and 142 children without ADHD between the ages of 8 and 13years (N = 339; Mage = 10.31, SD = 1.39; 144 female participants). Results demonstrated that ADHD diagnosis predicted small impairments in inhibitory control (d = 0.31) and large impairments in working memory (d = 0.99). However, child trait anxiety assessed dimensionally across multiple informants (child, parent, teacher) did not uniquely predict either executive function, nor did it moderate estimates of ADHD-related working memory/inhibition deficits. When evaluating anxiety categorically and controlling for ADHD, anxiety diagnosis predicted slightly better working memory (d = 0.19) but not inhibitory control for clinically evaluated children generally. Findings from the current study indicate that trait anxiety, measured dimensionally or categorically, does not differentially affect estimates of executive dysfunction in pediatric ADHD. Further, results suggest that trait anxiety is generally not associated with executive dysfunction above and beyond the impact of co-occurring ADHD. Future research is needed to further assess the role of anxiety in ADHD behavioral symptomatology, neurocognitive functioning, and mechanisms underlying these relations.

Reduced anterior callosal white matter in risk for psychosis associated with processing speed as a fundamental cognitive impairment

BackgroundPrevious research in psychotic disorders discovered associations between reduced integrity of white matter (WM) in the corpus callosum (CC) and impaired cognitive functions, suggesting processing speed as a central construct. However, it is still largely unexplored to what extent disruption in callosal WM is related to cognitive deficits during the risk stage prior to psychosis. MethodsTo address this gap, we measured the WM integrity in CC by fractional anisotropy (FA) and assessed cognition in 60 clinical-high risk for psychosis (CHR) patients during adolescence/young adulthood and 38 healthy control (HC) subjects. We employed tract based spatial statistics to examine group differences and associations between CC-FA and processing speed, executive function, and spatial working memory. ResultsWe revealed deficits in processing speed, executive function, and spatial working memory of CHR patients, and reductions in FA of the genu and the body of the CC (p < 0.05, corrected for multiple comparisons) compared to HC. A mediation analysis using the combined sample (CHR + HC) showed that processing speed mediates the associations between the impaired CC structure and executive function and spatial working memory, respectively. Exploratory analyses between CC-FA and the cognitive domains located associations of processing speed in the genu and the body of CC with distinct spatial distributions of executive function and spatial working memory. ConclusionWe suggest processing speed as a subordinate cognitive factor contributing to the associations between callosal WM, executive function and working memory. These results extend findings in psychotic disorders to the prior risk stage.

Brain Health After COVID-19, Pneumonia, Myocardial Infarction, or Critical Illness

Brain health is most likely compromised after hospitalization for COVID-19; however, long-term prospective investigations with matched control cohorts and face-to-face assessments are lacking. To assess whether long-term cognitive, psychiatric, or neurological complications among patients hospitalized for COVID-19 differ from those among patients hospitalized for other medical conditions of similar severity and from healthy controls. This prospective cohort study with matched controls was conducted at 2 academic hospitals in Copenhagen, Denmark. The case cohort comprised patients with COVID-19 hospitalized between March 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021. Control cohorts consisted of patients hospitalized for pneumonia, myocardial infarction, or non-COVID-19 intensive care-requiring illness between March 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021, and healthy age- and sex-matched individuals. The follow-up period was 18 months; participants were evaluated between November 1, 2021, and February 28, 2023. Hospitalization for COVID-19. The primary outcome was overall cognition, assessed by the Screen for Cognitive Impairment in Psychiatry (SCIP) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Secondary outcomes were executive function, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and neurological deficits. The study included 345 participants, including 120 patients with COVID-19 (mean [SD] age, 60.8 [14.4] years; 70 men [58.3%]), 125 hospitalized controls (mean [SD] age, 66.0 [12.0] years; 73 men [58.4%]), and 100 healthy controls (mean [SD] age, 62.9 [15.3] years; 46 men [46.0%]). Patients with COVID-19 had worse cognitive status than healthy controls (estimated mean SCIP score, 59.0 [95% CI, 56.9-61.2] vs 68.8 [95% CI, 66.2-71.5]; estimated mean MoCA score, 26.5 [95% CI, 26.0-27.0] vs 28.2 [95% CI, 27.8-28.6]), but not hospitalized controls (mean SCIP score, 61.6 [95% CI, 59.1-64.1]; mean MoCA score, 27.2 [95% CI, 26.8-27.7]). Patients with COVID-19 also performed worse than healthy controls during all other psychiatric and neurological assessments. However, except for executive dysfunction (Trail Making Test Part B; relative mean difference, 1.15 [95% CI, 1.01-1.31]), the brain health of patients with COVID-19 was not more impaired than among hospitalized control patients. These results remained consistent across various sensitivity analyses. This prospective cohort study suggests that post-COVID-19 brain health was impaired but, overall, no more than the brain health of patients from 3 non-COVID-19 cohorts of comparable disease severity. Long-term associations with brain health might not be specific to COVID-19 but associated with overall illness severity and hospitalization. This information is important for putting understandable concerns about brain health after COVID-19 into perspective.

Family Transmission of Executive Functions: Mix of Traditional and Citizen Science Research Approach

The aim of this study was to examine the family transmission of executive functions deficits (working memory and inhibitory control) from parents to children, using a combination of traditional and citizen science research approaches. The final sample consisted of 110 families with two children (440 participants; 110 pairs of children, 110 fathers and 110 mothers). Children were preadolescent (6 to 10 years old; 24 pairs) or adolescent (11 to 15 years old; 86 pairs) siblings. The research results indicated that the inhibitory control of the mother is related to the inhibitory control of the younger child, and that the inhibitory control of the father is related to the inhibitory control of the older child in the family, regardless of developmental period. In the father-child relationship, it was revealed that there is a strong connection between parental and child working memory. On the other hand, there are significant interaction of mothers' working memory and age of children in the second-born child. Potential mechanisms of transmission were discussed, bearing in mind the specifics of mother's and father's involvement in raising children, as well as the potential direction of this research question towards the sphere of behavioral genetics and parenting styles.