Naming Test Research Articles

Early-life cumulative exposure to excess bodyweight and midlife cognitive function: longitudinal analysis in three British birth cohorts

Excess bodyweight (BMI >25 kg/m2) in midlife (age 40-65 years) has been linked to future cognitive decline and an increased risk of dementia. Whether chronic exposure to excess bodyweight in the early decades of life (<40 years) is associated with compromised cognitive function by midlife, however, remains unclear. This study therefore aimed to test potential bidirectional direct and indirect pathways linking cumulative exposure to excess bodyweight and cognitive function in the early decades of life. In this longitudinal analysis, harmonised measures of BMI and cognitive function were available in 19 742 participants aged 47-53 years recruited to the 1946 National Survey of Health and Development (n=2131), the 1958 National Child Development Study (n=9385), and the 1970 British Cohort Study (n=8226). Individual BMI trajectories spanning three decades from age 10-40 years were created for each participant and excess bodyweight duration, BMI change between ages, and cumulative excess bodyweight exposure were calculated. Harmonised measures of verbal and non-verbal ability, mathematical ability, and reading ability were used to create a latent factor for childhood cognitive function, and immediate and delayed recall, animal naming, and letter-search speed tests were used for midlife cognitive function. Multivariable linear regression and structural equation models (SEM) were used to test for potential bidirectional relationships between cognition and excess bodyweight in both individual cohorts and pooled datasets while accounting for other potential early-life confounders. Increases in BMI during adolescence and greater cumulative exposure to excess bodyweight across early life were associated with lower midlife cognitive function in all cohorts (eg, pooled difference in cognitive function per 10 years excess bodyweight duration -0·10; 95% CI -0·12 to -0·08; p<0·001). Further adjustment for childhood cognitive function attenuated many of these associations towards the null (eg, pooled difference in cognitive function per 10 years excess bodyweight duration -0·04; 95% CI -0·06 to -0·02; p=0·001), however, with any remaining associations then fully attenuating once further adjusted for other early-life factors (eg, pooled difference in cognitive function per 10 years excess bodyweight duration 0, -0·03 to 0·01; p=0·38). In the reverse direction, low childhood cognition was associated with greater cumulative exposure to excess bodyweight over the next four decades, although much of this relationship was found to probably be explained via other potentially modifiable upstream early-life factors such as childhood disadvantage. SEM in all cohorts suggested the presence of modest direct and indirect pathways connecting earlier cognitive function to later excess bodyweight, but scarce evidence for an effect of early-life excess bodyweight on cognitive function by midlife. The association between cumulative exposure to excess bodyweight in early life and lower cognitive function in midlife is probably confounded by a persistently lower cognitive function from childhood. Initiatives to improve early-life factors such as childhood disadvantage and education, however, might exert dual but independent benefits on both of these factors before old age. Alzheimer's Research UK, Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation, Diabetes UK, British Heart Foundation, and Medical Research Council.

The effect of attention shifting on Chinese children's word reading in primary school.

This study explored the effects of attention shifting on Chinese children's word reading. The sample consisted of 87 fourth-grade children from Shaoxing City, China. The students completed measures of the attention shifting task, reading accuracy test, reading fluency test, and rapid automatized naming test. The results showed that reading fluency was significantly correlated with attention shifting scores, specifically with tag1 and tag6 (ps < 0.05). The reading accuracy score was also significantly correlated with tag6 (p < 0.05). According to the regression analysis of attention shifting on word reading, even when controlling for rapid automatic naming, attention shifting significantly affected word reading fluency at approximately 600ms (p = .011). Attention shifting did not affect children's word reading accuracy. These findings suggest that attention shifting is significantly associated with children's word reading. Educators should focus on developing children's attention shifting to improve their word reading ability.

Post-stroke Chinese pure alexia: linguistic features and neuropsychological profiles.

Very few cases of Chinese pure alexia have been reported to date. We aim to summarize the linguistic features and neuropsychological profiles of Chinese pure alexia through a case series study. 11 consecutive patients with post-stroke Chinese pure alexia and 11 healthy controls were included. The Aphasia Battery of Chinese (ABC) and 68-Chinese character oral reading test (68-character test) were used to evaluate the reading and writing ability. Reading errors were classified based on the performance of 68-character test. Neuropsychological profiles were evaluated with corresponding scales. The possible correlation between the reading ability and the writing ability or neuropsychological performance was analyzed. The patients had a correct rate of 43.7 ± 23.2% in the 68-character test, significantly lower (P < 0.001) than that of controls. Shape-similar error was the most common type of reading error (101/209, 48.3%). The ABC total writing score rate of the patients ranged from 68.9% to 98.7% (median, 90.5%), significantly lower (P < 0.001) than that of the controls. The patients also showed worse performance in MMSE, auditory verbal learning test, Boston naming test, intersecting pentagons copying and clock-drawing test (all P < 0.05). In the patient group, the correct rate of 68-character test was significantly correlated with the ABC total writing score rate (P = 0.008), the score rate of Boston naming test (P = 0.017), and the clock-drawing test score (P = 0.010). Shape-similar errors may be a characteristic of Chinese pure alexia. The correlation between visuospatial dysfunction and pure alexia might explain the frequent occurrence of shape-similar errors in Chinese pure alexia.

Animal naming test stratifies the risk of falls and fall-related fractures in patients with cirrhosis

This study aimed to determine the relationship between animal naming test (ANT), falls, and fall-related fractures in patients with cirrhosis. Cognitive impairment and frailty were assessed using ANT and Karnofsky performance status (KPS), respectively. Factors stratifying the risk of previous falls and fall-related fractures within 1 year were assessed using a logistic regression model. Factors affecting patient performance in ANT were evaluated using multiple regression analysis. Of the 94 patients, 19% and 5% experienced falls and fall-related fractures, respectively. The performance in ANT was worse in patients who experienced falls (11 vs. 18; p < 0.001) and fall-related fractures (8 vs. 16; p < 0.001) than in those who did not. After adjustment, females, KPS, and ANT (odds ratio [OR], 0.78; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.65–0.93; p = 0.005) were associated with falls, while ANT was significantly associated with fall-related fractures (OR, 0.56; 95% CI 0.35–0.88; p = 0.012). Age and education affected the performance in ANT, whereas the use of Oriental zodiac did not. The ANT is useful for stratifying the risk of falls and fall-related fractures in patients with cirrhosis. The effects of age and education should be considered when applying ANT in the Japanese population.

Language impairments in seropositive and seronegative autoimmune encephalitis

Background and objectiveAutoimmune encephalitis (AE) is a rare neuroinflammatory disease affecting the central nervous system. To examine language functions in patients with different subsets of AE consisting of seropositive and seronegative groups.MethodsFifty-two patients were recruited from neurology departments in Melbourne, Australia, who met clinical criteria for possible AE. Language tests include the Naming Test from the Sydney Language Battery (SydBat), the semantic fluency trial from the Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT), and the Vocabulary and Similarities subtests of the Weschler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence–Second Edition. The results were standardised with normative data.ResultsThe mean age of our cohort was 52.5 years old, with the average time from hospital admission to recruitment being 38.41 months. At an aggregate level, none of the mean language test z-scores were below normative data. At the patient level, impairment rates were 18.37% for COWAT (animals), 28.57% for SydBat (naming), 4.65% for Similarities, and 4.55% for Vocabulary. Chi-squared goodness of fit tests indicated that observed performances were significantly below expected performances for the SydBat (naming) test (p < 0.0001) and COWAT (animals) (p = 0.004).DiscussionWhile, on average, language functions were within normal limits in patients with AE, but a subgroup exhibited lower performance in semantic fluency and visual confrontation naming, with impairment rates below expected norms. To advance understanding of language in chronic AE patients, exploring the impact of seizure burden, antiseizure medication use, and the relationship of language functions with other cognitive functions is crucial.

Comparison of 6 tests for diagnosing minimal hepatic encephalopathy and predicting clinical outcome: A prospective, observational study.

Current guidelines recommend the assessment for minimal HE in patients with liver cirrhosis. Various efforts were made to find tools that simplify the diagnosis. Here, we compare the 6 most frequently used tests for their validity and their predictive value for overt hepatic encephalopathy (oHE), rehospitalization, and death. One hundred thirty-two patients with cirrhosis underwent the Portosystemic Encephalopathy-Syndrome-Test yielding the psychometric hepatic encephalopathy score (PHES), Animal Naming Test (ANT), Critical Flicker Frequency (CFF), Inhibitory Control Test (ICT), EncephalApp (Stroop), and Continuous Reaction Time Test (CRT). Patients were monitored for 365 days regarding oHE development, rehospitalization, and death. Twenty-three patients showed clinical signs of HE grade 1-2 at baseline. Of the remaining 109 neurologically unimpaired patients, 35.8% had abnormal PHES and 44% abnormal CRT. Percentage of abnormal Stroop (79.8% vs. 52.3%), ANT (19.3% vs. 51.4%), ICT (28.4% vs. 36.7%), and CFF results (18.3% vs. 25.7%) changed significantly when adjusted norms were used for evaluation instead of fixed cutoffs. All test results correlated significantly with each other ( p <0.05), except for CFF. During follow-up, 24 patients developed oHE, 58 were readmitted to the hospital, and 20 died. Abnormal PHES results were linked to oHE development in the multivariable model. No other adjusted test demonstrated predictive value for any of the investigated endpoints. Where applicable, the diagnosis of minimal HE should be made based on adjusted norm values for the tests, exclusively. The minimal HE tests cannot be equated with one another and have an overall limited value in predicting clinical outcomes.

Exploring the Association Between Physical Activity and Cognitive Function Among People Living with Dementia.

Physical activity preserves cognitive function in people without dementia, but the relationship between physical activity and cognitive domains among people living with dementia is unclear. The objective of this study was to explore the association between physical activity and cognition domains among people living with dementia. Participants living with dementia in residential care facilities (complete case analysis: n = 24/42) completed a battery of cognitive tests (global cognition: Montreal Cognitive Assessment; executive function: Trail-Making Test, Digit Span Forward Test; perception and orientation: Benton Judgement of Line Orientation Test; language: Boston Naming Test; learning and memory: Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test; complex attention: Digit Symbol Substitution Test). Participants wore an actigraphy monitor on their non-dominant wrist over seven days. We conducted a linear regression for total physical activity (independent variable) with race (white/black), fall risk (Morse Fall Scale), and the number of comorbidities (Functional Comorbidities Index) as covariates, and cognitive tests as variables of interest. Participants were primarily male (75%), white (87.5%), and 50%had unspecified dementia (Alzheimer's disease: 33%). Greater physical activity was associated with poorer global cognition, better executive function, and better learning and memory (ps < 0.05). Physical activity was not related to visuospatial perception, language, or complex attention. Physical activity may preserve executive function and learning and memory among people living with dementia. Wandering is more common in later stages of dementia, which may explain greater physical activity observed with lower global cognition. Regularly assessing physical activity may be useful in screening and monitoring cognitive changes.

Associations of Balance, Strength, and Gait Speed with Cognitive Function in Older Individuals over 60 Years: A Cross-Sectional Study

This research examined the association between the risk of falls and cognitive function in older individuals at risk of mild cognitive impairment. One hundred seventy-five older adults were included in 2021. Balance confidence was scored using the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC), gait speed was assessed by the 4 m test, handgrip strength by a digital dynamometer, and balance by the Timed Up-and-Go Test (TUG). The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), The Controlled Oral Word Association Test, and The Boston Naming Test short-version questionnaires assessed global cognitive function, verbal fluency, and language, respectively. A bivariate correlation analysis and multivariate linear regressions were applied, adjusting for confounders (BMI, sex, age, and educational level). Shorter time in the TUG and greater educational status were independently associated with improved scores on the MMSE. Lower age and greater educational status were independently associated with increased phonological fluency. Better ABC and performance on the TUG and higher educational attainment were independently associated with enhanced semantic fluency. Higher education level and gait speed were independently associated with increased language (all p &lt; 0.05). Improved physical factors, such as gait speed, grip strength, balance, and balance confidence enhanced cognitive function, particularly global cognitive function, verbal fluency, and language, in individuals over 60, with education as a potential confounder.

Shave, shear, shred, or cut: PPA variant differentially impacts erroneous responses produced in a confrontation naming test of verbs

ABSTRACT Background All common variants of primary progressive aphasia (PPA) exhibit naming deficits. Variants are distinguished by relative deficits in repetition (logopenic; lvPPA), object knowledge (semantic; svPPA), and agrammatism or articulation (non-fluent/agrammatic; nfavPPA; Gorno-Tempini et al., 2011). The Hopkins Action Naming Assessment (HANA) is a 30-item verb naming task that can distinguish between variants (Stockbridge et al., 2021). Item-level accuracy is driven by target verb frequency, semantic information density, and conceptual concreteness of the target word (Stockbridge, Venezia, et al., 2022). Aims In this investigation, we examined whether word frequency, semantic density, concreteness, and age of acquisition (AoA) also shaped the incorrect responses patients provided. We hypothesised that error responses would vary in these dimensions as a function of PPA variant. Methods & Procedures The HANA was administered to 271 participants with PPA, resulting in 443 total administrations and 4,529 analysable error responses. Standardised differences between error and target responses for frequency, density, concreteness, and AoA were calculated and averaged for each patient. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) for correlated samples was used to compare variants and planned post-hoc analyses examined the effect of variant on each response quality. Outcomes & Results Participants were similar in age, sex, handedness, and education. There was a significant interaction between PPA variant and the standardised mean differences in lexical qualities (Pillai’s Trace = 0.11, F(9, 747) = 3.19, p < 0.001). Univariate ANOVAs revealed significant differences in the semantic density of error responses relative to the target (F(3) = 7.91, p < 0.001, ηP 2= 0.09), as individuals with lvPPA tended to produce error responses with greater semantic density than the target when compared to the words produced by individuals with nfavPPA (mean difference = 1.45, 95%CI = [0.60,2.29], p < 0.001; Figure 1). PPA variants also differed in the concreteness of their error responses relative to the target (F(3) = 5.99, p<0.001, ηP 2 = 0.07), as error responses produced by individuals with nfavPPA were significantly more concrete than those with lvPPA (mean difference = 0.08, 95%CI = [0.02,0.13], p = 0.003) or svPPA (mean difference=0.08, 95%CI = [0.02,0.14], p = 0.007). Variants did not differ significantly in AoA or frequency of responses relative to their targets. All variants tended to produce more frequent words with a lower AoA than the target verb. Conclusions Error responses tended to be more semantically dense, more concrete, higher frequency, and younger AoA than the target verb. However, PPA variants differed significantly in the extent to which these broader trends held true. These distinct patterns may be included as part of a larger diagnostic picture that to distinguish among PPA variants.

Abstract WMP32: Effect of Immersive Motor-Cognitive Training on Executive Function in Patients With Vascular Mild Cognitive Impairment: Aquasi-Experimental Study

Background: Cerebrovascular disease is a common cause of vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) and may progress to vascular dementia at a relatively fast rate. Strengthening intervention in patients with mild VCI can delay cognitive decline and prevent vascular dementia. Purpose: To investigate the effect of an immersive motor-cognitive training program on executive function in patients with mild VCI. Methods: A total of 60 patients with mild VCI were divided into two groups: the intervention group (n=30) and control group (n=30). The participants were recruited from an outpatient Neurology clinic between May 2021 and January 2022. The intervention group was received immersive motor-cognitive training for 2 months, while the control group was received traditional motor-cognitive training during the same duration. Before the intervention and at the end of the first and second months of the intervention, executive function was assessed as the primary outcome using the Trail-Making Test (TMT)-A/B. General cognitive, speech function and balance function were evaluated as secondary outcomes using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)/Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Boston Naming Test, and Berg Balance Scale, respectively. Data analysis was performed using independent sample t-test, Chi-Square test, nonparametric test, and generalized estimation equation model. Results: Among 60 patients, 54 were completed the 2 month-follow-up. Our results showed that there is a significant time effect ( F =14.36, P =0.001) regarding the TMT-A score. In addition, significant time (F=7.28, P =0.001) and interaction effects (F=7.43, P =0.001) on the TMT-B score were noted. The MMSE score showed significant time (F=64.66, P =0.001) and interaction effects (F=12.01, P =0.002), and similar results were observed for the MoCA score with significant time (F=38.29, P=0.001) and interaction effects (F=22.89, P =0.001). The time effect of the Boston Naming Test score was also found to be statistically significant ( F =2.92, P =0.003). However, no significant differences were observed in the Berg Balance Scale score. Conclusion: Immersive motor-cognitive training may improve the executive function and general cognitive function in patients with mild VCI.

Prevalence, cognitive characteristics, and influencing factors of amnestic mild cognitive impairment among older adults residing in an urban community in Chengdu, China.

Dementia is a significant public health concern, and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) serves as a transitional stage between normal aging and dementia. Among the various types of MCI, amnestic MCI (aMCI) has been identified as having a higher likelihood of progressing to Alzheimer's dimension. However, limited research has been conducted on the prevalence of aMCI in China. Therefore, the objective of this study is to investigate the prevalence of aMCI, examine its cognitive characteristics, and identify associated risk factors. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated a sample of 368 older adults aged 60 years and above in the urban communities of Chengdu, China. The participants underwent a battery of neuropsychological assessments, including the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR), Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT), Wechsler's Logical Memory Task (LMT), Boston Naming Test (BNT) and Trail Making Test Part A (TMT-A). Social information was collected by standard questionnaire. Multiple logistic regression analysis was utilized to screen for the risk and protective factors of aMCI. The data analysis included 309 subjects with normal cognitive function and 59 with aMCI, resulting in a prevalence of 16.0% for aMCI. The average age of participants was 69.06 ± 7.30 years, with 56.0% being females. After controlling for age, gender and education, the Spearman partial correlation coefficient between various cognitive assessments and aMCI ranged from -0.52 for the long-term delayed recall scores in AVLT to 0.19 for the time-usage scores in TMT-A. The results indicated that all cognitive domains, except for naming scores (after semantic cue of BNT) and error quantity (in TMT-A), showed statistically significant associations with aMCI. Furthermore, the multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that older age (OR = 1.044, 95%CI: 1.002~1.087), lower educational level, and diabetes (OR = 2.450, 95%CI: 1.246~4.818) were risk factors of aMCI. This study found a high prevalence of aMCI among older adults in Chengdu, China. Individuals with aMCI exhibited lower cognitive function in memory, language, and executive domains, with long-term delayed recall showing the strongest association. Clinicians should prioritize individuals with verbal learning and memory difficulties, especially long-term delayed recall, in clinical practice.

Clinical and neuropsychological characterization of SuperAgers residing in Delhi and National Capital Region of India-A cross-sectional study.

SuperAgers (SA) are older adults who exhibit cognitive capacities comparable to individuals who are three or more decades younger than them. The current study aimed to identify the characteristics of Indian SA by categorizing 55 older adults into SA and Typical Older Adults (TOA) and comparing their performance with a group of 50 younger participants (YP) (aged 25-50). A total of 105 participants were recruited after obtaining informed written consent. The cognitive abilities of the participants were assessed using Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)-IVINDIA, Color Trails Test, Boston Naming Test (BNT), and Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test. SA outperformed TOA in all cognitive assessments (P < 0.001) and surpassed YP in BNT and WAIS-IV. SA's delayed recall scores were notably higher (12.29 ± 1.51) than TOA (6.32 ± 1.44). SA excelled in all cognitive domains demonstrating resilience to age-related cognitive decline. This study highlights Indian SuperAgers' exceptional cognitive prowess.

Auditory naming is impaired in posterior cortical atrophy and early-onset Alzheimer's disease.

Visual naming ability reflects semantic memory retrieval and is a hallmark deficit of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Naming impairment is most prominently observed in the late-onset amnestic and logopenic variant Primary Progressive Aphasia (lvPPA) syndromes. However, little is known about how other patients across the atypical AD syndromic spectrum perform on tests of auditory naming, particularly those with primary visuospatial deficits (Posterior Cortical Atrophy; PCA) and early onset (EOAD) syndromes. Auditory naming tests may be of particular relevance to more accurately measuring anomia in PCA syndrome and in others with visual perceptual deficits. Forty-six patients with biomarker-confirmed AD (16 PCA, 12 lvPPA, 18 multi-domain EOAD), at the stage of mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia, were administered the Auditory Naming Test (ANT). Performance differences between groups were evaluated using one-way ANOVA and post-hoc t-tests. Correlation analyses were used to examine ANT performance in relation to measures of working memory and word retrieval to elucidate cognitive mechanisms underlying word retrieval deficits. Whole-cortex general linear models were generated to determine the relationship between ANT performance and cortical atrophy. Based on published cutoffs, out of a total possible score of 50 on the ANT, 56% of PCA patients (mean score = 45.3), 83% of EOAD patients (mean = 39.2), and 83% of lvPPA patients (mean = 29.8) were impaired. Total uncued ANT performance differed across groups, with lvPPA performing most poorly, followed by EOAD, and then PCA. ANT performance was still impaired in lvPPA and EOAD after cuing, while performance in PCA patients improved to the normal range with phonemic cues. ANT performance was also directly correlated with measures of verbal fluency and working memory, and was associated with cortical atrophy in a circumscribed semantic language network. Auditory confrontation naming is impaired across the syndromic spectrum of AD including in PCA and EOAD, and is likely related to auditory-verbal working memory and verbal fluency which represent the nexus of language and executive functions. The left-lateralized semantic language network was implicated in ANT performance. Auditory naming, in the absence of a visual perceptual demand, may be particularly sensitive to measuring naming deficits in PCA.

Prodromal Cognitive Changes as a Prognostic Indicator of Forthcoming Huntington's Disease Severity: A Retrospective Longitudinal Study.

Cognitive changes in Huntington's disease (HD) precede motor manifestations. ENROLL-HD platform includes four cognitive measures of information processing speed (IPS). Our group is eager to seek clinical markers in the life stage that is as close as possible to the age of onset (ie, the so called prodromal HD phase) because this is the best time for therapeutic interventions. Our study aimed to test whether cognitive scores in prodromal ENROLL-HD mutation carriers show the potential to predict the severity of motor and behavioral changes once HD became fully manifested. From the global ENROLL-HD cohort of 21,343 participants, we first selected a premanifest Cohort#1 (ie, subjects with Total Motor Score (TMS) <10 and Diagnostic Confidence Level (DCL) <4, N = 1.222). From this cohort, we then focused on a prodromal Cohort#2 of subjects who were ascertained to phenoconvert into manifest HD at follow-up visits (ie, subjects from 6 ≤ TMS≤9 and DCL <4 to TMS≥10 and DCL = 4, n = 206). The main results of our study showed that low IPS before phenoconversion in Cohort#2 predicted the severity of motor and behavioral manifestations. By combining the four IPS cognitive measures (eg, the Categorical Verbal Fluency Test; Stroop Color Naming Test; Stroop Word Reading; Symbol Digit Modalities Test), we generated a Composite Cognition Score (CCS). The lower the CCS score the higher the TMS and the apathy scores in the same longitudinally followed-up patients after phenoconversion. CCS might represent a clinical instrument to predict the prognosis of mutation carriers who are close to manifesting HD.

Cerebellar-Induced Aphasia After Stroke: Evidence for the “Linguistic Cerebellum”

The cerebellum is traditionally known to subserve motor functions. However, for several decades, the concept of the “cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome” has evolved. Studies in healthy participants and patients have confirmed the cerebellar role in language. The exact involvement of the cerebellum regarding cerebellar aphasia remains uncertain. We included 43 cerebellar stroke patients who were tested at 3 months post-onset with the Boston Naming Test (BNT), the Token Test (TT), and the Diagnostic Instrument for Mild Aphasia (DIMA). Lesion side (left/right) and volume (cm3) were investigated. Patients significantly deviated on the following: BNT (p<0.001), TT (p<0.05), DIMA subtests: sentences repetition (p=0.001), semantic odd-picture-out (p<0.05), sentence completion (p<0.05) without an effect of lesion location (left/right) or volume (cm3) (p>0.05). Our clinical study confirms a non-lateralized cerebellar aphasia post-stroke, characterized by impairments in word retrieval, phonology, semantics, and syntax resembling cerebral-induced aphasia. The integral cerebellum appears to interact with eloquent cortico-subcortical language areas.

Feasibility Study of the Boston Naming Test for the Arab Population.

Introduction The Boston Naming Test (BNT) is a widely used USneuropsychological evaluation of confrontation naming for the examination of adults and children with learning disabilities and diagnosis of communication disorders, aphasia, dementia, and acquired brain injury or dysfunction. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the practicality of the original English version of the 60-item BNT (BNT-60) on an Arab population and the need for a new adaptive Arabic version sensitive to cultural biases and to offer normative data that can serve as a reference for researchers and clinicians in the Gulf region, especially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Data relating to the familiarity degree of the BNT-60 were also collected. Methods This research involved 105 randomly selected and cognitively healthy college students who were native Arabic speakers recruited in Jeddah. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) was administered with a cutoff score of 26. The participants were examined for naming accuracy, naming agreement, and familiarity in using theBNT-60. The data were then analyzed and compared with the findings from studies conducted in the United States. Results The BNT-60 was administered to 105 university students from the KSA, and the results were compared with the BNT-60 booklet norms (second edition). Their average performance was noticeably below the norms established by the original test standards. Compared with the participants in the USstudies, the participants made approximately 65% more errors on the items including pretzel, wreath, beaver, harmonica, acorn, stilts, harp, hammock, knocker, pelican, muzzle, unicorn, funnel, accordion, asparagus, tripod, yoke, and trellis and 25% more errors on the items including seahorse, dart, igloo, sphinx, palette, and abacus. The item "boomerang" was not compared with the USsample because of differences in the version of the BNT, but the errors in naming this item were as frequent as those in naming the other misrecognized items. The internal consistency among the items' degrees of familiarity was also very high (α = 0.966), and a significant connection (r = 0.837, P < 0.001) was observed between object familiarity and naming accuracy. The Arabic-speaking population in the KSA and English-speaking population in the United States showed very different levels of familiarity with numerous items. Conclusion The participants' familiarity with the BNT objects varied depending on their culture and impacted their naming accuracy and overall scores on the test. Accordingly, the possibility of cultural biases should be considered when administering the BNT to the population of the KSA and the possibility of making changes so that the test better reflects the Arab culture as suggested.

Kids name the darndest things: confrontation naming in pediatric neuropsychology

ABSTRACT Few confrontation naming tests are designed for pediatric populations. The Children’s Visual Naming Test (cVNT; Hamberger et al., 2018) was developed to fill this gap. No independent studies using cVNT with clinical populations have been published to date. We aimed to characterize cVNT performance in a clinical sample and analyze the relationship between cVNT and other neuropsychological tests/constructs. Retrospective data was collected from 126 consecutively referred youth, aged 6–15 years (M = 11.28, SD = 2.80), who underwent clinical neuropsychological evaluation through an academic medical center. Naming under 2 seconds (cVNT-L2) and the summary scores (cVNT-SUM) were lower compared to the normative sample (cVNT-L2: M z =-1.30, SD = 2.17; cVNT-SUM: M z =-1.26, SD = 2.15). cVNT was related to core verbal abilities, processing speed, and response inhibition. cVNT-L2 and cVNT-SUM, but not naming under 20 seconds, were related to overall intellectual functioning, verbal fluency, and working memory, and were associated with overall attention, processing speed, executive functions, and verbal fluency. The cVNT provides assessment of confrontation naming without downward extension in pediatric neuropsychological assessment. Importantly, cVNT offers variables of higher fidelity to the neural process of naming than previous measures. cVNT may be associated with commonly assessed neuropsychological functions, providing a rapidly effective tool for screening batteries or improving efficiency.

Assessing the Self-Rating Scale Item as a Measure for Lactulose Adherence

Background/Objective:Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a defining complication of end-stage liver disease. The standard treatment is lactulose, but adherence is difficult due to complex dosing regimens and side effects. We adapted a single item self-reported adherence measure - the Self Rating Scale Item (SRSI) - for lactulose use and examined its relationship with clinical events, cognition, and quality of life.&#x0D; Methods:We performed a cross-sectional study of patients with cirrhosis and HE seen at Indiana University Hospital 5/31/2023-7/14/2023. Clinical history and demographic information were collected through electronic health records and patient interviews. Patients provided the SRSI, which reflects their self-perceived ability to take lactulose, bowel movement frequency, perception of missing doses, and quality of life (PROMIS-29+2). Cognition was measured using the Animal Naming Test (ANT). The relationship between the SRSI and other measures was assessed.&#x0D; Results:42 patients met eligibility criteria and enrolled. The median age was 59, and 55% were female. Patients were divided across SRSI categories: ≤good, very good, and excellent. Patients with better adherence were more likely to have ascites, but other demographics were similar between groups. Ascites was present in 43%, 64%, and 93% of ≤good, very good, and excellent categories, respectively. A higher SRSI score was associated with fewer missed doses and more days achieving bowel movement targets. 79% in the ≤good category skipped lactulose doses compared to 29% and 21% in very good and excellent groups. SRSI was not associated with HE-related hospitalizations or ANT. Higher SRSI was associated with improved sleep and cognitive function, with a trend towards decreased fatigue and pain.&#x0D; Conclusion/Potential Impact:The SRSI is associated with other measures of lactulose adherence and quality of life and may be a promising tool to measure lactulose adherence. Adopting the SRSI may be a useful way to improve lactulose dosing, adherence, and health outcomes.

Arterial Hypertension, Structural Damage of the Brain and Cognitive Test

The arterial hypertension cause brain vascular damage (white matter lesion) and the burden and progression determine their cognitive consequences. Therefore, arterial hypertension is considered the main modifiable vascular risk factor for cognitive impairment and dementia. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to evaluate the results of cognitive tests in a sample of hypertensive patients and to establish possible associations with structural brain lesions (atrophy, white matter lesions) identified by magnetic resonance imaging Were included 70 hypertensive patients from Heart-Brain study in Argentina with magnetic resonance imaging and cognitive test. Fazekas scale and the Global Cortical Atrophy were used to quantify the white matter lesions and the brain atrophy, respectively. The Mini-Mental Status Examination, Clock Drawing test and Mini-Boston Naming test were used to evaluate the cognitive status. average age 69.7 ± 10.6 years, 55.7% female). Based on the linear regression analysis, Fazekas scale and cognitive tests were inversely associated. For each grade of increase in Fazekas scale, the clock drawing test (Coef -0.56, CI 95% -1.01 -0.10, p=0.01) and the Mini-mental Status Examination (Coef -0.7, CI 95% -1.27 -0.13, p=0.01) scores decreased. The subcortical atrophy was significantly associated with the clock drawing test (OR 3.29, CI 95% 1.25-8.63; p=0.016). Conclusion: The cognitive tests, particularly the clock drawing test could be used (in the clinical routine practice) as “subrrogate” of the brain structural hypertension-mediated damage.

Inter-Relationship between Conceptual Ambiguity and Naming Performance in Persons with Aphasia

Aphasia is an acquired language disorder with a wide variety of symptoms. Anomia or word finding difficulty is a common symptom of aphasia regardless of the type of Aphasia. Conventionally a wide variety of confrontation naming tests are used to assess the naming domain in Aphasia. However the confrontation naming test is deemed to be simple limiting its utility. The current study uses fusion pictures which are conceptually loaded. The developed test was administered on 8 persons with aphasia and 0 neuro-typical adults. Both between and within group analysis revealed a significant difference. Persons with aphasia exhibited more difficulty on fusion compared to non-fusion pictures unveiling the role of conceptual ambiguity in naming.