Neuropsychological Assessment Of Memory Research Articles

Go4cognition: Evaluation of a Newly Developed Multicomponent Intervention in Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Cognitive training and physical exercise show positive effects on cognitive decline in subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Multimodal interventions for MCI patients, combining physical and cognitive training in a social context seem to slow down cognitive decline. Based on a previous study, a new mobile gamification tool (go4cognition; https://www.ontaris.de/go4cognition) has been developed to train cognitive and physical functions simultaneously in a group setting. It involves tasks targeting various cognitive functions (short-term memory, working memory, executive functions). The computer-based setup allows for individual performance analysis. This study evaluated the effects of this tool. 30 participants with MCI, as defined by the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD) cut-off-score, aged between 66 and 89 years, trained for one hour two days a week for twelve weeks. Additionally, standard neuropsychological assessment of memory and attention was carried out before and after the intervention. The go4cognition device is highly effective in improving various cognitive functions. A significant improvement in the CERAD total score resulting in re-classification of 70% of former MCI patients into non-MCI patients was found. Additionally, an improvement of verbal fluency, verbal memory, spatial memory, and attention was observed. Furthermore, the CERAD total score was significantly correlated with performance in the go4cognition tool. The results of the intervention support the idea of the effectiveness of a combined cognitive and motor intervention by incorporating neuropsychological paradigms in a group setting and suggest a close relation between combined cognitive and physical exercise and cognitive performance.

Prediction of cognitive decline in healthy aging based on neuropsychiatric symptoms and PET-biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease.

Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) have been associated with a risk of accelerated cognitive decline or conversion to dementia of the Alzheimer's Disease (AD) type. Moreover, the NPS were also associated with higher AD biomarkers (brain tau and amyloid burden) even in non-demented patients. But the effect of the relationship between NPS and biomarkers on cognitive decline has not yet been studied. This work aims to assess the relationship between longitudinal cognitive changes and NPS, specifically depression and anxiety, in association with AD biomarkers in healthy middle-aged to older participants. The cohort consisted of 101 healthy participants aged 50-70years, 66 of whom had neuropsychological assessments of memory, executive functions, and global cognition at a 2-year follow-up. At baseline, NPS were assessed using the Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories while brain tau and amyloid loads were measured using positron emission topography. For tau burden, THK5351 uptake is used as a proxy of tau and neuroinflammation. Participants, declining or remaining stable at follow-up, were categorized into groups for each cognitive domain. Group classification was investigated using binary logistic regressions based on combined AD biomarkers and the two NPS. The results showed that an association between anxiety and prefrontal amyloid burden significantly classified episodic memory decline, while the classification of global cognitive decline involved temporal and occipital amyloid burden but not NPS. Moreover, depression together with prefrontal and hippocampal tau burden were associated with a decline in memory. The classification of participants based on executive decline was related to depression and mainly prefrontal tau burden. These findings suggest that the combination of NPS and brain biomarkers of AD predicts the occurrence of cognitive decline in aging.

Measurement of Sleep in Chronic Traumatic Brain Injury: Relationship Between Self-report and Actigraphy.

To examine the relationship between self-report and actigraphy measurement of sleep in people with and without traumatic brain injury (TBI) by addressing 2 aims: (1) to assess the relationship between self-report and actigraphy for sleep quantity in people with and without TBI; and (2) to explore how self-report and actigraphy capture sleep quality in TBI. Participants completed the study over 2 weeks in their own homes. They wore activity monitors, day and night, throughout the experiment and completed morning sleep diaries while interacting with an experimenter on videoconference. This project was embedded in a larger study on sleep and word learning in 100 adults: 50 with chronic, moderate-severe TBI and 50 demographically matched noninjured peers. Of the 100 participants who completed the larger study, 92 participants (45 with TBI and 47 noninjured peers) had sufficient actigraphy data for inclusion in the current study. We used multilevel linear regression models and correlation analyses to assess how well participants' self-report corresponded to actigraphy measurement of sleep. Actigraphy measures included nightly sleep duration and nighttime wakeups. Sleep diary measures included self-reported nightly sleep duration, nighttime wakeups, sleep quality, and morning fatigue. People with and without TBI did not differ in the relationship between self-reported and actigraphy measurement of sleep quantity. Performance on a neuropsychological memory assessment did not correlate with the difference in self-reported and actigraphy-measured sleep in the TBI group. Sleep characteristics that were measured by actigraphy did not predict subjective experiences of sleep quality or fatigue. Short-term self-report diaries capture accurate information about sleep quantity in individuals with TBI and may support self-report of other daily habits. Future research is needed to identify reliable metrics of sleep quality, and how they relate to other domains such as memory and mood, in the chronic phase of TBI.

Negative wealth shocks in later life and subsequent cognitive function in older adults in China, England, Mexico, and the USA, 2012–18: a population-based, cross-nationally harmonised, longitudinal study

Household wealth is positively related to cognitive health outcomes in later life. However, the association between negative wealth shocks and cognitive function in later life, and whether this association might differ across countries at different levels of economic development, is unclear. We aimed to investigate whether negative wealth shocks in later life are associated with cognitive function in older adults in China, England, Mexico, and the USA, and whether this association is modified by country income level. For this population-based, cross-nationally harmonised, longitudinal study, data were analysed from core interviews of the population-based US Health and Retirement Study (2012 and 2016) and its partner studies in China (the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study; 2015 and 2018), England (the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing; 2012 and 2016), and Mexico (Mexican Health and Aging Study; 2012 and 2015-16), and their respective Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocols (HCAPs). Negative wealth shocks over the follow-up periods of the respective cohorts were defined in two ways: an extreme loss of 75% or greater from the baseline amount of wealth, and a decline in within-population wealth quintile rank. The primary outcome was the harmonised general cognitive function (GCF) factor score, which was constructed with factor analysis on the HCAP neuropsychological assessments of memory, orientation, attention, executive function, and verbal fluency performance (mean 0; SD 1). We used sampling-weighted, multivariable-adjusted linear models to examine associations. Data from 9465 participants were included in this analysis: 3796 from China, 1184 from England, 1193 from Mexico, and 3292 from the USA. The mean baseline age of participants was 68·5 (SD 5·4) years in China (49·8% women), 72·0 (7·0) years in England (54·6% women), 70·6 (6·8) years in Mexico (55·1% women), and 72·7 (7·5) years in the USA (60·4% women). A wealth loss of 75% or greater was negatively associated with subsequent cognitive function in the USA (β -0·16 SD units; 95% CI -0·29 to -0·04) and China (-0·14; -0·21 to -0·07), but not in England (-0·01; -0·24 to 0·22) or Mexico (-0·11; -0·24 to 0·03). Similarly, within-population wealth quintile rank declines were negatively associated with subsequent cognitive function in the USA (β -0·07 per quintile rank decline; 95% CI -0·11 to -0·03) and China (β -0·07; -0·09 to -0·04), but not in England (-0·05; -0·11 to 0·01) or Mexico (-0·03; -0·07 to 0·01). The impact of wealth shocks in later life on subsequent lower level of cognitive function of older adults in China, England, Mexico, and the USA differed across macro-level socioeconomic structures. These findings suggest that government policies and social safety nets in countries with different levels of economic development might have a role in protecting older adults from adverse health effects of wealth losses in later life. US National Institute on Aging, US National Institutes of Health.

The Preliminary Effects of Aerobic Cycling Training on Cognitive Function in People with Traumatic Brain Injury and Significant Memory Impairment: a Proof-Of-Concept Randomized Controlled Trial

<h3>Research Objectives</h3> To investigate effects of aerobic exercise training in persons with TBI-related memory impairment. <h3>Design</h3> Single-blinded randomized controlled trial. <h3>Setting</h3> Kessler Foundation. <h3>Participants</h3> Five participants completed the trial. All were right handed, suffered a severe TBI at least 10 years ago, were physically inactive, and were prescreened for significant memory impairment. <h3>Interventions</h3> Participants were randomly assigned to either 12-weeks of supervised moderate intensity (60% peak watts) aerobic cycling exercise training or 12-weeks of supervised stretching-and-toning as an active control condition. Both conditions took place 3x/week for 30 mins/session. <h3>Main Outcome Measures</h3> Pre- and post-intervention measures included a battery of neuropsychological assessments of memory and processing speed and structural neuroimaging (MRI), administered by treatment-blinded assessors. <h3>Results</h3> Based on effect size estimates, the exercise group demonstrated substantially greater improvements in auditory verbal learning (RAVLT) (d=1.54), and larger increases in volumes of the left hippocampus (d=1.49), left cerebellar cortex (d=0.95), and right cerebellar cortex (d=1.40). There were large intervention effects favoring the exercise condition on processing speed (SDMT) (d=1.58) and volume of the right thalamus (d=1.44). <h3>Conclusions</h3> Pilot data provide important proof-of-concept suggesting that a 12-week, moderate intensity, aerobic cycling exercise training program may specifically improve memory and more generally improve processing speed in those with TBI and impaired memory. <h3>Author(s) Disclosures</h3> The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Trajectories of memory, language, and visuoperceptual problems in people with stroke during the first year and controls in Colombia

Aim Neuropsychological normative data for Latin America have been recently published, and for Colombia, in particular, but longitudinal neuropsychological outcomes after stroke have not yet been examined in this global region. The purpose of the current study was to compare functioning of individuals with stroke in Colombia, South America during the first year post-stroke to healthy controls across neuropsychological assessments of memory, language, and visuoperceptual impairments. Method A sample of 50 individuals with stroke (mean age = 51.58) and 50 matched healthy controls (mean age = 51.54) from Colombia were included in this study. Because of a lack of access to health services, individuals with stroke did not receive any inpatient or outpatient cognitive or behavioral rehabilitation. Participants were assessed on 10 visuoperceptual, language, and memory tasks at 3, 6, and 12 months. Results Trajectories of neuropsychological performance were significantly worse among individuals with stroke than healthy controls across every index. Further, hierarchical linear models suggested that although both individuals with stroke and controls generally improved over time on these assessments, the improvements among individuals with stroke were often of no greater magnitude than the improvements seen in controls, suggesting extremely low levels of rehabilitation gains in Colombia. Only three of the 10 neuropsychological assessments did a significant time*group interaction occur, suggesting greater gains for the stroke group than controls. Conclusion These findings suggest profound disparities in post-stroke cognitive functioning in Colombia compared to other more developed global region and underscore the importance of comprehensive cognitive rehabilitation services for individuals with stroke in Colombia and other similar global regions. Implications for rehabilitation Because this study found only negligible cognitive improvements beyond practice effects over the first year after stroke in Colombia among individuals without access to acute rehabilitation, it is imperative that comprehensive cognitive rehabilitation services be implemented immediately during the acute rehabilitation period. Memory, language, and visuoperceptual training strategies can be implemented for people with stroke in underserved global regions as part of the standard of care for stroke rehabilitation. Cognitive rehabilitation strategies should be adapted into Spanish and pilot tested in Latin America to ensure cultural equivalence. Culturally competent cognitive rehabilitation strategies should be tailored based on varied educational and literacy levels.

REM-Sleep Behavior Disorder in Patients With Essential Tremor: What Is Its Clinical Significance?

Objective: REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is an important risk factor for the dementia development and for the deterioration of autonomic functions in patients with Parkinson's Disease. RBD has also been reported in patients with Essential Tremor (ET). However, its clinical significance in ET remains still unknown. We aimed to investigate clinical, neuropsychological and cardiac autonomic scintigraphic differences between ET patients with and without RBD.Methods: To assess RBD symptoms, RBD Single-Question has been administered in a cohort of 55 patients with a clinical diagnosis of ET. Patients with clinical RBD underwent polysomnography (PSG) confirmation. All patients completed a battery of neuropsychological assessment of memory, executive function, attention, language, and visuospatial function. Cardiac MIBG scintigraphy was performed in order to measure the cardiac autonomic innervation.Results: Ten ET patients (18%) had a PSG-confirmed RBD (ETRBD+). Compared to ET patients without RBD (ETRBD−), significantly reduced scores on memory domain tests such as Rey auditory verbal learning test immediate recall (p = 0.015) and Rey auditory verbal learning test delayed recall (p = 0.004) and phonemic fluency test (p = 0.028) were present in ETRBD+. By contrast, no other significant clinical difference has emerged from the comparison between two ET groups. Similarly, ETRBD+ patients have cardiac MIBG tracer uptake in the normal value range as occurred in those with ETRBD−.Conclusions: This study improves the knowledge on clinical significance of RBD symptoms in ET patients. Our preliminary findings demonstrate that presence of RBD in ET is associated with neurocognitive impairment, but not with cardiac autonomic dysfunction. Further longitudinal studies are needed to investigate whether ET patients with RBD will develop a frank dementia over the time.

Prolonged targeted temperature management reduces memory retrieval deficits six months post-cardiac arrest: A randomised controlled trial

BackgroundCognitive sequelae, most frequently memory, attention, and executive dysfunctions, occur commonly in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survivors. Targeted temperature management (TTM) following OHCA is associated with improved cognitive function. However, the relationship between the duration of TTM and cognitive outcome remains unclear. We hypothesised that OHCA survivors that were subjected to prolonged TTM of 48 h (TTM48) would exhibit better cognitive functions compared to those subjected to standard TTM of 24 h (TTM24) six months post-OHCA. MethodsA predefined, cognitive post-hoc sub-study was conducted on the multicentre clinical trial: “Target Temperature Management for 48 vs. 24 h and Neurologic Outcome after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: A Randomised Clinical Trial” (the TTH48 trial). OHCA survivors with perceived good cognitive outcome (CPC score ≤ 2) were invited to a neuropsychological assessment of memory, attention, and executive functions six months post-OHCA. ResultsIn total, 79 patients were included in the study. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that TTM48 was associated with a significant better performance on three of 13 cognitive tests specific to memory retrieval after adjusting for age at follow-up and time to return of spontaneous circulation. Overall, patients in the TTM24 group were almost three times more likely (RR = 2.9 (95% CI 1.1–7.4)), p = 0.02) to be cognitively impaired. ConclusionsThis study reports an association between the duration of TTM and cognitive outcome. In OHCA survivors with perceived good cognitive outcome (CPC ≤ 2), TTM48 was associated with reduced memory retrieval deficits and lower relative risk of cognitive impairment six months after OHCA compared to standard TTM24.ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier: NCT01689077).

Sleep, hippocampal volume, and cognition in adults over 90 years old

Several lines of research support associations between sleep and cognition in older adults. However, there is a paucity of data regarding sleep and cognition in nonagenarians and centenarians. The current study examined self-reported sleep quantity and sleep quality in relation to hippocampal volume and cognition in adults aged 90 and older. A total of 144 participants of The 90+ Study completed The Medical Outcomes Study sleep questionnaire. Participants reported subjective sleep duration in hours and three sleep quality factors: sleep problems, adequacy, and somnolence. Neuropsychological assessments of memory, global cognition, language, and executive function were completed, on average, 61 days from the questionnaire. Hippocampal volume on 3T MRI, adjusted for intracranial volume, was obtained in 82 participants. We performed multiple linear regressions, controlling for age, sex, education, sleep medication, and depression, to examine sleep characteristics in relation to hippocampal volume and cognitive performance in all the subjects and then stratified by cognition. Sleep duration > 8h was associated with lower scores in tests of global cognition, memory, and executive function compared to sleep duration of 7-8h when collapsing across cognitive status, but only with memory in cognitively impaired subjects, and not in cognitively normal subjects. Long-sleep duration is associated with poorer global cognition, memory, and executive function in the oldest-old, and is only associated with memory in cognitively impaired oldest-old. Additional research is necessary to determine if sleep duration is a risk factor or a result of poor cognition in advanced age.

Validity of a Newly Developed Measure of Memory: Feasibility Study of the Virtual Environment Grocery Store.

Virtual reality-based neuropsychological assessments proffer the potential to address the limited ecological validity of pen-and-paper measures of memory. To investigate the construct validity of a newly developed virtual reality measure of memory, the Virtual Environment Grocery Store (VEGS), traditional neuropsychological measures of memory and executive functioning were administered to 48 older adults and 55 young adults. Performances on the VEGS memory tasks and the traditional neuropsychological assessments of memory were positively correlated, indicating that memory for VEGS content was similar to memory for traditional paper-and-pencil measures. The older adults performed significantly worse than young adults on the VEGS and the California Verbal Learning Test, but the DKEFS Color-Word Interference failed to differentiate the groups. Furthermore, significant differences were found between groups for the VEGS memory and multitasking measures. The VEGS has the advantage over traditional measures of providing objective measurement of individual components of memory in simulations of everyday activities.

An initial validation of the Virtual Environment Grocery Store

BackgroundVirtual reality-based neuropsychological assessments proffer the potential to address the limited ecological validity of pen-and-paper measures of memory. New methodTo investigate the construct validity of a newly developed virtual reality-based multiple errands task, the Virtual Environment Grocery Store (VEGS), two studies were performed. Comparison with existing method(s)In Study 1, we explored construct validity via comparison of traditional neuropsychological measures of memory and executive functioning with a low distraction condition of the VEGS. In Study 2, a new sample was used to compare traditional neuropsychological measures of memory and executive functioning with a high distraction condition of the VEGS. ResultsPerformances on the VEGS memory tasks (in Study 1: low distraction condition) and the traditional neuropsychological assessments of memory were positively correlated, indicating that memory for VEGS content was similar to memory for traditional paper-and-pencil measures. Again, in Study 2, performances on the VEGS memory tasks correlated with the traditional neuropsychological assessments of memory, indicating that memory for VEGS content was similar to memory for traditional paper-and-pencil measures. As expected, though, the addition of distractors into the virtual environment resulted in significant correlations with traditional measures of inhibitory control. ConclusionsThe VEGS has the advantage over traditional measures of providing objective measurement of individual components of memory in simulations of everyday activities.

Novel Cognitive Paradigms for the Detection of Memory Impairment in Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease.

In spite of advances in neuroimaging and other brain biomarkers to assess preclinical Alzheimer's disease (AD), cognitive assessment has relied on traditional memory paradigms developed well over six decades ago. This has led to a growing concern about their effectiveness in the early diagnosis of AD which is essential to develop preventive and early targeted interventions before the occurrence of multisystem brain degeneration. We describe the development of novel tests that are more cognitively challenging, minimize variability in learning strategies, enhance initial acquisition and retrieval using cues, and exploit vulnerabilities in persons with incipient AD such as the susceptibility to proactive semantic interference, and failure to recover from proactive semantic interference. The advantages of various novel memory assessment paradigms are examined as well as how they compare with traditional neuropsychological assessments of memory. Finally, future directions for the development of more effective assessment paradigms are suggested.

An Exploratory Study Investigating How Adults with Intellectual Disabilities Perform on the Visual Association Test (VAT).

Neuropsychological tests of memory are believed to offer the greatest sensitivity at identifying people at the risk of developing dementia. There is a paucity ofstandardized and appropriate neuropsychological assessments of memory for adults with an intellectual disability. This study examines how adults with an intellectual disability perform on the Visual Association Test(VAT). Forty participants (18-45years) with intellectual disability, without a diagnosis of dementia, completed the VAT and subtests of the CAMCOG-DS. Correlational analysis of the test variables was carried out. All participants performed well on the VAT irrespective of age, gender or IQ. No significant correlations were found between the VAT and the subtests of the CAMCOG-DS. The VAT was found to be an easy and quick test to use with people with intellectual disability and all participants scored above 'floor' level.

Evaluación de la memoria mediante realidad virtual: presente y futuro

The human memory is a complex cognitive system whose close relationship with executive functions implies that, in many occasions, a mnemonic deficit comprises difficulties to operate with correctly stored contents. Traditional memory tests, more focused in the information storage than in its processing, may be poorly sensitive both to subjects' daily life functioning and to changes originated by rehabilitation programs. In memory assessment, there is plenty evidence with regards to the need of improving it by means of tests which offer a higher ecological validity, with information that may be presented in various sensorial modalities and produced in a simultaneous way. Virtual reality reproduces three-dimensional environments with which the patient interacts in a dynamic way, with a sense of immersion in the environment similar to the presence and exposure to a real environment, and in which presentation of such stimuli, distractors and other variables may be systematically controlled. The current review aims to go deeply into the trajectory of neuropsychological assessment of memory based in virtual reality environments, making a tour through existing tests designed for assessing learning, prospective, episodic and spatial memory, as well as the most recent attempts to perform a comprehensive evaluation of all memory components.

Alterations of 5-HT1A receptor-induced G-protein functional activation and relationship to memory deficits in patients with pharmacoresistant temporal lobe epilepsy

The 5-hydroxytryptamine-1A (5-HT1A) receptors are known to be involved in the inhibition of seizures in epilepsy. Moreover, studies propose a role for the 5-HT1A receptor in memory function; it is believed that the higher density of this receptor in the hippocampus plays an important role in its regulation. Positron emission tomography (PET) studies in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE) have demonstrated that a decrease in 5-HT1A receptor binding in temporal regions may play a role in memory impairment. The evidences lead us to speculate whether this decrease in receptor binding is associated with a reduced receptor number or if the functionality of the 5-HT1A receptor-induced G-protein activation and/or the second messenger cascade is modified. The purpose of the present study is to determine 5-HT1A receptor-induced G-protein functional activation by 8-OH-DPAT-stimulated [(35)S]GTPγS binding assay in hippocampal tissue of surgical patients with mTLE. We correlate functional activity with epilepsy history and neuropsychological assessment of memory. We found that maximum functional activation stimulation values (Emax) of [(35)S]GTPγS binding were significantly increased in mTLE group when compared to autopsy samples. Furthermore, significant correlations were found: (1) positive coefficients between the Emax with the age of patient and frequency of seizures; (2) negative coefficients between the Emax and working memory, immediate recall and delayed recall memory tasks. Our data suggest that the epileptic hippocampus of patients with mTLE presents an increase in 5-HT1A receptor-induced G-protein functional activation, and that this altered activity is related to age and seizure frequency, as well as to memory consolidation deficit.

Effectiveness of humor on short‐term memory function and cortisol levels in age matched elderly and diabetic subjects vs. control group (684.4)

With ageing, the damaging effects of stress can impair the ability to learn and sustain memory. The purpose was to examine the effect of watching a humor video on short term memory in 3 age matched elderly groups: elderly (69.9 ± 3.7 years), diabetic (67.1 ± 3.8 years), and control (68.7 ± 5.5 years) (no video). Humor and the associated mirthful laughter can reduce stress by decreasing the stress hormone cortisol. Excess cortisol can damage hippocampal neurons leading to impairment of learning and memory. The standardized neuropsychological memory assessment tool, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) was used to assess for 1) learning ability, 2) recall ability, and 3) visual recognition ability. Salivary cortisol measurements, at 3 predetermined time points, were obtained. RAVLT was given to 30 elderly individuals before and after watching a humor video of their choice for 20 minutes vs. no humor video. Results showed that 1) learning ability improved by 38.45% , 33.38%, and 23.96% in the elderly, diabetic, and control groups respectively (p=.025); 2) delayed recall improved by 43.61%, 48.10%, and 20.25% in the elderly, diabetic, and control groups respectively (p=.064); and 3)visual recognition increased by 12.55%, 16.72%, and 8.33% in the elderly, diabetic, and control groups respectively (p=.321). Results, for the changes in salivary cortisol levels, at the predetermined time points, indicated there were 1) borderline significant changes in the elderly group (p=.047, .046, and .062 respectively), 2) significant changes in the diabetic group (p=.047, .025, and .035 respectively), and 3) no changes in the control group (p=.323, .323, and .187 respectively). Due to decreased cortisol levels, elderly and diabetic elderly individuals that watch a humor video that induces mirthful laughter vs. not watching a humor video have greater enhancement in: 1) capability to learn, 2) have greater recall, and 3) improve visual recognition in short term memory function.

Neuropsychological assessment of memory in child and adolescent first episode psychosis: Cannabis and the «paradox effect»

IntroductionThe importance of neuropsychological functioning in First-Episode Psychosis (FEP) has led to the publication of a growing number of studies in this area of research. The present study pursued three goals: first, to examine verbal and visual memory in a sample of Child and Adolescent FEP, second, to evaluate the effect of other cognitive domains on verbal and visual memory, and finally, to examine the relationship between performance in this cognitive dimension and the use of cannabis at this age. MethodA sample of 41 FEPs and 39 healthy subjects were evaluated. The variables assessed were verbal and visual memory, attention, working memory, processing speed, mental flexibility, verbal fluency, motor coordination, planning ability and intelligence. ResultsOur results found impairment of short and long-term recall of verbal memory, and short-term visual memory in early psychosis. They also found relationships between cognitive dimensions, such as visual memory and intelligence and motor coordination. Finally, a «paradoxical» effect was found in patients who used cannabis, as the FEP consumers performed the visual memory test better than those who had not used it. ConclusionsPatients showed impairment of short and long-term recall of verbal information and short-term visual reproduction. In the second place, motor coordination and intelligence influenced short-term visual memory in patients in the early stages of the illness. Third, use of cannabis in patients with FEP was associated with better performance in the test that evaluated the short-term visual memory, as measured by task completion time, that is, efficiency in performing the test. However, when measured by task execution accuracy, their visual memory was no better than the controls.

Neuropsychological Assessment of Memory in Preschoolers

Memory is of fundamental importance for cognitive, social, and educational function, making it a target for neuropsychological assessment. The subject of this review is one particular type of memory, namely, episodic memory of unique events and experiences. Episodic memory allows for rapid, even one-trial learning of new information and retention of it for later retrieval. It depends on a particular neural substrate that undergoes a protracted developmental course. The review features discussion of some of the challenges associated with valid assessment of this specific form of memory in the preschool period, as well as a description and critical evaluation of available standardized measures. It also features description of two new approaches to assessment of episodic memory and their sensitivity to memory-specific deficits in the preschool years and in infancy. The review ends with introduction of the NIH Toolbox Picture Sequence Memory Test, designed as a measure of episodic memory in the preschool years and beyond.

Unawareness of memory impairment in dementia: a population-based study

Unawareness of cognitive deficit in people with dementia (PwD) has wide clinical implications, impacting on help-seeking behavior, treatment compliance, and patient safety. Most studies on unawareness among PwD have been conducted in small clinical samples. This study investigated the frequency of unawareness of memory impairment in dementia, exploring regional differences and sociodemographic and health status correlates in large population-based surveys. Community samples (total n = 15,022) from three world regions (Latin America, China, and India) were obtained using cross-sectional population-based surveys. Out of these, 897 (5.97%) PwD with memory impairment were identified using standardized interviews, diagnostic algorithms (DSM-IV or 10/66 criteria), and neuropsychological memory assessment. Unawareness of memory deficits was ascertained from the participants' subjective report. The frequency of unawareness was calculated for each region and associations with demographic variables and health status were investigated using prevalence ratios and Poisson regressions. Regional differences in frequency of unawareness were found, from 63% in China to 81% in India. Unawareness was associated with depression in China and Latin America, dementia severity in India and Latin America, and education and socioeconomic level in Latin America. Unawareness of memory impairment in PwD varies across international regions. Our data support the notion that unawareness should be seen not only as a common neurobiological feature of dementia, increasing with severity of dementia, but also as a phenomenon influenced by social and cultural factors.

Dysfunctional emotion processing may explain visual memory deficits in alexithymia

While past research implicates weakened memory in alexithymia, the verbal nature of most memory tasks is problematic, as there is also evidence of a generalized verbal deficit underlying alexithymia. To address this confound, the current study compared groups of high- and low-alexithymic individuals on a neuropsychological memory assessment that included both verbal and nonverbal tasks. Contrary to the hypothesis, participants performed equivalently on verbal subtests, but the high-alexithymic group, relative to the low-alexithymic group, demonstrated a deficit for visual short- and long-delay memory that involves remembering pictures of people in social situations. Implications and ideas for future research are discussed.