Memory Cognitive Functions Research Articles

Short-term E-cigarette toxicity effects on brain cognitive memory functions and inflammatory responses in mice.

Exposure to cigarette smoke (CS) is associated with an increased risk of several neurological diseases such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and dementia. At present, commercialization of E-cigarettes (ECs) is increasing, and they are advertised as a less harmful nicotine-delivery system. There are, however, limited studies regarding the neurotoxicity effects of ECs on the brain, which remains a subject of debate. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the in vivo effects of short-term EC vapor exposure on the brain and compare them with the effects of cigarette smoke (CS). BALB/c mice were exposed to air, CS, and EC for 14days. We then assessed the inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, and cognitive functions of the mice by using maze tests. Cognitive spatial tests showed that the mice exposed to CS and ECs had delayed time in finding food rewards. EC exposure demonstrated no improvement in spatial memory learning to find the food reward on the next day. This implies that CS and EC exposure possibly causes damage to the olfactory system. Notably, EC exposure potentially causes abnormalities in mice memory functions. Histological staining of the cerebral cortex of mice brain in the EC-exposed group demonstrated inflammatory responses such as necrosis and cytoplasm vacuolization. Immunohistochemical staining revealed high expression of proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α in both the EC- and CS-exposed groups. Hence, we conclude that ECs share similar toxicity profiles as CS, which potentially negatively impact brain function.

Software for analyzing the behavioural test “Morris Water Maze”

The Morris Water Maze Behavioural Test is a universal method for testing cognitive functions in experimental rodents, and it is especially effective in detecting deviations in memory functions and learning, which makes it indispensable in the study of neurodegenerative diseases, effect of therapeutic drugs, rodent stroke and aging models etc. However, despite the wide range of possible applications, data analysis makes the use of this test difficult. Currently, automated tracking and analysis programs of rodent moving are becoming to be popular. Thus, our goal was to develop and create an available quality product, which will allow the scientist to carry out research as efficiently as possible doing various options of the “Morris water maze” using latest modern parameters. In this article, we analyze different types of the Morris water maze methodology and the current scientific parameters of this test to understand the necessary and optimal capabilities of the future program, then to overcome the limitations of the systems currently available we have combined detection and tracking techniques into one standalone tool. The result of the work is a software product that allows to quickly and accurately detect the trajectory of animal moving in the water, and also provides parameters for evaluating the cognitive functions of memory and learning.

Reelin reverts biochemical, physiological and cognitive alterations in mouse models of Tauopathy

Reelin is an extracellular protein crucial for adult brain plasticity. Moreover, Reelin is protective against amyloid-β (Aβ) pathology in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), reducing plaque deposition, synaptic loss and cognitive decline. Given that Tau protein plays a key role in AD pathogenesis, and that the Reelin pathway modulates Tau phosphorylation, here we explored the involvement of Reelin in AD-related Tau pathology. We found that Reelin overexpression modulates the levels of Tau phosphorylation in AD-related epitopes in VLW mice expressing human mutant Tau. in vitro, Reelin reduced the Aβ-induced missorting of axonal Tau and neurofilament proteins to dendrites. Reelin also reverted in vivo the toxic somatodendritic localization of phosphorylated Tau. Finally, overexpression of Reelin in VLW mice improved long-term potentiation and long-term memory cognitive performance thus masking the cognitive and physiological deficits in VLW mice. These data suggest that the Reelin pathway, which is also protective against Aβ pathology, modulates fundamental traits of Tau pathology, strengthening the potential of Reelin as a therapeutic target in AD.

Abstract 105: Obesity Induces Vascular Remodeling and Deteriorates Cognitive Function in Mice: Role of Pericytes

30 million Americans of the United States population have diabetes. Additional 90 million people in the pre-diabetic stage. Insulin resistance and obesity are the hallmarks of prediabetes. Understanding the effect of obesity on cerebrovasculature is crucial to identify novel therapies to prevent cerebrovascular complications of diabetes including vascular cognitive impairment and dementia. We hypothesize that pericyte dysfunction in prediabetes causes vascular remodeling and pathological neovascularization that leads to vascular cognitive impairment and dementia. Methods, male and female mice were fed regular or a high fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks. Insulin resistance (IR) was confirmed with a glucose tolerance test. Neovascularization indices were measured (Vascular density, tortuosity, and branching density) to assess cerebral integrity. Pericyte count and basement membrane thickness (BMT) were determined in the cerebral cortex. Learning and memory functions were evaluated using Water maze, Y-maze and novel object recognition (NOR). Pericyte (PC) were grown in high glucose (HG) to mimic prediabetes. Pericytes MMP9 activity, TIMP1 and PDGFR beta internalization were measured. Results, male and female mice fed with HFD showed a significant increase in body weight and IR as indicated by impaired glucose tolerance. 3D reconstructed images of cerebral cortex vasculature showed that HFD significantly increases neovascularization indices (P<0.05, n=5). TEM studies showed an increase in cerebrovascular BMT in HFD mice that was associated with significantly decreased in PCs count and TIMP-1 expression in the cerebral cortex. HFD led to significant deterioration of cognitive memory function in Water maze, Y maze, and NOR. (P<0.05, n=5). MMP9 activity and internalization of PDGFR beta were increased in HG-treated PCs that were accompanied by a decrease in TIMP1 expression. (P<0.05, n=4). Conclusion, obesity-induced pericyte dysfunction is associated with pathological cerebral vessel remodeling and impaired cognitive function. These studies illustrate the crucial role of pericyte dysfunction in prediabetes and identify pericytes as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of cognitive impairment in diabetes.

Effects of Dangguisusan, a prescription of Korean medicine on controlled cortical impact-induced traumatic brain injury mouse model

Ethnopharmacological relevanceDangguisusan (DGSS) is a widely used prescription for the treatment of traumatic injury in Korean medicine. Aim of the studyTo demonstrate the effects of DGSS on a mouse model of traumatic brain injury (TBI) for providing scientific evidence in clinical use. Materials and methodsTBI was induced in a mouse model using the controlled cortical impact method. Water extract of DGSS (50, 150, and 450 mg/kg) was administered twice a day for 8 d. Histological analyses were performed 8 d after TBI. Moreover, beam-walking, grip-strength, and novel object recognition (NOR) tests were conducted to evaluate the effects on motor function, muscle strength, and cognitive memory function, respectively. ResultDGSS inhibited body weight loss, hippocampal damage, and neuronal loss in the thalamic region. Furthermore, it reduced transverse time and foot faults in the beam-walking test at 3 d and increased the muscle strength in the grip-strength test at 3 and 8 d. It also improved the recognition index (%) in the NOR test. However, DGSS did not show protective effects against total damage. ConclusionsDGSS might improve sensory–motor and cognitive functions after TBI with partial protective effects against brain damage. The present findings provide a scientific basis for the clinical use of DGSS in TBI.

ROLE OF FIRST-YEAR MATERNAL EMPLOYMENT AND PATERNAL INVOLVEMENT IN BEHAVIORAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG CHILDREN.

Drawing on economic models of child development and attachment relationship perspectives, this study examined the effect of maternal employment in the first year after childbirth on subsequent behavioral and cognitive development in low-income children. Analyses of data from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods (N = 411) revealed that despite the accompanying family income gains, maternal employment in the first year after childbirth adversely affected caregiver-reported internalizing and externalizing behavior problems of Hispanic, Black, and White children at ages 3 and 5 years. This study also examined how paternal participation in childcare might affect children's outcomes. Results indicate that greater paternal participation eased the adverse impacts of maternal employment on internalizing behavior problems. There was no evidence that maternal employment was associated with children's memory cognitive functioning or that paternal involvement moderated children's cognitive development. These findings suggest that when early intervention programs are designed to assist low-income families, enhancing supports (e.g., paternal involvement or parental leave) for working mothers during their child's first year may be valuable for young children's healthy development.

Alterations in attention and memory in people with normal body mass index related to frequent sucralose or sucrose intake

Increased sugar intake is associated with development of chronic diseases such as obesity, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus; in consequence, non‐nutritive sweeteners have been implemented as a nutritional intervention to reduce sugar consumption. However, food and beverages sweetened with these compounds have become part of the regular human diet and little is known about their possible effects on people's physiology, particularly on their cognitive functions.The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of prolonged consumption of sucralose or sucrose on cognitive functions (attention and memory) in humans, using a neuropsychological test. In order to do so, we selected 26 healthy women and men, between 18 and 35 years old, with normal body mass index (18 to 24.9 Kg/m2), which were randomly divided into 2 experimental groups: sucralose or sucrose. The study lasted seven weeks, which included a washout week period (eliminating daily consumed foods and beverages with added sweeteners), followed by six weeks of commercial sweetener supplementation. At the end of the washout period, the first assessment for attention and memory cognitive functions was performed with the NEUROPSI test, after which specific sweetener supplementation was randomly assigned to each subject. Participants were provided either four 1g packets of commercial sucralose or eight 5g packets of commercial sucrose per day for the duration of the study (1 packet of commercial sucralose is equivalent in sweetness to 10g of sucrose). All participants consumed their assigned sweetener throughout the day in unsweetened beverages of their choice. After six weeks of supplementation, the NEUROPSI test for attention and memory was performed again, following the same order and under the same conditions used in the first test.Our results showed no significant differences in participants' performance in the attention test between groups. However, subjects in the sucralose group showed a significant decrease in memory performance, with lower overall scores (p=0.001), with differences being particularly evident in the sub‐areas of encoding memory and working memory (p=0.001 and p=0.012, respectively). In contrast, subjects in the sucrose group did not show significant differences in their general memory scores, although a significant decrease in encoding memory performance was detected (p=0.003).In summary, the results from the present study provide preliminary evidence that frequent intake of non‐nutritive sweeteners may promote alterations in cognitive functions related to learning and memory, and emphasize the need for additional studies to determine the possibility of adverse neurological effects related to inadequate use of these substances.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

Early and middle childhood developmental, cognitive, and psychiatric outcomes of Malawian children affected by retinopathy positive cerebral malaria

ABSTRACTThe objective is to determine the short -and long-term developmental, cognitive, and psychiatric effects of retinopathy positive cerebral malaria (CM-R) among young children in a prospective study assessing them around the onset of disease and again 2 years at preschool and again at school age.In total, 109 children were recruited from the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi, (N = 49) with CM-R and non-malaria controls (N = 60). Children were assessed for overall motor, language, and social skills using the Malawi Developmental Assessment Tool (MDAT) at preschool age. At school age, the same children were then given the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children, second edition (KABC-II), which assessed global cognitive performancememory, and learning; as well as the Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA), which assessed attention. The Achenbach Child Development Checklist (CBCL) was administered at both time points to assess emotional and behavioral patterns.Controls scored significantly better on all KABC-II global domains as well as on the mental processing index than their CM-R group counterparts, but showed no performance differences in the TOVA and CBCL assessments at school age, or in the MDAT and CBCL assessments at preschool age. The MDAT total score was significantly correlated with the KABC-II sequential processing, learning, and mental processing index among CM-R survivors but not among controls.Persisting neurocognitive effects of CM can be captured with the KABC-II at school age. The MDAT at preschool age is correlated with the KABC-II among CM-R survivors and can be used to capture early emerging developmental deficits due to CM-R.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling is involved in nonylphenol-induced proinflammatory cytokines secretion by BV2 microglia.

Microglia (MG) are the key cells involved in the innate immune response in the central nervous system, and their activation has been linked to inflammation and neurotoxicity by the production of proinflammatory cytokines. Recently, researchers have found that nonylphenol (NP), a ubiquitous endocrine disrupting chemical, could impair neurodevelopment and cognitive memory performance. However, whether NP affects the inflammatory responses of MG remains to be elucidated. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of NP on the inflammatory responses of BV2 MG and the underlying mechanisms. Our results showed that NP increased the secretion of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β in BV2 MG. Increased phosphorylation of Akt, JNK and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and decreased phosphorylation of ERK were observed in NP-treated MG. The inflammatory transcription factor activator protein 1 was also activated in NP-treated BV2 MG. These results suggest that NP may activate Akt/mitogen-activated protein kinase/activator protein 1 signaling in MG and subsequently increase IL-6 and IL-1β secretion.

Protective Effects of Indian Spice Curcumin Against Amyloid-β in Alzheimer's Disease.

The purpose of our article is to assess the current understanding of Indian spice, curcumin, against amyloid-β (Aβ)-induced toxicity in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. Natural products, such as ginger, curcumin, and gingko biloba have been used as diets and dietary supplements to treat human diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular, respiratory, infectious, diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndromes, and neurological disorders. Products derived from plants are known to have protective effects, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-arthritis, pro-healing, and boosting memory cognitive functions. In the last decade, several groups have designed and synthesized curcumin and its derivatives and extensively tested using cell and mouse models of AD. Recent research on Aβ and curcumin has revealed that curcumin prevents Aβ aggregation and crosses the blood-brain barrier, reach brain cells, and protect neurons from various toxic insults of aging and Aβ in humans. Recent research has also reported that curcumin ameliorates cognitive decline and improves synaptic functions in mouse models of AD. Further, recent groups have initiated studies on elderly individuals and patients with AD and the outcome of these studies is currently being assessed. This article highlights the beneficial effects of curcumin on AD. This article also critically assesses the current limitations of curcumin's bioavailability and urgent need for new formulations to increase its brain levels to treat patients with AD.

On the use of the P300 as a tool for cognitive processing assessment in healthy aging: A review

ABSTRACTChanges in patterns of performance for the cognitive functions of memory, processing speed, and focused attention are expected in old age.Objective:The main goal of this systematic review was to analyze the use of ERP in healthy elderly in studies evaluating the P300 components.Methods:A systematic review was carried out based on recommendations for nursing research on the databases LILACS, PsycINFO, PubMed, SCOPUS and Web of Science.Results:26 studies involving 940 healthy elderly were identified, most of which sought to identify and determine the influence of age on the P300.Conclusion:Although there is consensus in the literature that P300 latency is significantly longer in elderly with psychiatric disorders compared to healthy elderly, it was not possible to conclude P300 associations with gender, education and other cognitive tests.

The Relationship between Sleep Complaints, Depression, and Executive Functions on Older Adults.

Aim: In this manuscript, we report data on the association between executive functions screened by Frontal Assessment Battery, Five Digit Test and Digit Span with self-reported depressive symptoms and sleep complaints in non-demented older adults.Methods: A total sample of 95 non-demented older adults performed Geriatric Depression Scale short version, Frontal Assessment Battery, Five Digit Test, Digit Span, and clinical interview. We split participants in groups stratified by age according to: young-old (60–69 years of age), old-old (70–79 years), and oldest-old (>80 years) and compared these three groups on the sociodemographic characteristics and executive functions performance. We carried out Poisson regression with robust error variance to verify sleep complaints and depression effects on executive functions performance. Gender, age, years of formal education, use of antidepressants and of benzodiazepines were considered as confounding variables, taking into account executive functions as dependent and sleep complaints and depression as independent variables.Results: Controlling the effect of age, gender, years of formal education, use of benzodiazepines and of antidepressants there was a significant influence of depression in motor programming, inhibitory control, and working memory. Individuals without depression show motor programming scores 68.4% higher, inhibitory control scores 3 times greater and working memory scores also 3 times greater than individuals without depression. There was a significant influence of sleep complaints in phonemic fluency, motor programming, inhibitory control, and working memory. Individuals without sleep complaints show phonemic fluency scores 2 times greater than, motor programming scores 85.9% higher, inhibitory control scores 3 times greater and working memory scores also 3 times greater than individuals without sleep complaints.Conclusions: Sleep complaints are associated with phonemic fluency, motor programming, inhibitory control, and working memory impairment. Depression symptoms presence are associated with motor programming and working memory performances. Depression and sleep complaints interaction would determine worse phonemic fluency, inhibitory control and working memory cognitive performance than these two conditions alone.

Identifying postmenopausal women at risk for cognitive decline within a healthy cohort using a panel of clinical metabolic indicators: potential for detecting an at-Alzheimer's risk metabolic phenotype

Detecting at-risk individuals within a healthy population is critical for preventing or delaying Alzheimer's disease. Systems biology integration of brain and body metabolism enables peripheral metabolic biomarkers to serve as reporters of brain bioenergetic status. Using clinical metabolic data derived from healthy postmenopausal women in the Early versus Late Intervention Trial with Estradiol (ELITE), we conducted principal components and k-means clustering analyses of 9 biomarkers to define metabolic phenotypes. Metabolic clusters were correlated with cognitive performance and analyzed for change over 5 years. Metabolic biomarkers at baseline generated 3 clusters, representing women with healthy, high blood pressure, and poor metabolic phenotypes. Compared with healthy women, poor metabolic women had significantly lower executive, global and memory cognitive performance. Hormone therapy provided metabolic benefit to women in high blood pressure and poor metabolic phenotypes. This panel of well-established clinical peripheral biomarkers represents an initial step toward developing an affordable, rapidly deployable, and clinically relevant strategy to detect an at-risk phenotype of late-onset Alzheimer's disease.

Inhibition of Src Family Kinases Protects Hippocampal Neurons and Improves Cognitive Function after Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is often associated with intracerebral and intraventricular hemorrhage. Thrombin is a neurotoxin generated at bleeding sites fater TBI and can lead to cell death and subsequent cognitive dysfunction via activation of Src family kinases (SFKs). We hypothesize that inhibiting SFKs can protect hippocampal neurons and improve cognitive memory function after TBI. To test these hypotheses, we show that moderate lateral fluid percussion (LFP) TBI in adult rats produces bleeding into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in both lateral ventricles, which elevates oxyhemoglobin and thrombin levels in the CSF, activates the SFK family member Fyn, and increases Rho-kinase 1(ROCK1) expression. Systemic administration of the SFK inhibitor, PP2, immediately after moderate TBI blocks ROCK1 expression, protects hippocampal CA2/3 neurons, and improves spatial memory function. These data suggest the possibility that inhibiting SFKs after TBI might improve clinical outcomes.

Long-term artificial sweetener acesulfame potassium treatment alters neurometabolic functions in C57BL/6J mice.

With the prevalence of obesity, artificial, non-nutritive sweeteners have been widely used as dietary supplements that provide sweet taste without excessive caloric load. In order to better understand the overall actions of artificial sweeteners, especially when they are chronically used, we investigated the peripheral and central nervous system effects of protracted exposure to a widely used artificial sweetener, acesulfame K (ACK). We found that extended ACK exposure (40 weeks) in normal C57BL/6J mice demonstrated a moderate and limited influence on metabolic homeostasis, including altering fasting insulin and leptin levels, pancreatic islet size and lipid levels, without affecting insulin sensitivity and bodyweight. Interestingly, impaired cognitive memory functions (evaluated by Morris Water Maze and Novel Objective Preference tests) were found in ACK-treated C57BL/6J mice, while no differences in motor function and anxiety levels were detected. The generation of an ACK-induced neurological phenotype was associated with metabolic dysregulation (glycolysis inhibition and functional ATP depletion) and neurosynaptic abnormalities (dysregulation of TrkB-mediated BDNF and Akt/Erk-mediated cell growth/survival pathway) in hippocampal neurons. Our data suggest that chronic use of ACK could affect cognitive functions, potentially via altering neuro-metabolic functions in male C57BL/6J mice.

Neuroinformatics Models of Human Memory

The human brain is a superbly marvelous and extremely complicated neurophysiological structure for generating natural intelligence that transforms cognitive information into colorful behaviors. The brain is the most complex and interesting objects in nature that requires rigorous scientific investigations by multidisciplinary methodologies and via transdisciplinary approaches where only low-level studies could not explain it. A fundamental problem and difficulty in contemporary brain science is the indistinguishable confusion of the cognitive mechanisms and neurophysiological structures of the kernel brain and its memories. This paper presents a set of formal neuroinformatics models of memory and a rigorous mapping between the cognitive functions of memory and their neurophysiological structures. The neurophysiological foundations of memory are rigorously described based on comprehensive cognitive models of memory. The cognitive architecture of human memory and its relationship to the intelligence power of the brain are logically analyzed. The cognitive roles of memory allocated in both cerebrum and cerebellum are revealed by mapping the functional models of memory onto corresponding neurophysiological structures of the brain. As a result, fundamental properties of memory and knowledge as well as their neurophysiological forms in the brain are systematically explained.

P4‐356: The study of pharmacological efficacy of dry mulberry burirum‐60 in Alzheimer's disease

The study approached Thai herbal Planthas currently used in many indications in Thailand such as Morus alba Linn. Burirum -60 to study the increasing of Cognitive Memory Function of Eldery. The incidence rates of Alzheimer's disease occur rapidly and Silk Weaving Village women consume Mulberry daily for their Thai cusine as side dishes. The population was 625 silk village women Thailand. 125 samples were selected purposively with MMSE Scale (Mini -Mental State Examination) and divided into 4 groups : group no.1 of feeding silkworms weaving women and intake Morus alba Burirum 60 capsule, group no.2 of feeding silkworms weaving women and intake placebo, group no.3 of non feeding silkworm weaving women and intake Morus alba Burirum 60 capsule, group no.4 of non feeding silkworms weaving women and intake the placebo. All samples were tested and selected samples were Mild cognitive memory function. Dose of Morus alba capsule were 2 capsules after meals , once daily for 3 months and tested for cognitive memory function using Sage1, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Functional Assessment Stage tool (Fast) for the efficacy of Mulberry effecting the memory. The data were tested with Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test and Kruskal Wallis statistical analysis. The SAGE1 scores was analysed with Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test from each 4 groups of Group no.1, no.2, no.3, and no.4 were 3.00, 1.50, 3.00 and 2.00. Each group had mean scores with statistical significant difference at p-value 0.05. showed the development of scores SAGE1 scores within group by Kruskal –Wallis with mean ranks before experiment of groups no.1, no.2, no.3, and no.4 were 17.40, 10.50, 6.70 and 7.40 respectively and after were 17.60, 10.10, 8.50 and 5.80 respectively. Therefore the conclusion of this study would indicate that the development of cognitive memory function which had a higher score in the group of intake of Mourus alba Linn. Burirum-60 in Silk Weaving Women at Roiet ,Thailand. The suggestion of this study for the future research is to increase the size of samples and clinically confirmed with CT-SCAN or NMR.

A study on striatum involved in associative learning memory by functional magnetic resonance imaging technique and clinical observation

Objective To examine whether the striatum are involved in associative learning and memory cognitive function of human brain by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technique and clinical observation.Methods 14 right-handed normal volunteers participated in a test of paired-word associative learning and memory ,while the fMRI data were recorded.Control tasks were performed for the block-design.SPM 99 was used to analyze the data and to obtain the activated brain regions.14 patients with striatum damages and 14 matched normal volunteers participated in a test of paired-word associative learning and memory.Results When the threshold was set as P＜0.005 ,using a one-sample t -test ,the left occipital lobe (t=13.87)were activated remarkably during the encoding process of the paired-word associative learning and memory task.However,during the retrieval process,the prominently activated brain regions were the left parietal lobe (t=8.73).The striatum (t=7.02/7.47) were also obviously activated during these two stages.The scores of the paired-word associative learning and memory test on the patients with striatum damages and the healthy volunteers were respectively 11.53±1.39 and 19.18±2.89 ,the difference was significant (P ＜ 0.001).Conclusion The results of this study reveal that the subcortical structures such as the striatum as well as the cerebral cortex are involved in the associative learning and memory in human brain ,and the damages of striatum would show the disorder of associative learning and memory cognitive function. Key words: Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) ; Associative learning and memory; Cognitive function; Striatum; Human brain

Brain atrophy and white matter hyperintensities in early Parkinson's disease

The purpose of this research was to examine the extent of global brain atrophy and white matter hyperintensities (WMH) in early Parkinson's disease (PD) compared to normal controls (NC), to explore the relationship between the MRI variables and cognition in PD. In this multicenter study we included 155 PD patients (age 65.6 +/- 9.1 years, disease duration 26.7 +/- 19.9 months) and 101 age-matched NC. On 3D-T1-WI, we calculated normalized brain volumes using SIENAX software. WMH volumes were assessed semiautomatically. In PD patients, correlation and regression analyses investigated the association between atrophy and WMH outcomes and global, attention-executive, visuospatial, and memory cognitive functions. Regression analysis was controlled for age, education, depression score, motor severity, cerebrovascular risk, and sex. No significant MRI variable volume group differences were found. The models did not retain any of the imaging variables as significant predictors of cognitive impairment. There was no evidence of brain atrophy or higher WMH volume in PD compared to NC, and MRI volumetric measurements were not significant predictors of cognitive functions in PD patients. We conclude that global structural brain changes are not a major feature in patients with incident PD.

Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices as a measure of cognitive functioning in Cerebral Palsy

Cognitive dysfunction is frequent in Cerebral Palsy (CP). CP motor impairment and associated speech deficits often hinder cognitive assessment, with the result being that not all CP studies consider cognitive dysfunction. Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices is a simple, rapid test which can be used in persons with severe motor impairment and speech limitations. We studied whether this test can offer a reliable measure of cognitive functioning in CP. Visuoperceptual, language, memory and frontal lobe functions were evaluated in 30 participants with severe motor impaired CP and a variety of speech difficulties. The relationship between Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices and a variety of tests was analysed. Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices performance was associated with visuoperceptual, language, visual and verbal memory but not with frontal functions. Receptive vocabulary and visuospatial measures were the best predictors of Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices raw scores. Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices is a fast, easy-to-administer test able to obtain a measure related with linguistic, visuoperceptual, and memory cognitive functioning in persons with CP despite their motor and speech disorders.