Neurocognitive Abilities Research Articles

Electroencephalography-Based Brain-Machine Interfaces in Older Adults: A Literature Review.

The aging process is a multifaceted phenomenon that affects cognitive-affective and physical functioning as well as interactions with the environment. Although subjective cognitive decline may be part of normal aging, negative changes objectified as cognitive impairment are present in neurocognitive disorders and functional abilities are most impaired in patients with dementia. Electroencephalography-based brain-machine interfaces (BMI) are being used to assist older people in their daily activities and to improve their quality of life with neuro-rehabilitative applications. This paper provides an overview of BMI used to assist older adults. Both technical issues (detection of signals, extraction of features, classification) and application-related aspects with respect to the users' needs are considered.

The Impact of Decentralization on the Development of Civil Society in the Context of the Philosophy of Reason

The authors have attempted a philosophical essay to comprehend the phenomenon of statehood, society, decentralization and culture in the context of the philosophy of mind and (partially) the neuroscientific paradigm. The authors used a number of theoretical methods: from historical analysis and reconstruction of the phenomenon of philosophy of mind and establishing the role of human subjectivity and "selfhood" in sociopolitical processes, to philosophical reflection and essayistic parascientific author interpretations. The main result is a new view of decentralization in the context of postmodernist consciousness, where the background (postmodern) and sociopolitical result (decentralization) are the synergistic result of human social networks' realization of neurocognitive natural ability to parallel coexistence of personal and social. As a result, the virtual and material manifestations of the globalized informatized post-industrial society, which has received postmodernist experience, have conditioned total decentralization. At the same time, politically administrative is only a partial manifestation of it, while civil society seeks to diversify its needs and ways of solving them as much as possible. The international significance of the article lies in its universality: it complementarily analyzes the neuroscientific, cultural-mystetic, philosophical, social, and political dimensions of a civil postmodern society that seeks maximum decentralization of all superstructures and maximum delegation of managerial functions to its members and groups.

Neurocognitive abilities in children affected by sleep breathing disorders. A systematic review and meta-analysis of case control-studies.

Different experimental approaches have demonstrated that children with sleep breathing disorders (SBD) exhibit neurocognitive and behavioural impairment. The present systematic review and meta-analysis aims to quantify neurocognitive deficit disorders in mouth breathing paediatric patients by summarising relevant case-controls studies. Neurocognitive assessment was undertaken with WISC. A search strategy was developed on electronic databases including Medline (Pubmed), Scopus, Scileo; Cochrane library from 2000 to June 2022 for published studies analysing neurocognitive skills in children with SBD compared to healthy control groups. The review was performed according to the PRISMA protocol and articles were selected according to the established inclusion and exclusion criteria. The Weighted Mean Differences (95% Confidence Intervals) were calculated between results obtained in WISC tests in SBD patients and healthy subjects. Our results confirmed that SBD affected children performed worse than healthy children in terms of quite all the cognitive domains investigated.

Co-Occurring Autism Spectrum and Borderline Personality Disorder: An Emerging Clinical Challenge Seeking Informed Interventions.

Co-Occurring Autism Spectrum and Borderline Personality Disorder: An Emerging Clinical Challenge Seeking Informed Interventions.

Neurocognitive profile of a cohort of SMA type 1 pediatric patients and emotional aspects, resilience and coping strategies of their caregivers.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 1 represents the most severe condition of the spectrum of SMA 5q. In the absence of therapeutic interventions, patients do not achieve any motor milestone and their life expectancy does not exceed two years of age. To date, three disease-modifying drugs have been approved for SMA type I. These treatments have radically changed the natural history of the disease, improving motor, respiratory and bulbar functions. In recent years huge amount of data have been collected worldwide related to motor, respiratory and swallowing function outcome in treated patients, whereas the neurocognitive profile of treated patients has been poorly explored. Here we report the neurocognitive development profile of a cohort of SMA type I children treated with a disease modifying therapy. We also describe the burden and resilience as well as the coping strategies of their caregivers. Our finding show a global developmental delay in most patients and defects in gross motor functions contribute most to lower the general development quotient of Griffiths III, whereas the scores obtained on evaluating learning and language abilities scales suggest a positive trend in the developmental trajectory of general neurocognitive abilities. Some parents reported anxiety and stress but overall they were resilient (and had good coping strategies towards the burden of care for their child. These results reinforce the importance of routinely assessing the neurocognitive aspects in SMA type I patients and to offer an early intervention to favor the psychosocial development of these children.

Adolescent brain maturation and the neuropathological effects of binge drinking: A critical review.

Adolescence is a transitional stage marked by continued brain development. This period is accompanied by physical and neurochemical modifications in the shape and function of the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and other limbic system structures. Brain maturation during adolescence, which is typically governed by intrinsic factors, can be dramatically altered by environmental influences such as drugs and alcohol. Unlike many other addictive substances, binge drinking is very common and normative among teenagers and young adults. This repeated pattern of excessive alcohol consumption in adolescents has been shown to cause behavioral changes and neurocognitive impairments that include increased anxiety, risky decision-making, and learning deficits, which could lead to the development of alcohol use disorder (AUD). This manuscript highlights factors that lead to adolescent binge drinking, discusses maturational changes that occur in an adolescent's brain, and then evaluates the effect of adolescent alcohol consumption on brain structure, function, and neurocognitive abilities in both human studies and animal models. The impact of gender/sex and COVID-19 are briefly discussed. Understanding the factors that promote the onset of adolescent binge drinking and its undesirable consequences could serve as a catalyst for developing therapeutic agents that would decrease or eradicate the damaging effects of alcohol on an adolescent brain.

TOWARD A NEUROECOLOGICAL MODEL OF FINANCIAL CAPACITY AMONG OLDER ADULTS

Abstract In recent decades, technology has changed how individuals interact with their money and with each other. A combination of financial vulnerability and low technological literacy puts many older adults at risk for identity theft, fraud, and financial exploitation. We reviewed the literature on financial capacity, financial exploitation, and digital literacy. Extant models and measures of financial capacity among older adults emphasize numeracy and basic functional skills, such as writing checks and counting change; these may not reflect the digital nature of contemporary financial activity. We propose the neuroecological model of financial capacity among older adults. This function-led model contends that financial capacity consists of neurocognitive abilities to make sound financial decisions in a complex environment, to use technology to monitor and carry out financial activities, and the ability to protect personal information and guard against fraud. This points to a need for more ecologically valid measures of financial capacity and vulnerability to financial exploitation that addresses the role of technology in everyday financial activities.

Neurocognition and Depressive Symptoms have Unique Pathways to Predicting Different Domains of Functioning in Major Depressive Disorder.

Research has established the independent relationships between depressive symptoms to cognition and functioning in depression; however, little is known about the role of mediators in this relationship. We explored the role of neurocognitive abilities, depressive symptom severity, dysfunctional attitudes, and functional capacity in predicting two dimensions of daily functioning in individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD). One hundred and twenty-four participants (mean age = 46.26, SD = 12.27; 56% female) with a diagnosis of MDD were assessed on a standard neurocognitive battery, self-reported depressive symptoms, dysfunctional attitudes, and clinician-rated functional impairment. They completed a performance-based assessment of functional competence. Confirmatory path analyses were used to model the independent and mediated effects of variables on two domains of functioning: social (relationships and social engagement) and productive (household and community activities). Cognition and depressive symptoms both predicted productive functioning, and dysfunctional attitudes mediated each of these relationships. Functional competence was a significant mediator in the relationship between neurocognition and productive functioning. Depressive symptoms and cognition were direct predictors of social functioning with no significant mediators. There are divergent pathways to different dimensions of daily functioning in MDD. Measurement implications include the consideration of multiple levels of predicting productive activities and more direct relationships with social outcomes. Treatments that directly target depressive symptoms and cognition might not generalize to improvements in everyday functioning if additional pathways to functioning are not addressed.

Functional Connectivity and Executive Function Abilities Strengthen without Change in Structural Connectivity after Transfusion in Children with Sickle Cell Disease

Introduction Patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA) are at risk for cognitive dysfunction, independent of stroke. Functional connectivity (FC) is a quantitative MR measurement of the interactions between brain regions that compose large-scale networks of activity, giving rise to neurocognitive abilities. Structural connectivity (SC) assesses integrity of white matter axon bundles linking physically distant regions of the brain to allow for interregional interactions. We have shown FC is diminished in patients with SCA compared to healthy controls, and that FC decreases as cerebral metabolic stress, measured by oxygen extraction fraction (OEF, percent of oxygen removed from blood into brain tissue), increases. Paired with evidence that executive function abilities in SCD patients improve as metabolic stress decreases after transfusion of red blood cells (RBCs), we hypothesize that decreasing metabolic stress facilitates the acute reversal of disruptions in FC while SC remains unaffected after a single transfusion in children with SCA. Methods Patients >5 years of age with SCA receiving chronic transfusion therapy (CTT) (excluding those with cerebral vasculopathy), underwent laboratory evaluation, cognitive testing (NIH Toolbox-Cognition Battery [NIHTB-CB]), and a brain MRI on a Siemens 3T Prisma scanner within 4 days before and after RBC exchange transfusion. Brain MRI measured OEF (asymmetric spin echo [ASE]), FC (resting state BOLD) and SC (diffusion tensor imaging [DTI] with fractional anisotropy [FA] and mean diffusivity [MD] in 16 white matter tracts). OEF and FC processing were previously described (Fields et al. Ann Neurol. 2020; 88(5):995). The BOLD signal was correlated over time between 153 regions in 7 networks. Networks with <5 regions were excluded from analyses (Dworetsky et al. Neuroimage 2021; 237:118164). Global probabilistic tractography was used to reconstruct white matter tracts (Yendiki et al. Front Neuroinform 2011; 5:23). The Dimensional Change Card Sort (DCCS), Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention (FICA), and List Sorting Working Memory (LSWM) metrics of the NIHTB-CB were averaged to calculate a composite executive function score. Post-transfusion cognitive testing was administered at the participant's first study visit, then pre-transfusion testing 3-7 weeks later, before their next transfusion. The learning effect thus biases our results toward the null (Hood et al. Ped Blood & Cancer. 2019; 66:e27899). Pre- and post-transfusion values were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Significance threshold was set to α<0.05 after multiple comparison correction using the Benjamini-Hochberg procedure. Results Data were collected from 15 participants with SCA receiving CTT. Table 1 describes the cohort. There were significant increases in Hb (p<0.001) and HbA (p<0.001), and a decrease in HbS (p<0.001) after transfusion (Table 1). Consistent with prior work, metabolic stress, as measured by OEF, decreased post-transfusion in the whole brain (p=0.005), grey matter (p=0.006) and white matter (p=0.008). There was a significant increase in FC of the fronto-parietal (FP) network post-transfusion after correcting for multiple comparisons (p<0.001, Table 1) without a significant difference in SC of any white matter tracts. The FP network is a higher-level cognitive association network that facilitates executive function abilities. The LSWM test significantly improved post-transfusion (p=0.007) without a significant difference in the DCCS (p=0.406) or FICA (p=0.092) tests with transfusion. After correcting for multiple comparisons, improvement in the composite executive function score post-transfusion was not significant (raw p=0.033). Conclusion We conclude that there is a decrease in metabolic stress and strengthening of FC within the FP network without a change in SC in children with SCA after receiving a single RBC exchange transfusion. Consistent with the strengthened connectivity within the FP network, we found a significant improvement in executive abilities post-transfusion. These findings suggest MR measures of FC could potentially provide a neuroimaging biomarker for cognitive reversibility in SCA, applicable to emerging therapies in the field. Figure 1View largeDownload PPTFigure 1View largeDownload PPT Close modal

MODL-37. DISCERNIBLE INTERINDIVIDUAL PATTERNS OF GLOBAL EFFICIENCY DECLINE DURING THEORETICAL BRAIN SURGERY

Abstract Resection of infiltrating brain tumors, such as diffuse gliomas, generally involves resecting a portion of a lobe of the brain. While the concept of localized functions, and the risk to removing these areas, is well established in neurosurgical thinking, the potential that the overall global efficiency of the connectome could be disproportionately disturbed by an intervention in ways which are not immediately obvious have not been formally studied. The current article provides evidence that structural patterns exist in the impact resection of various lobes of the brain has, which also differs between subjects. We utilized diffusion tractography to create structural connectivity graphs from the brains of 80 healthy adults, and then performed every plausible brain surgery in every gross anatomic region of the cerebrum by deleting every possible combination of nodes in the graph which were adjacent to each other, and measured the drop in global efficiency (GE) at each nodal deletion. Not surprisingly, the deletion of some nodes was worse than others, such that in every lobe we studied in every subject, there were combinations of deletions which were worse for GE than removing a greater number of nodes in a different part of the brain. Interestingly, while the worst nodes differed between subjects, there were specific nodes which typically showed up as particularly detrimental regardless of which node was the worst in that person, but that there were patterns of so-called ―connectotype, which could determine which nodes were the worst. Progressive removal of a lobe of the brain leads to patterns of global efficiency decline which are reasonably predictable, but which are not the same between subjects. Given evidence that global efficiency relates to specific neuro-cognitive abilities, this provides a path towards reducing the cognitive footprint of brain surgery.

O049 Insomnia severity and cognitive performance following two weeks’ nightly supplementation with 150mg Cannabidiol (CBD) for primary insomnia

Abstract Introduction Cannabidiol (CBD) may have sleep promoting effects, but clinical dosage and safety recommendations are still lacking. This study was the first to examine whether the approved Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA) daily over-the-counter maximum dose of oral CBD oil (150mg) improved the self-rated severity of primary insomnia and explored CBD effects on higher-order cognitive performance tasks. Methods Participants (n = 30) with moderate-severe primary insomnia completed a one-week single-blind placebo-run in period followed by a 2-week double blind, parallel, randomised placebo-controlled dosing period with four assessment visits (V0-V4). Intra-group and between-group Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) (V0 and V4) and cognitive performance (ECog Pro) (V1, V2 and V4) outcomes were assessed using paired sample t-test with independent t-tests, and separate linear mixed effect models with Maximum Likelihood Estimation and independent T-tests, respectively. Results Preliminary findings showed reduced ISI for treatment (n = 5; baseline mean 16.60 to 9.60 post treatment, mean difference = -7.00, SD = 4.47) and placebo (n = 8; baseline mean 18.13 to 9.25 post treatment, mean difference = -8.88, SD = 3.68) over time (both p &amp;lt; .001). At conclusion, CBD did not outperform a placebo (p = .427). Numeric and spatial working memory accuracy (%) and reaction time (ms) indicated no intra-group or between-group differences at any time point (all p &amp;gt; 0.05). Discussion Decreased insomnia severity from moderate to subthreshold levels indicate potential clinical benefits of daily CBD supplementation as a sleep aid for primary insomnia. Preserved higher-order neurocognitive abilities suggest a good safety profile.

Comprehensive Analysis of MMPI-2-RF Symptom Validity Scales and Performance Validity Test Relationships in a Diverse Mixed Neuropsychiatric Setting.

The utility of symptom (SVT) and performance (PVT) validity tests has been independently established in neuropsychological evaluations, yet research on the relationship between these two types of validity indices is limited to circumscribed populations and measures. This study examined the relationship between SVTs on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) and PVTs in a mixed neuropsychiatric setting. This cross-sectional study included data from 181 diagnostically and demographically diverse patients with neuropsychiatric conditions referred for outpatient clinical neuropsychological evaluation at an academic medical center. All patients were administered a uniform neuropsychological battery, including the MMPI-2-RF and five PVTs (i.e., Dot Counting Test; Medical Symptom Validity Test; Reliable Digit Span; Test of Memory Malingering-Trial 1; Word Choice Test). Nonsignificant associations emerged between SVT and PVT performance. Although the Response Bias Scale was most predictive of PVT performance, MMPI-2-RF SVTs generally had low classification accuracy for predicting PVT performance. Neuropsychological test performance was related to MMPI-2-RF SVT status only when overreporting elevations were at extreme scores. The current study further supports that SVTs and PVTs measure unique and dissociable constructs among diverse patients with neuropsychiatric conditions, consistent with literature from other clinical contexts. Therefore, objective evidence of symptom overreporting on MMPI-2-RF SVTs cannot be interpreted as definitively indicating invalid performance on tests of neurocognitive abilities. As such, clinicians should include both SVTs and PVTs as part of a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation as they provide unique information regarding performance and symptom validity.

ОТДЕЛЬНЫЕ АСПЕКТЫ ИМПРИНТИНГА В ФОРМИРОВАНИИ КОГНИТИВНЫХ НАРУШЕНИЙ У ДЕТЕЙ РАЗЛИЧНОГО ВОЗРАСТА

Understanding of the processes that underlie brain development is of great clinical importance because it helps determining endo- and exogenous factors that may influence the neurocognitive abilities of human progeny. It is known that cognitive functions of children largely depend on the prenatal and intrauterine environment, which denotes that programming of future health occurs even before the birth of a fetus. This bibliographical review considers some environmental factors, such as neurohormonal, alimentary, and somatic, that influence the formation of the concept of metabolic imprinting, which in its turn allows determining the main risk groups and directions for therapeutic and preventive measures with the purpose of formation of mother's health for future healthy progeny, including the cognitive functions. The following databases were studied thoroughly in this review: PubMed®, Wiley Online Library, and eLIBRARY; the sources dated 2000 to 2021 were used.

Cognitive impairments in schizophrenia and their impact on oxidative stress

The article is devoted to modern concepts of cognitive disorders in schizophrenia. Neurocognitive deficits can be expressed in impaired attention, auditory memory, motor skills, working memory, processing speed and executive function. The attention of researchers is currently being paid to the violation of the speed of information processing and character encoding that can lead to impaired social functioning in patients with schizophrenia. Two hypotheses about the dynamics of neurocognitive impairments in schizophrenia are also considered: the theory of «static encephalopathy» and progressive impairment of cognitive functions.This review evaluates the results of a comparative analysis of the effectiveness of first and second generation antipsychotics in the treatment of cognitive dysfunction. As a result of the analysis of the available data, it was concluded that first-generation antipsychotics most likely do not directly impair cognitive abilities, but they can do so indirectly, due to the simultaneous use of anticholinergic drugs that compromise some neurocognitive abilities. Second-generation antipsychotics have an advantage over first-generation drugs, however, it has been argued that most antipsychotics lead to a slight improvement in cognitive functioning, and there is no specific effect on its specific domains.An analysis of data on the relationship between oxidative stress markers and psychopathological characteristics and cognitive profile of patients with schizophrenia was carried out. In particular, the mechanism of stress-induced cell death in the prefrontal and anterior frontal regions and a decrease in brain volume in these regions, leading to a decrease in cognitive and executive functions, are considered. In addition, the mechanisms of association of redox imbalance with brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) depletion, hypofunction of the NMDA receptor, changes in the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines, neurogenesis, and cell apoptosis were considered.

P18.02.B Influence of preoperative embolization on intraoperative parameters, hospital stay and neurocognitive outcome compared to surgery alone

Abstract Background Preoperative embolization of meningiomas is used to reduce intraoperative blood loss and facilitate resection. So far, a risk-benefit stratification of this additional intervention on the neurocognitive outcome is missing. This study investigates the influence of preoperative embolization with liquid Embolisate on intraoperative parameters, length of hospital stays and functional outcome. Material and Methods Patients treated for intracranial meningiomas at a single center between January 2019 and June 2021 were reviewed in a retrospective matched-pair analysis. Patients were matched to group A (tumor resected) and group B (preoperatively embolized and tumor resected after 2,27 ± 3,05 days). Matching criteria were tumor diameter and location (convexity, falx cerebri or skull base, frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal). Data collection included MRI (location, tumor- and necrosis volume, edema, complications), DSA (tumor blush, arterial supply), medical history, histological, surgical, clinical course, complications, and haematological parameters, as well as neurocognitive symptoms on admission and discharge from hospital. Results 44 patients with intracranial Meningiomas were included, divides into 2 groups, each encompassing 22 patients (mean age 62,41 years, 40,5% female). The matching criteria tumor diameter (64.21 vs. 63.55 mm, p=0.725) and tumor localisation (p=0.381) showed no significant differences. There were no significant differences in postoperative hospital stay (14.41 ± 9.5 vs. 14.25 ± 16.88 days, p=0.814) and in preoperative perifocal oedema (82% vs. 82%, p=0.397). Preoperative embolization was associated with decreased intraoperative tumor bleeding (67% vs. 14%, p=0.001, PHI= 0.534), longer duration of surgery (4:58 ± 2:44 vs. 06:07 ± 03:00 hours, p=0.037), trend for decrease in perifocal oedema (p=0.052, PHI=0,498), neurocognitive improvement on discharge from hospital (23% vs. 86%, p=0.045, PHI=0.339) and decreased of epileptic seizures (preoperative 18% vs. 18% and postoperative 23% vs. 5%). There was no increase in cumulative complication rate (p=1.0) and no long-term neurocognitive impairments associated with embolization. Conclusion This study suggests that preoperative embolization of intracranial meningiomas significantly decreased intraoperative tumor blood loss but is also associated to an improvement on neurocognitive abilities compared to surgery alone. Importantly, complication rate is not increased. In the future, larger studies and perhaps a randomised control trial might be of value in corroborating these findings. Furthermore, the neurocognitive symptoms should be assessed in a standardised examination form, qualitative parameters such as bleeding tendency should be supplemented by quantifiable parameters, e.g., blood loss in ml.

Relationship of neurocognitive ability, perspective taking, and psychoticism with hostile attribution bias in non-clinical participants: Theory of mind as a mediator.

ObjectivesHostile attribution bias is reportedly common from non-clinical population to those with serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, and is known to be closely related to theory of mind (ToM). This study aimed to investigate whether ToM skills mediate the relationship among neurocognitive ability, personality traits, and attribution bias.MethodsA total of 198 (101 females) non-clinical youths were recruited. To assess their neurocognitive ability and ToM skills, the participants were asked to complete Raven’s Standard Progressive Matrices (SPM) and the Korean version of the Reading the Mind in Eyes Test (K-RMET). To determine their personality traits, the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (psychoticism) and interpersonal reactivity index (perspective taking) were used. To evaluate hostile attribution bias, the Ambiguous Intentions Hostility Questionnaire was administered. Path analysis and bias-corrected percentile bootstrap methods were used to estimate model fit and the parameters of the mediating effects.ResultsBased on model comparison, the best model characterized (1) two direct pathways from psychoticism and the K-RMET to hostility attribution bias and (2) three indirect pathways, wherein SPM, perspective taking, and psychoticism influenced hostile attribution bias through K-RMET. The final model fit indices were good [x2/df = 1.126; comparative fit index = 0.996; root mean square error of approximation = 0.026; standard root mean square residual = 0.026 and Akaike information criterion = 28.251] and the K-RMET fully mediated the association between SPM, perspective taking, psychoticism, and hostile attribution bias.ConclusionThe main findings suggested that ToM skills, such as the RMET, play an important role in explaining the relationship among neurocognitive ability, personality traits, and hostile attribution bias. ToM skills and a remediation strategy may need to be developed to balance the enhanced hostility bias that underlies the paranoia.

Classification of Parkinson’s disease and its stages using machine learning

As digital health technology becomes more pervasive, machine learning (ML) provides a robust way to analyze and interpret the myriad of collected features. The purpose of this preliminary work was to use ML classification to assess the benefits and relevance of neurocognitive features both tablet-based assessments and self-reported metrics, as they relate to Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and its stages [Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) Stages 1–5]. Further, this work aims to compare perceived versus sensor-based neurocognitive abilities. In this study, 75 participants (n = 50 PD; n = 25 control) completed 14 tablet-based neurocognitive functional tests (e.g., motor, memory, speech, executive, and multifunction), functional movement assessments (e.g., Berg Balance Scale), and standardized health questionnaires (e.g., PDQ-39). Decision tree classification of sensor-based features allowed for the discrimination of PD from healthy controls with an accuracy of 92.6%, and early and advanced stages of PD with an accuracy of 73.7%; compared to the current gold standard tools [e.g., standardized health questionnaires (78.3% accuracy) and functional movement assessments (70% accuracy)]. Significant features were also identified using decision tree classification. Device magnitude of acceleration was significant in 12 of 14 tests (85.7%), regardless of test type. For classification between diagnosed and control populations, 17 motor (e.g., device magnitude of acceleration), 9 accuracy (e.g., number of correct/incorrect interactions), and 8 timing features (e.g., time to between interactions) were significant. For classification between early (H&Y Stages 1 and 2) and advanced (H&Y Stages 3, 4, and 5) stages of PD, 7 motor, 12 accuracy, and 14 timing features were significant. Finally, this work depicts that perceived functionality of individuals with PD differed from sensor-based functionalities. In early-stage PD was shown to be 21.6% lower than sensor-based scores with notable perceived deficits in memory and executive function. However, individuals in advanced stages had elevated perceptions (1.57x) for executive and behavioral functions compared to early-stage populations. Machine learning in digital health systems allows for a more comprehensive understanding of neurodegenerative diseases and their stages and may also depict new features that influence the ways digital health technology should be configured.

Neurocognitive Artificial Neural Network Models Are Superior to Linear Models at Accounting for Dimensional Psychopathology.

In recent years, there has been debate about the optimal conceptualisation of psychopathology. Structural models of psychopathology have been developed to counter issues, including comorbidity and poor diagnostic stability prevalent within the traditional nosological approach. Regardless of the conceptualisation of psychological dysfunction, deficits in neurocognitive abilities have been claimed to be an aetiological feature of psychopathology. Explorations of the association between neurocognition and psychopathology have typically taken a linear approach, overlooking the potential interactive dynamics of neurocognitive abilities. Previously, we proposed a multidimensional hypothesis, where within-person interactions between neurocognitive domains are fundamental to understanding the role of neurocognition within psychopathology. In this study, we used previously collected psychopathology data for 400 participants on psychopathological symptoms, substance use, and performance on eight neurocognitive tasks and compared the predictive accuracy of linear models to artificial neural network models. The artificial neural network models were significantly more accurate than the traditional linear models at predicting actual (a) lower-level and (b) high-level dimensional psychopathology. These results provide support for the multidimensional hypothesis: that the study of non-linear interactions and compensatory neurocognitive profiles are integral to understanding the functional associations between neurocognition and of psychopathology.

Hepcidin regulates neuronal ferroptosis: A mechanism for postoperative cognitive dysfunction.

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is a signaling molecule responsible for the expression of hepcidin (Hepc), while myeloid differentiation protein 2 (MD2) is one major accessory protein of TLR4. This study focuses on exploring the neurocyte ferroptosis mediated through the regulation of Hepc expression by MD2, which is also one of the mechanisms for postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD).An experimental study was carried out using aged wild-type (Wt) and MD2 transgenic (Tg) mice. The neurocyte ferroptosis and POCD in the mice were assessed following splenectomy. Morris water maze was utilized to assess the neurocognitive abilities, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) assay was performed to examine histopathology, and Nissl staining was used to evaluate the neurocyte damage. The Fe2+ , superoxide dismutase(SOD), malondialdehyde(MDA), glutathione(GSH), and glutathioneperoxidase 4(GPX4) levels were determined with kits. The expressions of transferrin receptor(TFR), Hepc, and MD2 were measured by Western blotting, while the expressions of TFR and GPX4 were measured by immunohistochemical staining. In Tg mice, we observed neurocyte ferroptosis and POCD following treatment with anMD2 inhibitor. PC12 cells were used as a neurocyte model. Ferroptosis was induced after treatment with anMD2 inhibitor, and the cell viability was assayed by Cell Counting Kit-8. Immunofluorescent staining was used to measure the TFR and GPX4 expressions. Meanwhile, the intracellular levels of Fe2+ , SOD, MDA, GSH, GPX4, and Hepc were also measured.POCD occurred among aged Wt and Tg mice. The Tg-POCD mice had more apparent POCD than the Wt-POCD mice. Nissl and H&E staining revealed neurocyte damage in brain tissues. Besides this, the Fe2+ and MDA expressions were upregulated, while the SOD, GSH, and GPX4 expressions were downregulated. Elevations in tissue levels of TFR, Hepc, and MD2 were observed, which were higher than those of Wt-POCD mice. After treatment with anMD2 inhibitor, the POCD could be prominently ameliorated in Tg-POCD mice, the Fe2+ and MDA levels could be reduced, while the SOD, GSH, and GPX4 levels could be elevated. In the PC12 model, ferroptosis could be suppressed by inhibiting the expression of MD2.MD2 is capable of regulating neurocyte ferroptosis by promoting Hepc expression, which has great potential as a novel target for POCD therapy.

Executive function as a generalized determinant of psychopathology and functional outcome in school-aged autism spectrum disorder: a case-control study.

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are challenged not only by the defining features of social-communication deficits and restricted repetitive behaviors, but also by a myriad of psychopathology varying in severity. Different cognitive deficits underpin these psychopathologies, which could be subjected to intervention to alter the course of the disorder. Understanding domain-specific mediating effects of cognition is essential for developing targeted intervention strategies. However, the high degree of inter-correlation among different cognitive functions hinders elucidation of individual effects. In the Philadelphia Neurodevelopmental Cohort, 218 individuals with ASD were matched with 872 non-ASD controls on sex, age, race, and socioeconomic status. Participants of this cohort were deeply and broadly phenotyped on neurocognitive abilities and dimensional psychopathology. Using structural equation modeling, inter-correlation among cognitive domains were adjusted before mediation analysis on outcomes of multi-domain psychopathology and functional level. While social cognition, complex cognition, and memory each had a unique pattern of mediating effect on psychopathology domains in ASD, none had significant effects on the functional level. In contrast, executive function was the only cognitive domain that exerted a generalized negative impact on every psychopathology domain (p factor, anxious-misery, psychosis, fear, and externalizing), as well as functional level. Executive function has a unique association with the severity of comorbid psychopathology in ASD, and could be a target of interventions. As executive dysfunction occurs variably in ASD, our result also supports the clinical utility of assessing executive function for prognostic purposes.