Face-Name Associative Memory Exam Research Articles

Performance on the Latin American version of the Face-Name Associative Memory Exam (LAS-FNAME) distinguishes individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment from age-matched controls in a sample from Argentina

Introduction The Latin American Spanish version of the Face-Name Associative Memory Exam (LAS-FNAME) has shown promise in identifying cognitive changes in those at risk for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, its applicability for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) detection in the Latin American population remains unexplored. This study aims to analyze the psychometric properties in terms of validity and reliability and diagnostic performance of the LAS-FNAME for the detection of memory disorders in patients with amnestic MCI (aMCI). Materials and methods The study included 31 participants with aMCI, diagnosed by a neurologist according to Petersen’s criteria, and 19 healthy controls. Inclusion criteria for the aMCI group were to be 60 years of age or older, report cognitive complaints, have a memory test score (Craft Story 21) below a -1.5 z-score and have preserved functioning in activities of daily living. Participants completed LAS-FNAME and a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment. Results LAS-FNAME showed the ability to discriminate against healthy controls from patients with aMCI (AUC= 75) in comparison with a gold-standard memory test (AUC = 69.1). LAS-FNAME also showed evidence of concurrent and divergent validity with a standard memory test (RAVLT) (r = 0.58, p < .001) and with an attention task (Digit Span) (r = −0.37, p = .06). Finally, the reliability index was very high (α = 0.88). Discussion LAS-FNAME effectively distinguished aMCI patients from healthy controls, suggesting its potential for detecting early cognitive changes in Alzheimer’s prodromal stages among Spanish speakers.

92 Biber Figure Learning Test Outperforms Other Cognitive Measures in Predicting Subjective Cognitive Decline

Objective:Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD), the perception of deteriorating cognition in the absence of apparent impairment on objective testing, has gained momentum in recent literature as a risk marker for AD. Traditional neuropsychological assessments, while typically inclusive of a word list learning task, often do not include a comparable figure learning task. Growing evidence suggests that nonverbal assessments may be particularly sensitive to the earliest cognitive changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The Biber Figure Learning Test (BFLT), a visuospatial analogue to verbal list learning tasks, has been shown to associate with brain-based biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease (AD; hippocampal volume, amyloid load). This study investigates the utility of the BFLT in capturing SCD above and beyond other cognitive measures sensitive to AD progression.Participants and Methods:50 community-dwelling, cognitively normal individuals (78% White, 16% Black, 6% Other; 92% Non-Hispanic; 64% Female; Education M=17.1, SD=2.1; Age M=72.7, SD=6.2) participated in a study of SCD. All participants performed &gt;-1.5 SD on clinical neuropsychological testing including a word list learning task. SCD was assessed using a 20-item scale querying individuals’ perception of difficulty across a range of memory and non-memory abilities in relation to others of the same age. Participants completed the BFLT, Loewenstein-Acevedo Scales of Semantic Interference and Learning (LASSI-L), Short-Term Memory Binding (STMB), and Face-Name Associative Memory Exam (FNAME), previously established as being sensitive to pre-clinical AD, were examined as predictors of SCD. A multiple regression adjusted for demographics (age, gender, education) was used to investigate the extent to which BFLT Trial 1 (T1) predicted SCD above and beyond these other cognitive measures sensitive to AD progression. Trial 1 of the BFLT was used based on a separate abstract examining which BFLT score was most highly associated with SCD (Kann et al., pending acceptance).Results:Adjusting for demographics, the present model accounts for 42% of the variance in SCD, while Biber T1 alone accounts for 20% and is the only significant individual predictor of SCD (β=-0.55, p=0.004). In contrast, other variables in the model independently accounted for less than 1% to 4% each (age β=-0.23, p=0.15; gender β=-0.15, p=0.34; education β=0.06, p=0.66; LASSI-L β=-0.11, p=0.55; STMB β=-0.03, p=0.85; FNAME β=-0.10, p=0.64).Conclusions:The present study demonstrates the usefulness of the first learning trial of the BFLT as an independent predictor of SCD above and beyond other verbal and nonverbal measures sensitive to AD pathology. It also highlights the value of including even one trial of figure learning (&lt; 5 minutes) in both clinical and research assessments seeking to capture cognitive changes which may be the earliest indicators of a neurodegenerative process. Ongoing longitudinal research is examining the predictive utility of the BFLT for future cognitive decline and transition to Mild Cognitive Impairment. Further research should explore the association between Biber T1, specifically, and neuropathological biomarkers of AD to further establish its utility as a portent of AD.

Extended FNAME performance is preserved in subjective cognitive decline but highly affected in amnestic mild cognitive impairment.

The cognitive characterization of Alzheimer's disease risk states, such as amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and subjective cognitive decline (SCD), is fundamental for timely diagnosis and interventions. The Face Name Associative Memory Exam (FNAME) is sensitive to early Alzheimer's disease brain changes, and an extended version captures a fuller range of associative memory abilities. We aimed to assess group effects in the extended FNAME in older adults with SCD, aMCI, and older adult controls (CON). Two concurrently created versions of the extended FNAME were used to test three groups of older adults (CON = 35, SCD = 37, aMCI = 31) at two sites (Mexico = 59, Netherlands = 44). Extended FNAME memory abilities were analyzed in five analyses of variance. Group and site were considered as independent variables. For the recall ability, subtest levels were entered as a within-subject variable. The remaining abilities (Face Recognition, Name Recognition, Spontaneous Name Recall, and Face-Name Matching) were analyzed in independent models. In all models, the main effect for group was significant with large effect sizes, driven by a worse performance of aMCI participants. No significant differences were found between SCD and CON. The main effect for site was only significant in Face Recognition. The worse performance of aMCI in the extended FNAME implies an impairment in associative memory abilities beyond recall. The similar performance of CON and SCD might be explained by the recruitment of SCD participants that did not spontaneously seek help for memory decline. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Face Name Associative Memory Exam and biomarker status in the ARMADA study: Advancing reliable measurement in Alzheimer's disease and cognitive aging.

The Face Name Associative Memory Exam (FNAME) was introduced into the NIH Toolbox as part of the ARMADA study and establishes normative data for diverse participants, ages 64 to 85+, and proposes cutoff scores between biomarker positive versus negative (+/-) groups. The FNAME was administered to 257 participants across the clinical spectrum with 122 having amyloid biomarkers. Linear regression explored the association between demographics and FNAME and between amyloid (+/-) groups. Receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) identified performance thresholds that best discriminated between biomarker (+/-) individuals. Lower FNAME scores occurred in males, older ages, Black/African Americans, Hispanics, and biomarker-positive participants. ROC analyses demonstrated acceptable accuracy (0.73 to 0.77) but only when combined with clinical status. The diagnostic discrimination of amyloid positivity was acceptable but not excellent, suggesting the FNAME may be a better screening indicator of clinical status rather than amyloid deposition in cognitively normal individuals. Normative data are provided.

The California Face‐Name Associative Memory Exam (C‐FNAME)

AbstractBackgroundThe Face‐Name Associative Memory Exam (FNAME) is a sensitive measure of associative memory and age‐related cognitive decline, with FNAME scores declining in parallel with increasing amyloid and tau burden in preclinical Alzheimer’s disease (Rentz et al., 2011). Here we describe the California FNAME (C‐FNAME), a fully automated, brief (8.8 min) computerized test designed for at‐home administration under telemedical supervision.MethodPARTICIPANTS. The C‐FNAME was remotely administered to 435 healthy adults (42.8% female, M = 64.8, ±14.7) in their homes via tablet computer. Participants underwent two C‐FNAME test sessions on successive days.TECHNOLOGY. C‐FNAME administration was automated, with instructions delivered using text‐to‐speech and responses scored with automatic speech recognition. Examiners monitored participant performance via video and audio feeds using a web‐browser interface that displayed recall scores in real time.TASK. Participants saw 6 faces with associated first names, last names, and occupations (encoding). Faces were presented individually, and participants repeated the names and occupations before the next face appeared. After each encoding trial, participants were asked to recall the associations when presented with the face alone (Figure 1a and 1b). After 30 minutes, participants saw the faces again one at a time and repeated the recall portion of the task (delayed recall).ResultThe C‐FNAME showed excellent test‐retest reliability (r = 0.83 for total recall scores, r = 0.82 for delayed recall scores). Multiple regression analysis revealed highly significant effects of age (Figure 2), education, gender, and vocabulary on total recall (p &lt; 0.001 for all comparisons), with these variables aggregately accounting for 28.2% of variance. Performance significantly improved by 1.23 standard deviations on repeated testing (p&lt; 0.001). As in previous FNAME studies (Papp et al., 2014), participants recalled occupations more accurately than names (Figure 3).ConclusionAt‐home computerized administration of the C‐FNAME demonstrated excellent psychometric properties and produced results similar to those obtained with FNAME assessments administered in the laboratory. The design of the C‐FNAME allows for rapid, remote administration and scoring, which encourages the participation of populations that may be sometimes excluded from research protocols in laboratory settings.

Short‐term cognitive practice effects and their relation to amyloid and tau in preclinical Alzheimer’s disease

AbstractBackgroundIdentification of cognitive paradigms that relate to biomarker evidence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), such as tau, can greatly enhance patient selection for clinical trials. Computerized cognitive assessments that can be frequently administered may yield multiple unique variables that can improve detection of subtle cognitive decline in preclinical AD. Indeed, practice effects (i.e., improved performance on repeated testing) are diminished in clinically unimpaired older adults with abnormal amyloid, but their relations with tau are unknown. Here, we determine whether baseline performance and practice effects at 3 months re‐testing on the Computerized Cognitive Composite (C3) relate to medial temporal lobe (MTL) tau.MethodWe examined 390 clinically unimpaired older adults from the A4 study with tau PET (flortaucipir) imaging who completed two C3 assessments pre‐study randomization. C3 assessments were completed approximately 90 days apart and included pattern separation [Behavioral Pattern Separation Test – Object (BPS‐O)], associative memory [Face Name Associative Memory Exam (FNAME)], and visual memory [One‐Card Learning (OCL)]. C3 baseline performance and practice effects (change in performance from Assessment 1 to 2) were examined in relation to continuous amyloid and MTL tau burden.ResultGreater amyloid burden was significantly associated with lower baseline C3 scores (B(SE) = ‐0.86 (0.24), p&lt;0.001) but not C3 practice effects (B(SE) = ‐0.09 (0.23), p = 0.702). In contrast, greater tau in the MTL was significantly associated with reduced C3 practice effects (B(SE) = ‐0.49 (0.21), p = 0.023) and marginally associated with baseline C3 performance (B(SE) = ‐0.37 (0.22), p = 0.099) while controlling for continuous amyloid and demographic variables. Further examination of C3 subtests revealed that pattern separation (BPS‐O; B(SE) = ‐0.70 (0.34), p = 0.039) and associative memory (FNAME; B(SE) = ‐1.13 (0.42), p = 0.007) were driving MTL tau associations with C3 practice effects.ConclusionDiminished practice effects on memory‐based measures are associated with elevated MTL tau burden in preclinical AD. Furthermore, diminished practice effects offer a unique signal above and beyond cross‐sectional performance. For clinical trials, examination of practice effects on computerized assessments over a short timescale may be a cost‐effective method to facilitate identification of those with biomarker evidence of AD.

Face name matching and memory complaints in Parkinson's disease.

Memory impairment is a hallmark cognitive deficit in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, it remains unclear which processes underlie this deficit in PD. Also, little is known on these patients' subjective experiences of memory difficulties and their relationship with objective measures. We aim to portray memory deficits in PD by combining objective and subjective memory measures. Fifteen PD patients and 15 controls were assessed with an extended version of the Face-Name Associative Memory Exam (FNAME) and the Memory Failures of Everyday Questionnaire (MFE-28). We also explored the relationship among clinical and cognitive variables. Participants with PD presented with more memory complaints. On the FNAME, these patients exhibited lower performance in free recall, as well as in name recognition and matching. Importantly, when controlling for initial learning, group effects disappeared, except for matching. Associative memory therefore was significantly compromised in PD and correlated with subjective memory complaints (SMC). Our findings suggest that associative memory may constitute a sensitive measure to detect subtle memory deficits in PD. Moreover, the current study further clarifies the source of memory impairment in PD. Thus, our study highlights the clinical value of including associative memory tests such as the FNAME in PD neuropsychological assessment.

Worse associative memory recall in healthy older adults compared to young ones, a face-name study in Spain and Mexico

ABSTRACT Introduction The Face Name Associative Memory Exam (FNAME) is sensitive to associative memory changes early in the Alzheimer’s disease spectrum, but little is known about how healthy aging affects FNAME performance. We aimed to assess aging effects on an extended version of the test, which captures further associative memory abilities beyond the recall and recognition domains measured in the original version. Method We adapted FNAME versions in Spain and Mexico, adding new subtests (Spontaneous Name Recall, Face-Name Matching). We compared the performance of 21 young adults (YA) and 27 older adults (OA) in Spain, and 34 YA and 36 OA in Mexico. Recall was analyzed using a mixed-model ANOVA including subtest scores as dependent variables, age group as a fixed-factor independent variable, and recall subtest as a three-level repeated-measure independent variable. The rest of the associative memory domains were analyzed through t-tests comparing the performance of YA and OA. Results In Spain, we found significant effects for age group and recall subtest, with large effect sizes. The recognition subtests (Face Recognition, Name Recognition) displayed ceiling effects in both groups. The new subtests displayed medium-to-large effect sizes when comparing age groups. In Mexico, these results were replicated, additionally controlling for education. In both studies, recall performance improved after repeated exposures and it was sustained after 30 minutes in YA and OA. Conclusions We document, in two different countries, a clear aging pattern on the extended FNAME: regardless of education, OA remember fewer stimuli than YA through recall subtests. The new subtests provide evidence on associative memory changes in aging beyond recall.

Validation and Normative Data of the Spanish Version of the Face Name Associative Memory Exam (S-FNAME).

The relevance of the episodic memory in the prediction of brain aging is well known. The Face Name Associative Memory Exam (FNAME) is a valued associative memory measure related to Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers, such as amyloid-β deposition preclinical AD individuals. Previous validation of the Spanish version of the FNAME test (S-FNAME) provided normative data and psychometric characteristics. The study was limited to subjects attending a memory clinic and included a reduced sample with gender inequality distribution. The purpose of this study was to assess S-FNAME psychometric properties and provide normative data in a larger independent sample of cognitively healthy individuals. S-FNAME was administered to 511 cognitively healthy volunteers (242 women, aged 41-65 years) participating in the Barcelona Brain Health Initiative cohort study. Factor analysis supported construct validity revealing two underlying components: face-name and face-occupation and explaining 95.34% of the total variance, with satisfactory goodness of fit. Correlations between S-FNAME and Rey Auditory-Verbal Learning Test were statistically significant and confirmed its convergent validity. We also found weak correlations with non-memory tests supporting divergent validity. Women showed better scores, and S-FNAME was positively correlated with education and negatively with age. Finally, we generated normative data. The S-FNAME test exhibits good psychometric properties, consistent with previous findings, resulting in a valid and reliable tool to assess episodic memory in cognitively healthy middle-aged adults. It is a promising test for the early detection of subtle memory dysfunction associated with abnormal brain aging.

The FNAME yields equivalent results differentiating amnestic mild cognitive impairment from subjective cognitive decline and healthy controls in Mexico and the Netherlands

AbstractBackgroundThe Face‐Name Associative Memory Exam (FNAME) has been shown to detect memory deficits early in the spectrum of Alzheimer’s disease. In this study, we used a newly developed and further extended version of the FNAME, to evaluate the discriminating ability of this test in amnestic cognitive decline (aMCI), amnestic subjective cognitive decline (aSMD), and healthy controls (HC) in two different cultures, namely Mexico and the Netherlands.MethodParticipants were recruited in two sites, in Mexico (n= 69) and the Netherlands (n= 55). The mean age of the subjects was 69.3 ±6 years, and the mean years of education 15.5 ±5 years. In this study we used a newly extended version of the FNAME that was developed in both countries concurrently. A total of 42 aMCI, 43 aSCD, and 32 HC were assessed. We used a mixed model ANOVA, with the factors FNAME (7 subtests), GROUPS (aMCI, aSCD, HC), and the SITES (Mexico, the Netherlands) and post hoc t‐tests.ResultCrucially, a high interaction of FNAME x GROUPS was revealed. Subsequent t–tests showed that the FNAME was able to detect differences between aMCI and aSCD/HC. No significant differences were observed between aSCD and HC. The three‐way interaction’s effect was non‐significant (F= 1.7, p= 0.07). As expected, we found a significant main effect of FNAME (F= 228.4, p&lt; 0.001) demonstrating differences of demands of the subtests (e.g., recall, recognition), as well as a main effect of GROUPS (F= 2.1, p= 0.02). A two‐way interaction of FNAME x SITES was similarly revealed (F= 2.95, p&lt; 0.001), reflecting a difference regarding the performance between sites.ConclusionThis newly adapted and extended version of the FNAME test is able to differentiate aMCI subjects from aSCD and EC both in Mexico and in the Netherlands. Further studies should focus on better understanding the differences in performance in these countries.

Performance and intrusion errors on challenging cognitive assessments associate with subjective cognitive decline

AbstractBackgroundSubjective cognitive decline (SCD) in ostensibly cognitively normal older adults has been proposed to reflect preclinical Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Yet traditional neuropsychological tests have inconsistently linked SCD and cognitive performance, possibly reflecting the lack of sensitivity and specificity in such tests to capture subtle cognitive changes. Indeed, novel cognitive tests as well as intrusion errors appear to be more closely associated with preclinical AD biomarkers. However, there is limited investigation into the association of SCD with these cognitive outcomes. This study examines SCD in relation to the main outcomes and intrusion errors on two novel challenging cognitive tasks, and a traditional neuropsychological test.Method94 healthy older adults with a mean age of 73 years (SD=7.36), and education of 17 years (SD=2.34) were recruited for this study. Participants completed three SCD questionnaires regarding common cognitive difficulties in memory, language, attention and executive functioning. A single factor score was derived as main outcome for SCD. Cognitive assessment included the Loewenstein‐Acevedo Scale for Semantic Interference and Learning (LASSI‐L), the Face‐Name Associative Memory Exam (FNAME) task, and the Selective Reminding Test (SRT). Main outcomes for each measure included: SRT (total and delayed recall and intrusion errors); LASSI‐L (recovery from semantic interference, percentage of intrusions errors, total semantically related intrusions (SRI) and competing item intrusions (CII)); FNAME (total names recalled, SRI and CII). Demographically adjusted linear regressions were conducted to examine the unique contribution of performance and intrusion errors on each measure to SCD.ResultBoth FNAME names recall (β=‐.24, p=.027) and SRI (β=.25, p=.015) were independently associated with SCD, while overall intrusions and CII were not (p&gt;.05). The LASSI‐L overall intrusions (β=‐ .30, p=.009) and CII (β=‐ .29, p=.014) were also associated with SCD, while SRI and recovery from semantic interference were not. (p&gt;.05). No SRT outcomes were associated with SCD (p&gt;.05)ConclusionSCD appears to capture subtle changes on sensitive cognitive measures proposed to be indicative of preclinical AD. Results support the use of both main outcomes and intrusion errors on these cognitive tests, as they may each reveal sensitive information regarding various mechanisms that can breakdown in early AD.

Validation and normative data of the Spanish version of the Face‐Name Associative Memory Exam (S‐FNAME): Findings from the Barcelona Brain Health Initiative

AbstractBackgroundThree previous studies administrated the Spanish version of the Face Name Associative Memory Exam task (S‐FNAME) to Spanish participants. Sanabria and collaborators, (2018) in their investigation on subjective cognitive decline individuals, reported associations between task performance and amyloid‐β (Aβ) burden, in accordance with the original publication (Renz et al., 2011). Alegret and colleagues (2015) provided normative data and psychometric characteristics, albeit the study was limited to subjects attending a memory clinic and included a reduced number of participants (N=110) with gender inequality distribution. The purpose of this study was to provide normative data and psychometric characteristics of the S‐FNAME in a larger independent sample of cognitively healthy individuals.MethodS‐FNAME was administered, according to standardized procedure published by Alegret et al. (2015), to 513 cognitively volunteers (243 women, mean age= 52,67±7,04, age range 41‐65, years of education= 17,28±3,71) participating in a longitudinal prospective cohort study (Barcelona Brain Health Initiative; Cattaneo et al., 2018). Subjects with diagnosis of neurological or psychiatric disease, substance abuse or treatment with psychopharmacological drugs, MMSE &lt; 27, and cognitive impairments were excluded.ResultFactor analysis supported construct validity revealing two underlying components: face‐name and face‐occupation and explaining 95,36% of the total variance. Correlations between S‐FNAME and Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) were significant (ρ=.392, p=.00) and confirm its concurrent criterion validity. We also found weak and no significant correlations with other non‐memory cognitive tests supporting divergent criterion validity. Women showed better scores and S‐FNAME scales were positively correlated with years of education and negatively with age. Finally, we generated normative data for Spanish population aged 40–65 years.ConclusionS‐FNAME exhibits good psychometric properties, consistent with previous findings regarding factorial structure and correlation with other measures and socio‐demographics variables (Alegret et al., 2015; Amariglio et al., 2012), although we found association with education in contrast to previous publications. S‐FNAME could serve as useful tool to assess memory impairments in Spanish population both for research purposes and clinical practice, to examine healthy older adult population and capture subtle cognitive decline or memory dysfunction associated to abnormal brain aging.

The Latin American Spanish version of the Face-Name Associative Memory Exam is sensitive to cognitive and pathological changes in preclinical autosomal dominant Alzheimer\u2019s disease

BackgroundTo determine whether performance on the Latin American Spanish version of the Face-Name Associative Memory Exam (LAS-FNAME) can differentiate between cognitively intact carriers of an autosomal dominant Alzheimer’s disease mutation (E280A) in Presenilin-1, who are genetically determined to develop early-onset dementia, from matched non-carriers. We also sought to examine whether LAS-FNAME performance is associated with amyloid-β and regional tau burden in mutation carriers.MethodsA total of 35 cognitively intact mutation carriers (age range 26–41), 19 symptomatic carriers, and 48 matched non-carriers (age range 27–44) completed a neuropsychological assessment including the LAS-FNAME. A subset of participants (31 carriers [12 symptomatic] and 35 non-carriers) traveled from Colombia to Boston to undergo positron emission tomography (PET) using Pittsburgh compound B to measure mean cortical amyloid-β and flortaucipir for regional tau. ANOVA analyses and Spearman correlations were used to examine group differences and relationships among LAS-FNAME performance and amyloid-β and tau accumulation.ResultsCompared to non-carriers, cognitively intact mutation carriers had lower scores on the LAS-FNAME Total Scores (p = .040). Across all carriers (including symptomatic carriers), higher levels of amyloid-β (r = − .436, p = .018) and regional tau in the entorhinal (r = − .394, p = .031) and inferior temporal cortex (r = − .563, p = .001) were associated with lower LAS-FNAME Total Scores.ConclusionsPerformance on the LAS-FNAME differentiated between cognitively intact mutation carriers from non-carriers and was associated with greater amyloid and tau burden when examining all carriers. Findings suggest that the LAS-FNAME is sensitive to early clinical and pathological changes and can potentially help track disease progression in Spanish-speaking individuals.

A-05 The Latin American Spanish Version of the Face-Name Associative Memory Exam is Sensitive to Cognitive and Pathological Changes in Preclinical Autosomal Dominant Alzheimer’s Disease

Abstract Objective To determine whether performance on the Latin American Spanish version of the Face-Name Associative Memory Exam (LAS-FNAME) can differentiate between cognitively intact carriers of an autosomal dominant Alzheimer’s disease mutation (E280A) in Presenilin-1, who are destined to develop early-onset dementia, from matched non-carriers. We also sought to examine whether LAS-FNAME performance is associated with amyloid-β and regional tau burden in mutation carriers. Methods 35 cognitively intact mutation carriers (age range 26–41), 48 matched non-carriers (aged 27 to 44), and 19 symptomatic carriers (13 with subjective cognitive concerns, 6 with mild cognitive impairment [MCI]) completed the LAS-FNAME. A subset of participants (31 carriers [12 symptomatic] and 35 non-carriers) traveled from Colombia to Boston to undergo positron emission tomography (PET) using Pittsburgh compound B to measure mean cortical amyloid-β and Flortaucipir for regional tau tangles. ANOVA analyses and Spearman correlations were used to examine group differences and relationships among LAS-FNAME performance, Aβ and tau accumulation. Results Compared to non-carriers, cognitively intact carriers had lower scores on the LAS-FNAME total scores (p = .040). Across all carriers (including symptomatic carriers), higher levels of amyloid-β (r = −.436, p = .018) and regional tau in the entorhinal (r = −.394, p = .031) and inferior temporal cortex (r = −.563, p = .001) were associated with lower LAS-FNAME total scores (see Figure). Conclusions Performance on the LAS-FNAME differentiated between cognitively intact mutation carriers from non-carriers, and was associated with greater amyloid and tau burden when examining all carriers. Findings suggest that the LAS-FNAME is sensitive to early clinical and pathological changes and can potentially help track disease progression in Spanish-speaking individuals.

A computerized version of the Short Form of the Face-Name Associative Memory Exam (FACEmemory\xae) for the early detection of Alzheimer\u2019s disease

BackgroundComputerized neuropsychological tests for early detection of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) have attracted increasing interest. Memory for faces and proper names is a complex task because its association is arbitrary. It implicates associative occipito-temporal cerebral regions, which are disrupted in AD. The short form of the Face-Name Associative Memory Exam (FNAME-12), developed to detect preclinical and prodromal AD, asks individuals to learn the names and occupations associated with 12 faces. The current work advances this field by using voice recognition and touchscreen response format. The purpose of this study is to create the first self-administered episodic memory test, FACEmemory®, by adapting the FNAME-12 for tablet use with voice recognition, touchscreen answers, and automatic scoring. The test was minimally supervised by a psychologist to avoid technological problems during execution and scored manually to assess the reliability of the automatic scoring. The aims of the present study were (1) to determine whether FACEmemory® is a sensitive tool for the detection of cognitive impairment, (2) to examine whether performances on FACEmemory® are correlated with those on the S-FNAME (paper-and-pencil version with 16 images), and (3) to determine whether performances on FACEmemory® are related to AD biomarkers in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) (Aβ42, p-tau, and Aβ42/p-tau ratio).MethodsFACEmemory® was completed by 154 cognitively healthy (CH) individuals and 122 subjects with mild cognitive impairment, of whom 61 were non-amnestic (naMCI) and 61 amnestic (aMCI). A subsample of 65 individuals completed the S-FNAME, and 65 subjects received lumbar punctures.ResultsPerformance on FACEmemory® was progressively worse from CH to the naMCI and aMCI groups. A cutoff of 31.5 in total FACEmemory® obtained 80.5% and 80.3% sensitivity and specificity values, respectively, for discriminating between CH and aMCI. Automatically corrected FACEmemory® scores were highly correlated with the manually corrected ones. FACEmemory® scores and AD CSF biomarker levels were significantly correlated as well, mainly in the aMCI group.ConclusionsFACEmemory® may be a promising memory prescreening tool for detecting subtle memory deficits related to AD. Our findings suggest FACEmemory® performance provides a useful gradation of impairment from normal aging to aMCI, and it is related to CSF AD biomarkers.

The Computerized Cognitive Composite (C3) in A4, an Alzheimer\u2019s Disease Secondary Prevention Trial

BackgroundComputerized cognitive assessments may improve Alzheimer’s disease (AD) secondary prevention trial efficiency and accuracy. However, they require validation against standard outcomes and relevant biomarkers.ObjectiveTo assess the feasibility and validity of the tablet-based Computerized Cognitive Composite (C3).DesignCross-sectional analysis of cognitive screening data from the A4 study (Anti-Amyloid in Asymptomatic AD).SettingMulti-center international study.ParticipantsClinically normal (CN) older adults (65–85; n=4486)MeasurementsParticipants underwent florbetapir-Positron Emission Tomography for Aβ+/− classification. They completed the C3 and standard paper and pencil measures included in the Preclinical Alzheimer’s Cognitive Composite (PACC). The C3 combines memory measures sensitive to change over time (Cogstate Brief Battery-One Card Learning) and measures shown to be declining early in AD including pattern separation (Behavioral Pattern Separation Test- Object-Lure Discrimination Index) and associative memory (Face Name Associative Memory Exam- Face-Name Matching). C3 acceptability and completion rates were assessed using qualitative and quantitative methods. C3 performance was explored in relation to Aβ+/− groups (n=1323/3163) and PACC.ResultsC3 was feasible for CN older adults to complete. Rates of incomplete or invalid administrations were extremely low, even in the bottom quartile of cognitive performers (PACC). C3 was moderately correlated with PACC (r=0.39). Aβ+ performed worse on C3 compared with Aβ− [unadjusted Cohen’s d=−0.22 (95%CI: −0.31,−0.13) p<0.001] and at a magnitude comparable to the PACC [d=−0.32 (95%CI: −0.41,−0.23) p<0.001]. Better C3 performance was observed in younger, more educated, and female participants.ConclusionsThese findings provide support for both the feasibility and validity of C3 and computerized cognitive outcomes more generally in AD secondary prevention trials.

Impact of BDNF and sex on maintaining intact memory function in early midlife

Sex steroid hormones and neurotrophic factors, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), play a significant neuroprotective role in memory circuitry aging. Here, we present findings characterizing the neuroprotective effects of BDNF on memory performance, as a function of sex and reproductive status in women. Participants (N = 191; mean age = 50.03 ± 2.10) underwent clinical and cognitive testing, fMRI scanning, and hormonal assessments of menopausal staging. Memory performance was assessed with the 6-Trial Selective Reminding Test and the Face-Name Associative Memory Exam. Participants also performed a working memory (WM) N-back task during fMRI scanning. Results revealed significant interactions between menopausal status and BDNF levels. Only in postmenopausal women, lower plasma BDNF levels were associated with significantly worse memory performance and altered function in the WM circuitry. BDNF had no significant impact on memory performance or WM function in pre/perimenopausal women or men. These results suggest that in postmenopausal women, BDNF is associated with memory performance and memory circuitry function, thus providing evidence of potential sex-dependent factors of risk and resilience for early intervention.

Validation of the Latin American Spanish version of the face-name associative memory exam in a Colombian Sample

Objective The Face-Name Associative Memory Exam (FNAME) has been used to detect subtle cognitive changes in clinically normal older adults at increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease. FNAME assesses learning and delayed recall for face-name pairs. The aim of this study is to introduce a Latin American Spanish version of the FNAME (LAS-FNAME), examine its psychometric properties, and provide preliminary normative data in a sample of clinically normal, Spanish-speaking individuals from Antioquia, Colombia. Method 59 clinically-normal individuals (71% females) were recruited by the Grupo de Neurociencias in Antioquia (Colombia). Age ranged from 27 to 82 years (M = 50.31, SD = 15.32) and years of education ranged from 2 to 17 years (M = 9.02, SD = 4.11). All participants completed the LAS-FNAME and a brief neuropsychological evaluation. We examined associations between age, education, and sex and performance on the LAS-FNAME. Internal consistency, convergent and discriminant validity were also assessed. Test-restest reliability was computed for a subset of participants (n = 32). Results LAS-FNAME exhibited moderate convergent validity with other memory measures (Free and Cued Selective Reminding Scale, r s=.465, p<.01; Wechsler Memory Scale III - Logical Memory Delayed Recall, r s=.479, p<.01). The subscales of the LAS-FNAME exhibited adequate internal consistency (α=.825). Test-retest reliability analyses demonstrated consistency of scores over time. Normative data was stratified by age (<50, 50–65, >65) and low and high educational attainment (≤8 and >8 years of education, respectively). Conclusions The LAS-FNAME is a valid and reliable measure to assess memory in clinically normal, Spanish-speaking individuals from Colombia for clinical and research purposes.

The Face-Name Associative Memory Test as a Tool for Early Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease.

One current challenge for neuropsychologists is to design assessment methods capable of detecting cognitive deficits in the early or preclinical phases of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The objective of this paper is to review the studies that have explored the use of the Face-Name Associative Memory Exam (FNAME) as a test for early diagnosis of AD. Studies looking at correlations between performance on the FNAME test and biomarkers in healthy people and studies comparing healthy controls and people with mild cognitive impairment are reviewed. These studies are based on the evidence that AD’s pathological process begins years before the most visible clinical manifestations. We conclude that the FNAME test may be a valuable tool for early diagnosis but that some important questions remain to be resolved in future research.

Development of the Greek version of the Face Name Associative Memory Exam (GR-FNAME12) in cognitively normal elderly individuals

Objective: The Face–Name Associative Memory Examination (FNAME) is a cross-modal associative memory test with a high sensitivity for detecting Alzheimer’s disease-related subtle memory problems at an early preclinical stage. The present study examined the psychometric characteristics of a Greek version of the short form of FNAME (GR-FNAME12) to evaluate the contribution of demographic characteristics, report the range of performance within our sample, and estimate regression-based norms in cognitively normal elderly individuals. Method: In all, 216 cognitively normal elderly individuals were recruited and were administered a version of the short form of the FNAME (GR-FNAME12) that was culture and language specific to Greek-speaking individuals and developed for this study. Results: The construct validity of GR-FNAME12 was determined using principal component analysis thereby revealing two factors: face–name and face–occupation. These match the original version of the test. A significant positive correlation between GR-FNAME12 and two traditional memory measures – the RAVLT and the ROCFT – supported convergent validity. Test–retest reliability was computed for 32 participants. Multiple regression analyses showed that only age and not education or gender significantly predicted performance on the GR-FNAME12. We also estimated regression-based norms for the GR-FNAME12 scales. Conclusion: It was found that the Greek version of the FNAME12 had adequate psychometric properties, and could be administered to Greek-speaking individuals for clinical and research purposes.