Objective Cognitive Dysfunction Research Articles

Symptomatic Clusters Related to Amyloid Positivity in Cognitively Unimpaired Individuals

Background: The NIA-AA Research Framework on Alzheimer’s disease (AD) proposes a transitional stage (stage 2) characterized by subtle cognitive decline, subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and mild neurobehavioral symptoms (NPS). Objective: To identify participant clusters based on stage 2 features and assess their association with amyloid positivity in cognitively unimpaired individuals. Methods: We included baseline data of N = 338 cognitively unimpaired participants from the DELCODE cohort with data on cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers for AD. Classification into the AD continuum (i.e., amyloid positivity, A+) was based on Aβ42/40 status. Neuropsychological test data were used to assess subtle objective cognitive dysfunction (OBJ), the subjective cognitive decline interview (SCD-I) was used to detect SCD, and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q) was used to assess NPS. A two-step cluster analysis was carried out and differences in AD biomarkers between clusters were analyzed. Results: We identified three distinct participant clusters based on presented symptoms. The highest rate of A+ participants (47.6%) was found in a cluster characterized by both OBJ and SCD. A cluster of participants that presented with SCD and NPS (A+:26.6%) and a cluster of participants with overall few symptoms (A+:19.7%) showed amyloid positivity in a range that was not higher than the expected A+ rate for the age group. Across the full sample, participants with a combination of SCD and OBJ in the memory domain showed a lower Aβ42/ptau181 ratio compared to those with neither SCD nor OBJ. Conclusions: The cluster characterized by participants with OBJ and concomitant SCD was enriched for amyloid pathology.

S16: Post-Acute Covid-19 Cognitive Sequelae in an Aging Population

S16: Post-Acute Covid-19 Cognitive Sequelae in an Aging Population

Centrally acting ACE inhibitor (cACEi) and angiotensin receptor blocker (cARB) use and cognitive dysfunction in patients with SLE

ObjectiveCognitive dysfunction (CD) is detectable in approximately 40% of patients with SLE. Despite this high prevalence, there are no approved pharmacological treatment options for this detrimental condition. Preliminary murine studies...

Subjective cognitive decline in patients with Parkinson's disease: an updated review.

Cognitive impairment in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) worsens the prognosis of PD and increases caregivers' burden and economic consequences. Recently, subjective cognitive decline (SCD), which refers to self-reported cognitive decline without detectable objective cognitive dysfunction, has been regarded as an at-risk state of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and a prodromal stage for dementia in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, studies on PD-SCD have thus far been scarce, and at present there is no consensus regarding the definition of SCD nor a gold standard as an evaluation tool. The present review aimed to look for an association between PD-SCD and objective cognitive function and found that PD with SCD occurred with brain metabolic changes, which were consistent with early aberrant pathological changes in PD. Moreover, PD patients with SCD were likely to progress to future cognitive impairment. It is necessary to establish a guideline for the definition and evaluation of SCD in PD. A larger sample size and more longitudinal investigations are needed to verify the predictive effectiveness of PD-SCD and to detect earlier subtle cognitive decline before MCI.

Neuropsychiatric Status of Patients With Multiple Sclerosis Across Disease Duration Intervals.

The neuropsychiatric sequelae of multiple sclerosis (MS) are important predictors of morbidity and mortality. The authors examined how symptoms of depression, anxiety, fatigue, subjective cognitive impairment, and objective cognitive dysfunction varied with disease duration. They also explored changes in the use of disease-modifying therapies, psychotropic medications, and psychotherapies in relation to disease duration. A retrospective sample of 464 people with MS was stratified into three groups based on disease duration: <5 years (N=129), 5-10 years (N=101), and >10 years (N=234). Symptoms of depression and anxiety were recorded with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS); fatigue, with the five-item version of the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS-5); subjective cognitive impairment, with the five-item version of the Perceived Deficits Questionnaire (PDQ-5); and cognition, with the Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Function in MS (MACFIMS). There were between-group differences in anxiety symptoms (p<0.01) and degree of cognitive impairment (p=0.03), but there were no differences in depressive symptoms, fatigue, or subjective cognitive difficulties. Anxiety was higher during the first 5 years after diagnosis, and cognitive dysfunction was higher when assessed more than 10 years after diagnosis. With longer disease duration, a greater proportion of participants received psychotropic medications (p<0.01), and lower proportions received disease-modifying therapies (p<0.01) or psychotherapies (p<0.01). Findings indicated that rates of some neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as anxiety and cognitive dysfunction, may shift with disease duration, whereas other symptoms, such as fatigue and depression, may not. These findings highlight the importance of closely monitoring the mental state of people with MS over time.

Clinical associations of cognitive dysfunction in systemic lupus erythematosus

ObjectiveCognitive dysfunction in SLE is common, but clinical risk factors are poorly understood. This study aims to explore the associations of cognitive dysfunction in SLE with disease activity, organ damage,...

Associations of subjective and objective cognitive functioning after COVID-19: A six-month follow-up of ICU, ward, and home-isolated patients

BackgroundSubjective and objective cognitive dysfunction are reported after COVID-19 but with limited data on their congruence and associations with the severity of the acute disease. The aim of this cohort study is to describe the prevalence of subjective and objective cognitive dysfunction at three and six months after COVID-19 and the associations of subjective cognitive symptoms and psychological and disease-related factors. MethodsWe assessed a cohort of 184 patients at three and six months after COVID-19: 82 patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 53 admitted to regular hospital wards, and 49 isolated at home. A non-COVID control group of 53 individuals was included. Demographic and clinical data were collected. Subjective cognitive symptoms, objective cognitive impairment, and depressive and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms were assessed. ResultsAt six months, subjective cognitive impairment was reported by 32.3% of ICU-treated, 37.3% of ward-treated, and 33.3% of home-isolated patients and objective cognitive impairment was observed in 36.1% of ICU-treated, 34.7% of ward-treated, and 8.9% of home-isolated patients. Subjective cognitive symptoms were associated with depressive and PTSD symptoms and female sex, but not with objective cognitive assessment or hospital metrics. ConclusionsOne-third of COVID-19 patients, regardless of the acute disease severity, reported high levels of subjective cognitive dysfunction which was not associated with results from objective cognitive screening but with psychological and demographic factors. Our study stresses the importance of thorough assessment of patients reporting long-term subjective symptoms, screening for underlying mental health related factors such as PTSD or depression.

Cognitive complaints in older adults: relationships between self and informant report, objective test performance, and symptoms of depression

ABSTRACT This study explored the relationships between objective measures of cognitive functioning, self and informant reports of cognitive problems in daily life, and depression screening in older adults who had been referred because of reported or suspected cognitive changes. We used archival data from 100, predominantly White (97%), typically educated (M = 13.25 years), older adults (M = 70.38 years) who received an outpatient neuropsychological evaluation. We characterized the cognitive performance using the CVLT–II Total score. We characterized patient and collateral reports using the BRIEF–A MI index, a normed scale of cognitive problems in daily life. We also incorporated a depression screener (PHQ–9) into our analyses. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that only the informant reported problems in daily life, using the BRIEF–A MI index, was a significant predictor of objective cognitive deficits, as defined by CVLT–II Total scores. Self BRIEF–A MI index scores were not significant predictors of CVLT–II Total performance after we accounted for depression using the patient’s PHQ–9 score. Additionally, elevated depression widened the discrepancy between raters, with elevated depression associated with worsening sself-report scores compared to informant-reported scores. As informant-reported problems were the strongest predictor of cognitive deficits, we recommend routine collection of collateral informant reports in the neuropsychological evaluation of older adults referred for cognitive concerns. We also recommend incorporating self-ratings of daily life functioning and screening for depression to contextualize patient complaints and address their concerns, even in the absence of objective cognitive dysfunction.

Long-term cognitive performance and its relation to anti-inflammatory therapy in a cohort of survivors of severe COVID-19

Background and objectivesLong-term cognitive performance data in former critically ill COVID-19 patients are sparse. Current evidence suggests that cognitive decline is related to neuroinflammation, which might be attenuated by COVID-19 related anti-inflammatory therapies. The objective of this prospective cohort study was to study long term cognitive outcomes following severe COVID-19 and the relation to anti-inflammatory therapies. MethodsProspective observational cohort of patients that survived an intensive care unit (ICU) admission due to severe COVID-19. Six months after hospital discharge, we extensively assessed both objective cognitive functioning and subjective cognitive complaints. Furthermore, patients were stratified in cohorts according to their anti-inflammatory treatment (i.e. no immunomodulatory therapy, dexamethasone, or both dexamethasone and interleukin-6 receptor antagonist tocilizumab). Results96 patients were included (March 2020–June 2021, median [IQR] age 61 [55–69] years). 91% received invasive mechanical ventilation, and mean ± SD severity-of-disease APACHE–II–score at admission was 15.8 ± 4.1. After 6.5 ± 1.3 months, 27% of patients scored cognitively impaired. Patients that did or did not develop cognitive impairments were similar in ICU-admission parameters, clinical course and delirium incidence. Patients with subjective cognitive complaints (20%) were more likely women (61% vs 26%), and had a shorter ICU stay (median [IQR] 8 [5–15] vs 18 [9–31], p = 0.002). Objective cognitive dysfunction did not correlate with subjective cognitive dysfunction. 27% of the participants received dexamethasone during intensive care admission, 44% received additional tocilizumab and 29% received neither. Overall occurrence and severity of cognitive dysfunction were not affected by anti-inflammatory therapy, although patients treated with both dexamethasone and tocilizumab had worse executive functioning scores (Trail Making Test interference) than patients without anti-inflammatory treatment (T-score 40.3 ± 13.5 vs 49.1 ± 9.3, p = 0.007). DiscussionA relevant proportion of critically ill COVID-19 patients shows deficits in long-term cognitive functioning. Apart from more pronounced executive dysfunction, overall, anti-inflammatory therapy appeared not to affect long-term cognitive performance. Our findings provide insight in long-term cognitive outcomes in patients who survived COVID-19, that may facilitate health-care providers counseling patients and their caregivers.

Paradoxical relationship between subjective and objective cognition: the role of sleep.

Subjective memory complaints and objective cognitive dysfunction are common in aging populations; however, research investigating the associations between them is inconclusive. Given the high prevalence of sleep complaints in middle-aged/older adults, this research tested whether objective cognition interacted with sleep parameters in its associations with subjective cognition. Cognitively healthy adults aged 50+ years completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Cognitive Failures Questionnaire, and cognitive tasks: Stroop, Sternberg, and Posner cueing. Multiple regression and simple slope analyses examined whether objective cognition interacted with sleep parameters in its associations with subjective memory. Stroop performance and sleep (efficiency and disturbances) had interactive associations with Cognitive Failures Questionnaire-memory. Specifically, better Stroop performance (faster reaction time-control trials) was associated with more memory complaints at worst and average but not best sleep efficiency. Additionally, faster reaction time was associated with more memory complaints only for worst sleep disturbance. Similarly, Sternberg performance and sleep (efficiency and disturbances) had interactive associations with Cognitive Failures Questionnaire-memory. Specifically, higher proportion correct was associated with more memory complaints only at worst sleep efficiency and sleep disturbance. Finally, Posner performance and sleep disturbance had an interactive association with Cognitive Failures Questionnaire-memory. Faster exogenous orienting was associated with more memory complaints only for worst sleep disturbance. Objective cognition interacts with sleep efficiency and sleep disturbances in its associations with subjective memory in mid-to-late life. Findings suggest sleep fragmentation plays a role in the discrepant relationship between objective and subjective cognition. Future studies should investigate this relationship in aging populations with sleep disorders and/or cognitive impairments. Costa AN, McCrae CS, Cowan N, Curtis AF. Paradoxical relationship between subjective and objective cognition: the role of sleep. J Clin Sleep Med. 2022;18(8):2009-2022.

0313 The Role of Objective Sleep on Subjective and Objective Cognition in Older Adults with Insomnia: A Pilot Study

Abstract Introduction Cognitive complaints and objective cognitive dysfunction are common in aging populations, but findings regarding associations between them are inconclusive. Given age-related sleep changes [more lighter-staged sleep, reduced sleep efficiency (SE)], and known relationships between insomnia complaints and cognitive dysfunction, this pilot tested whether polysomnographic sleep moderates associations between subjective and objective cognition in older adults with insomnia complaints. Methods Older adults with insomnia complaints (N=37, Mage=68.9, SD=6.23, 20 women) completed one night of polysomnography (Sleep Profiler-PSG2TM) and the NIH Toolbox [Pattern Comparison (processing speed), Dimensional Change Card Sort (cognitive flexibility), Stroop (attention and inhibition), and Sternberg (working memory). Additionally, participants completed the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (subscores CFQ-memory, CFQ-distractibility CFQ-blunders computed). Multiple regressions examined if polysomnographic sleep (SE, %N1, %N3) moderated associations between subjective/objective cognition, controlling for apnea-hypopnea index and depression. Results %N1 moderated associations between Sternberg performance and CFQ-memory (R2=.13, p=.03), CFQ-distractibility (R2=.20 p=.01) and CFQ-blunders (R2=.19 p=.02). At highest %N1, worse working memory was associated with less complaints in memory (β=16.4, p=.03), distractibility (β=12.4, p=.009) and blunders (β=15.3, p=.02). Additionally, %N1 (R2=.14, p=.02) and SE (R2=.17, p=.02) moderated the association between dimensional change performance and CFQ-distractibility. At lowest %N1, worse cognitive flexibility was associated with more distractibility complaints (β=-988.8, p=.02), while at highest %N1, worse cognitive flexibility was associated with less distractibility complaints (β=3881.4, p=.02). At lowest SE, worse cognitive flexibility was associated with less distractibility complaints (β=2354.0 p=.02), while at highest SE, worse cognitive flexibility was associated with more distractibility complaints (β=-1414.1 p=.03). Conclusion Preliminary findings suggest in older adults with insomnia complaints, greater time spent in lighter-staged sleep and more sleep fragmentation may exacerbate discrepancies in the objective/subjective cognition relationship, while less time spent in lighter-staged sleep and less sleep fragmentation may converge the objective/subjective relationship. Objective sleep should be considered when understanding discrepancies between subjective reports versus neuropsychological/objective cognition profiles. Prospective studies with larger samples examining how sleep impacts the trajectory of subjective/objective cognition in aging are warranted. Support (If Any) This research was made possible by an award (PI:Curtis) from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine Foundation, a foundation of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

Fibromyalgia, mood disorders, cognitive test results, cognitive symptoms and quality of life in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Cognitive dysfunction, and comorbidities such as mood disorder and fibromyalgia, are common in SLE. This study aims to explore the associations between fibromyalgia, mood disorders, cognitive symptoms and cognitive dysfunction in SLE patients, and their impact on quality of life. We tested cognition in SLE patients and healthy controls, and evaluated cognitive symptoms, mood disorder, fibromyalgia, fatigue and quality of life using patient-reported outcome measures. We examined associations of these comorbidities with both patient-reported cognitive symptoms and cognitive test performance. High fibromyalgia symptom score and history of depression or anxiety were associated with cognitive dysfunction. There were no significant associations between current depression, anxiety symptoms or fatigue score and objective cognitive dysfunction. In contrast, mood disorder symptoms, history of mood disorder, fibromyalgia symptoms and fatigue all had significant associations with patient-reported cognitive symptoms. There were no significant associations between patient-reported cognitive symptoms and objective cognitive dysfunction. Objective cognitive dysfunction, patient-reported cognitive symptoms, history of mood disorder and fibromyalgia symptoms all had significant associations with poorer quality of life; fibromyalgia had the biggest impact. Cognitive symptoms are common in SLE, but there were no associations between cognitive symptoms and objective cognitive dysfunction. Depression, anxiety and fibromyalgia were more consistently associated with patient-reported cognitive symptoms than with objective cognitive dysfunction. These factors all have a significant impact on quality of life. Understanding the discrepancy between patient-reported cognitive symptoms and cognitive test performance is essential to advance care in this area of unmet need.

Perioperative outcomes of the Geriatric Assessment and Medical Preoperative Screening (GrAMPS) program pilot for older hernia patients: does chronological age predict outcomes?

The Geriatric Assessment and Medical Preoperative Screening (GrAMPS) program was an initial attempt to understand and to define the prevalence of age-related risk factors in older patients undergoing elective ventral hernia repair (VHR) or inguinal hernia repair (IHR). Preliminary analysis found significant rates of previously unrecognized objective cognitive dysfunction, multimorbidity and polypharmacy. We now examine whether chronological age as a sole risk factor can predict a patient's perioperative outcomes, and if traditional risk calculators that rely heavily on chronological age can accurately capture a patient's true risk. This was a retrospective secondary analysis of the previously reported GrAMPS trial enrolling patients 60years and older with a planned elective repair of a ventral or inguinal hernia. The rates of key postoperative outcomes were compared between various cohorts stratified by chronological age. Previously validated risk screening calculators [Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP)] were compared between cohorts. In total, 55 (78.6%) of the 70 patients enrolled in GrAMPS underwent operative intervention by May 2021, including 26 VHR and 29 IHRs. Cohorts stratified by chronological age had similar rates of key perioperative wound and age-related outcomes including readmissions, postoperative complications, non-home discharges, and length of stay. Additionally, while the commonly used risk calculators, CCI and NSQIP, consistently predicted worse outcomes for older hernia patients (stratified by both median age and age-tertiles), screening positive on these risk assessments were not actually predictive of a greater incidence of postoperative complications. Chronological age does not accurately predict worse adverse postoperative complications in older hernia patients. Additionally, traditional risk screening calculators that rely heavily on age to risk stratify may not accurately capture a patient's true surgical risk. Surgeons should continue to explore nuanced patient risk assessments that more accurately capture age-related risk factors to better individualize perioperative risk.

NCOG-47. CONGRUENCE BETWEEN PROVIDER REPORTED PERFORMANCE STATUS AND BOTH OBJECTIVE AND PERCEIVED COGNITION IN A GLIOMA POPULATION

Abstract Karnofsky performance status (KPS) scale, a clinician-reported measure, is used to assess patients’ functional ability and as a metric for trial eligibility. Glioma patients often have a degree of neurologic deficit which can invariably affect performance status. There is little research comparing KPS, patient-reported cognitive outcomes, and objective cognitive outcomes. 273 primary brain tumor patients enrolled in the NOB Natural History Study were included in this report. We evaluated Pearson correlations between KPS (range 40-100), dichotomized as Good KPS (KPS ≥ 90) and Poor KPS (KPS ≤ 80), and MDASI-BT cognitive symptom factor, NeuroQoL Cognitive Function t-score, EQ-5D-3L index score, and objective MoCA test. The majority of patients were white (81%), male (58%) with a median 50 years of age (range 24-79). Most had high grade gliomas (74%), 22% were on active treatment, and 55% had prior tumor recurrences. Providers reported a poor KPS in 37% of patients. KPS correlated with the MDASI-BT cognitive symptoms (r = -0.32), NeuroQoL (r = 0.39), and EQ-5D-3L index score (r = 0.55) (all p &amp;lt; 0.01). Patients with poor KPS reported moderate-severe cognitive symptoms on the Neuro-QoL Cognitive Function (40%), moderate-severe difficulty remembering on the MDASI-BT (37%), and difficulty with usual activities on the EQ-5D-3L (83%). In a subset of 27 patients, MoCA scores were assessed but no significant correlation was found with KPS (r = 0.19, p = 0.352). Patient-reported and objective cognitive dysfunction was seen in up to 36% of those with good KPS. These data demonstrate that perceived cognitive testing is associated with poor KPS but may also occur in those with good performance status. The results underscore the need for alternative measures of cognitive functioning to further explore the impact in those with good KPS and the use of the MoCA in a larger sample.

The Application of ASSRs, P50, and MMN in the Exploration of Cognitive Dysfunction Involving Inputs and Processing in Insomnia Patients.

Objective cognitive dysfunction has been commonly found in patients with insomnia, such as attention, memory, speed of information processing, and executive functions. Auditory steady-state responses (ASSRs), P50, mismatch negativity (MMN) can meet varied need and estimate such different cognitive dysfunction. Thus, we can examine whether insomnia is associated with different cognitive dysfunction by such multiple event-related potential (ERP) tasks. Methods we used polysomnography (PSG) to record such objective PSG parameters. ASSR, P50, and MMN were performed in sequence, different ERP components have been analyzed such as latency or amplitude between insomnia group and control group. And we chosed person correlation to make correlation analysis between different ERP components and gender, education, and sleep characteristics. Results there is a significant gender difference of ASSR latency found in insomnia group, and the similar result has been found in suppression ratio of amplitudes (S2:S1) for P50. Additionally, a significant correlation between sleep characteristics and ASSR, P50 has been found. Furthermore, there was a significant difference of MMN latency between insomnia and control group, and between sleep characteristics and varied MMN parameters as latency and amplitude. Discussion our results suggested robust electrophysiological abnormalities as ASSR, P50, and MMN in insomnia patients. Such abnormalities included gender difference, education difference, difference in depressive tendency, and difference in sleep parameters. That results revealed varied cognitive dysfunction involving inputs and processing in insomnia patients. And at the same time, we have also explored the neuropsychological mechanisms underlying the cognitive dysfunction with such different ERP tasks.

Comparison of digital games as a cognitive function assessment tool for current standardized neuropsychological tests

ObjectiveCognitive dysfunction may occur postoperatively. Fast and efficient assessment of Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction (POCD) can minimize loss of quality of life, and therefore, a study comparing a digital game with standard neuropsychological tests to assess executive, mnemonic, and attention functions to evaluate POCD seems to be relevant both for research and clinical practice. MethodsA battery of standardized tests and a digital game (MentalPlus®) were administered to 60 patients at the Central Institute of Hospital das Clínicas in São Paulo (36 women and 24 men), with ages between 29 and 82 years, pre- and post-surgery performed under anesthesia. Correlation and linear regression model were used to compare the scores obtained from the standardized tests to the scores of the six executive and cognitive functions evaluated by the game (short- and long-term memory, selective and alternating attention, inhibitory control, and visual perception). ResultsAfter correlation analysis, a statistically significant result was found mainly for the correlation between the scores from the phase of the digital game assessing the visuoperception function and the scores from the A and B cards of the Stroop Test (p < 0.001, r = 0.99 and r = 0.64, respectively), and the scores from TMTA (p = 0.0046, r = 0.51). We also found a moderate correlation between the phase of the game assessing short-memory function and VVLT (p < 0.001, r = 0.41). No statistically significant correlations were found for the other functions assessed. ConclusionThe digital game provided scores in agreement with standardized tests for evaluating visual perception and possibly short-term memory cognitive functions. Further studies are necessary to verify the correlation of other phases of the digital game with standardized tests assessing cognitive functions.

Comorbidity, cognitive dysfunction, physical functioning, and quality of life in older breast cancer survivors

PurposeOlder breast cancer survivors (BCS) may be at greater risk for cognitive dysfunction and other comorbidities; both of which may be associated with physical and emotional well-being. This study will seek to understand these relationships by examining the association between objective and subjective cognitive dysfunction and physical functioning and quality of life (QoL) and moderated by comorbidities in older BCS.MethodsA secondary data analysis was conducted on data from 335 BCS (stages I–IIIA) who were ≥ 60 years of age, received chemotherapy, and were 3–8 years post-diagnosis. BCS completed a one-time questionnaire and neuropsychological tests of learning, delayed recall, attention, working memory, and verbal fluency. Descriptive statistics and separate linear regression analyses testing the relationship of each cognitive assessment on physical functioning and QoL controlling for comorbidities were conducted.ResultsBCS were on average 69.79 (SD = 3.34) years old and 5.95 (SD = 1.48) years post-diagnosis. Most were stage II (67.7%) at diagnosis, White (93.4%), had at least some college education (51.6%), and reported on average 3 (SD = 1.81) comorbidities. All 6 physical functioning models were significant (p < .001), with more comorbidities and worse subjective attention identified as significantly related to decreased physical functioning. One model found worse subjective attention was related to poorer QoL (p < .001). Objective cognitive function measures were not significantly related to physical functioning or QoL.ConclusionsA greater number of comorbidities and poorer subjective attention were related to poorer outcomes and should be integrated into research seeking to determine predictors of physical functioning and QoL in breast cancer survivors.

Cognitive dysfunction prevalence and associated factors in older breast cancer survivors

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence and factors associated with objective and subjective cognitive dysfunction in older breast cancer survivors (BCS). Materials and MethodsThis cross-sectional descriptive study leveraged previously collected data from older BCS (n = 335). Separate linear regression models were used to determine relationships between demographic factors (age, education), medical factors (comorbidities), disease factors (time since diagnosis, cancer stage), cancer-related symptoms (depressive symptoms, anxiety, fatigue, sleep disturbance) and cognitive dysfunction measures, including objective learning, delayed recall, attention, executive function-working memory, verbal fluency and subjective attentional function. ResultsCognitive dysfunction was prevalent with up to 18.6% of older BCS experiencing mild-moderate dysfunction (1.5 standard deviations below mean of non-cancer controls) in at least one cognitive domain. Poor to moderate subjective attentional function was reported by 26% of older BCS. More depressive symptoms were significantly related to poorer cognitive function including learning (p < .01), delayed recall (p < .05), verbal fluency (p < .001), and subjective attentional function (p < .001) but not attention and executive function-working memory. Age, education, anxiety, and fatigue were also negatively associated with cognitive function in some models (p < .05–0.001). ConclusionCognitive dysfunction is common among older BCS and depressive symptoms, anxiety, and fatigue are related factors. Importantly, depressive symptoms were not only related to self-report, but also to cognitive performance. Healthcare providers should be aware of and assess for related factors and cognitive dysfunction itself in older BCS even years after diagnosis and treatment thorough geriatric assessment. Future longitudinal research is needed to discern these relationships.

Use of coffee grounds to test olfaction for predicting cognitive dysfunction and decline

IntroductionOur objective was to determine whether non-standardized testing of olfaction may provide useful information for predicting cognitive dysfunction and decline in patients with neurobehavioral disorders. MethodsWe conducted cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses of 82 patients who presented to a Memory Clinic with a chief complaint of cognitive deficits using non-standardized odor identification testing (nSOIT). Each patient was classified as having intact or impaired olfaction based on the ability to identify and name the odor of coffee grounds. The cross-sectional study used Student's t-test to examine whether nSOIT results were related to cognitive dysfunction as approximated by Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores. The longitudinal study used mixed effects multiple regression with an interaction term to investigate whether nSOIT results were predictive of cognitive decline over a period of follow-up testing (0.4 to 4.0 years [mean 1.4, SD 0.8]) to compare patients who exhibited cognitive decline over the evaluation period (decliners) and those who did not (non-decliners). ResultsAnalysis of the initial use of nSOIT in the cross-sectional study demonstrated no association between nSOIT performance and objective cognitive dysfunction. In the longitudinal study, impairment in follow-up nSOIT testing was found to be a sensitive but nonspecific predictor of cognitive decline. ConclusionThese results suggest that routine olfactory testing may serve as a convenient and readily available method that can be used by clinicians to better predict cognitive dysfunction and decline in patients with a variety of neurobehavioral disorders.

230 Association Between Chronotype and Subjective Cognitive Functioning: Population-Based Study

Abstract Introduction Increasing research suggests that subjective cognitive decline (SCD) in the absence of objective cognitive dysfunction may be a forerunner of non-normative cognitive decline and eventual progression to dementia. We investigated the association between chronotype and subjective cognitive functioning in the representative sample of the adult population. Methods We included subjects who participated in a nationwide cross-sectional survey of sleep and headache in 2018 in the Republic of Korea. A total of 2136 subjects (age 19-92, mean 48.3 ± 16.5 years old, 1062 male) was included in the analysis. To assess subjective cognitive functioning, we adopted the Mail-In Cognitive Function Screening Instrument (MCFSI). The MCSFSI is a brief, self-administered potential outcome measure developed by the Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study (ADCS) to detect early changes in cognitive and functional abilities in individuals without clinical impairment. MCFSI scores ≥5 were considered abnormal for this study. As an indicator of chronotype, we adopted the “midpoint of sleep on free days corrected for sleep extension on free days (MSFsc).” MSFsc was calculated as follows: MSFsc = midpoint of sleep on free days − 0.5 × (sleep duration on free days − [5 × sleep duration on workdays + 2 × sleep duration on free days]/7). Participants whose MSFsc occurred before 04:00 AM, between 04:00 and 04:59 AM, and after 05:00 AM were classified as early, intermediate, and late chronotype, respectively. The associations between chronotype and subjective cognitive functioning were analyzed with logistic regression models adjusted for potential confounders. Results Subjective cognitive functioning was abnormal in 381 subjects (17.8%). A late chronotype was significantly associated with abnormal subjective cognitive functioning compared with an early chronotype independent of age, sex, average sleep duration, alcohol, smoking, regular exercise, anxiety, depression, body mass index (BMI), education years, and income status (OR 1.619, 95% CI 1.03 - 2.55, p=0.038). Abnormal subjective cognitive functioning was significantly associated with older age, female sex, lower education, higher BMI, anxiety, and depression. Conclusion This survey cohort results provide evidence at the population level that late chronotype is associated with abnormal subjective cognitive functioning. Support (if any):