Objective Cognitive Impairment Research Articles

The relationship between subjective cognitive decline and cognitive leisure activity engagement: A systematic review.

Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is a common experience of self-perceived decline without objective cognitive impairment. It has been theorised that SCD is associated with participation in cognitive leisure activities (CLA), but the evidence base is multifarious and unclear. The purpose of this systematic review was to synthesize current evidence to determine the association between SCD and CLA engagement. Systematic searches were conducted in EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science (last searched April 2023). Data were extracted against a priori inclusion criteria and synthesized narratively using Synthesis without Meta-Analysis guidelines. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) and Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Reporting follows PRISMA guidelines. From 4447 records, 11 articles were included. Due to study heterogeneity, evidence on SCD and CLA association is inconclusive. While a modest correlation was found between greater engagement in CLA and fewer reports of SCD, the heterogeneity in study designs and outcomes, particularly in those addressing only perceived memory decline and CLA engagement, challenges definitive conclusions on this relationship. Evidence from mixed-method and qualitative studies indicated that perceived memory decline may cause negative feelings, such as shame and frustration, which may influence participating in CLA. These findings suggest that participation in CLA is moderately associated with, and may act protectively against, SCD. However, establishing a directional or causal relationship between CLA participation and SCD outcomes requires further investigation through longitudinal and/or interventional studies.

Neighborhood Deprivation, Subjective and Objective Cognitive Impairment

Neighborhood Deprivation, Subjective and Objective Cognitive Impairment

The relationship of subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and the Stages of Objective Memory Impairment (SOMI) system in preclinical AD

AbstractBackgroundSelf‐awareness of declining cognition in the absence of objective cognitive impairment is called subjective cognitive decline (SCD). Herein, we examine the association of SCD measured by the Cognitive Function Index (CFI; Amariglio, et al. 2015) with the Stages of Objective Memory Impairment (SOMI) system (Grober, et al. 2018) that classifies cognitively normal individuals into one of five stages based on the Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test (FCSRT; Grober & Buschke, 1987) and that maps onto the presence of AD pathology (Grober, et al. 2022 & Petersen, et al. 2023). In early SOMI stages (SOMI‐1, 2) there is increasing retrieval difficulty; in later stages (SOMI‐3/4) storage deficits emerge.MethodsWe used baseline data from 4109 neuropsychologically normal, older adults from the Anti‐Amyloid Anti‐Amyloid Treatment in Asymptomatic Alzheimer’s (A4) Study. All participants had amyloid PET measures and completed the FCSRT used for determing SOMI classification. Additionally, all participants and study partners completed the CFI. An adjusted CFI score was used that excluded three items that assess functional rather than cognitive ability. CFI positivity was defined by cutoffs, 7.8 and 6.5 for participant and partner versions respectfully, representing one standard deviation above the mean. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with post hoc analysis was used to assess differences of CFI scores between SOMI stages.ResultsWe found fewer A+ participants were SOMI‐0 compared to A‐ participants (34.1% vs. 42.7%, p<0.001, Figure 1). Additionally, more A+ participants were SOMI‐3/4 compared to A‐ participants (15.4% vs. 10.3%, p<0.001). Among A+ participants, memory impairment (SOMI‐2/3/4) was more prevalent among those with self‐perceived SCD (34.9%) than those without SCD (29.5%, p = 0.016). Similarly, among A+ participants, prevalence of memory impairment was higher among those with partner‐perceived SCD (40%) than those without (28%, p<0.001). Post hoc results found higher SOMI stages were associated with higher partner and study partner CFI scores except between SOMI‐2 and SOMI‐3/4 (p<0.05 for all, Figure 2).ConclusionsMemory impairment was found to be more prevalent among A+ participants with self‐ and partner‐rated SCD. SCD increases with increasing memory impairment.

Clinic evaluation of cognitive impairment in post-COVID syndrome: Performance on legacy pen-and-paper and new digital cognitive tests

BackgroundCognitive impairment, colloquially termed “brain fog”, is one of the most prevalent manifestations of post-Covid syndrome and a major contributor to impaired daily function and reduced quality of life. However, despite the high numbers of affected individuals presenting to clinical services with cognitive impairment, little work has been undertaken to date on the suitability of current memory clinic tests for identifying the cognitive deficits in this new acquired cognitive disorder.The aim of this study was therefore to determine the performance of people with post-Covid syndrome presenting with cognitive impairment on the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-III (ACE-III), a cognitive test used widely in memory clinics. A subset of individuals also underwent testing on a novel battery of short digital tests assessing attention, speed of information processing and executive function, representing the domains primarily implicated in post-Covid cognitive dysfunction. Methods102 individuals with post-Covid syndrome presenting with subjective cognitive complaints were recruited from a specialist cognitive long Covid clinic at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Trust. All participants completed self-report questionnaires on depression, anxiety, sleep and fatigue. Cognitive performance was assessed using the ACE-III, with 20 participants also being tested on the digital Long COVID Assessment Battery (LCCAB) (N = 20). ResultsThe overall sample had a mean ACE-III score of 91/100 (SD 6) with 15.7% (16/102) scoring at or below the cut-off score considered to represent objective cognitive impairment. Of the 20 individuals who also completed the LCCAB, 89.47% were impaired on at least one task, primarily in the domains of attention, executive function and processing speed. Cognitive performance was not associated with depression, anxiety, sleep quality or fatigue. ConclusionThe vast majority of individuals with post-Covid syndrome presenting with subjective cognitive complaints do not exhibit impaired performance on the ACE-III. This likely reflects the historical use of ACE-III and other pen and paper cognitive tests to detect cognitive impairment in diseases causing dementia, but they are ill-equipped to identify impairment in those cognitive domains affected in post-Covid syndrome. The LCCAB detected cognitive impairments in nearly 90% of participants, primarily affecting attention, executive function, and processing speed. These observations highlight the need for alternative cognitive tests for use in routine clinical practice to detect the impairments in new acquired cognitive disorders that are not adequately captured by legacy tests.

Screening for cognitive symptoms in dialysis patients with an extended version of Kidney Disease Quality of Life Cognitive Function subscale (KDQOL-CF): a validation study

BackgroundCognitive impairment and cognitive complaints are highly prevalent in haemodialysis patients and are associated with adverse health outcomes. Currently, there is no established guideline on cognitive screening in this population. Although neuropsychological tests are the gold standard measure of cognition, they are time-consuming and require trained personnel. The Kidney Disease Quality of Life Cognitive Function subscale (KDQOL-CF), a self-administered questionnaire with only three items, may be a feasible alternative for busy renal settings. In this study, we validated an extended version of KDQOL-CF by including an additional memory item (i.e., “How much of the time during the past four weeks did you have memory difficulties?”) to improve its ability to capture memory impairments that are common in dialysis patients but missing in the original scale.MethodsA total of 268 haemodialysis patients treated in 10 dialysis centres in Singapore completed the extended KDQOL-CF and gold standard measures of objective cognition (Montreal Cognitive Assessment) and subjective cognition (Patient’s Assessment of Own Functioning Inventory). Patients also self-reported their functional impairment and treatment nonadherence. Statistical analyses were performed to determine the factor structure and psychometric properties of the extended KDQOL-CF. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were conducted to determine the diagnostic ability of the extended KDQOL-CF in identifying objective cognitive impairments and subjective cognitive complaints. Additionally, we examined associations between the extended KDQOL-CF and patients’ self-reported functional impairment and treatment nonadherence.ResultsThe extended KDQOL-CF can be explained by a one-factor model and has good internal consistency and convergent validity. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis provided support for the diagnostic accuracy of the extended KDQOL-CF in identifying objective cognitive impairments (area under curve = 60.9%) and subjective cognitive complaints (area under curve = 76.2%). The extended KDQOL-CF also performed better than the original KDQOL-CF in predicting functional impairment and treatment nonadherence in the recruited patients.ConclusionsThe extended KDQOL-CF may be used as a first-step cognitive screening tool in dialysis settings to offer a gateway for further diagnostic evaluation and preventive or rehabilitative programs.

Memory complaints after COVID-19: a potential indicator of primary cognitive impairment or a correlate of psychiatric symptoms?

Cognitive impairment and symptoms of psychiatric disorders have been reported frequently as features of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study aims to investigate subjective memory complaints in COVID-19 survivors and determine if these are more strongly associated with objective cognitive impairment related to sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection or with symptoms of psychiatric conditions. A total of 608 COVID-19 survivors were evaluated in-person 6–11 months after hospitalization, with 377 patients assigned to a “no subjective memory complaint (SMC)” group and 231 patients assigned to an SMC group based on their Memory Complaint Scale scores. Follow-up evaluations included an objective cognitive battery and scale-based assessments of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress symptoms. We found the perception of memory impairment in COVID-19 survivors to be more strongly associated to core symptoms of psychiatric conditions rather than to primary objective cognitive impairment. Univariate analysis indicated significant differences between the “no SMC” and SMC groups, both for the psychiatric symptom evaluations and for the cognitive evaluations (p < 0.05); however, the psychiatric symptoms all had large partial eta-squared values (ranging from 0.181 to 0.213), whereas the cognitive variables had small/medium partial eta-squared values (ranging from 0.002 to 0.024). Additionally, multiple regression analysis indicated that only female sex and depressive and post-traumatic stress symptoms were predictors of subjective memory complaints. These findings may help guide clinical evaluations for COVID-19 survivors presenting with memory complaints while also serving to expand our growing understanding of the relationship between COVID-19, subjective memory complaints, and the risk of cognitive decline.

Association Between Dietary Diversity and Subjective Cognitive Decline in the Middle-Aged and Elderly Chinese Population: A Cross-Sectional Study.

This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the association between dietary diversity and risk of subjective cognitive decline (SCD), a precursor of dementia, in middle-aged and elderly Chinese populations residing in eastern China. Participants aged ≥ 45 years were recruited from a community in an eastern Chinese city after excluding potential objective cognitive impairment using the Mini-Cognitive Assessment Instrument (Mini-Cog). SCD was assessed using the Subjective Cognitive Decline Questionnaire-9 (SCD-Q9). Dietary data were collected using the Dietary Quality Questionnaire (DQQ), and the Food Group Diversity Score (FGDS) and the Consumed All Five Recommended Food Score (All-5) were calculated as indicators of dietary diversity. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed to evaluate the associations of FGDS and All-5 scores with SCD after adjusting for age, sex, socioeconomic status, lifestyle factors, and health status. Among the 871 participants, 358 (41.1%) were classified as having SCD. Compared with participants with the highest FGDS (≥8) and those with the highest All-5 score (5), those with the lowest FGDS (≤4) and the lowest All-5 score (≤3) exhibited 85% (OR = 1.85; 95% CI: 1.10-3.13; p = 0.02) and 90% (OR = 1.90; 95% CI: 1.21-2.97; p < 0.01) higher risk of SCD, respectively, after adjusting for all covariates. Fruits were the only food group among the All-5 components that demonstrated a significant association with SCD risk. Poor dietary diversity was associated with an elevated risk of SCD in middle-aged and older adults, and fruits were the food group with the most substantial effect.

Cognitive status and demographics modify the association between subjective cognition and amyloid.

This study examined the effect of cognitive status, education, and sex on the association between subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers in non-demented older adults. Vanderbilt Memory and Aging Project participants (n = 129), dementia or stroke free, completed fasting lumbar puncture, SCD assessment, and cognitive assessment. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers for AD were analyzed. Linear regression models related SCD to CSF AD biomarkers and follow-up models assessed interactions of SCD × cognitive status, sex, reading level, and education on AD biomarkers. In main effect models, higher SCD was associated with more amyloidosis (p-values <0.004). SCD was not associated with tau, p-tau, or neurofilament light (NFL) levels (p-values >0.38). SCD score interacted with cognitive status (p < 0.02), sex (p = 0.03), and education (p-values <0.005) on amyloidosis. In stratified models, higher SCD was associated with more amyloid in cognitively unimpaired (p-values <0.003), men (p = 0.0003), and higher education. No SCD score × reading-level interaction was found (p-values >0.51) though SCD related to amyloid markers in the higher reading-level group (p-values <0.004). Higher SCD was associated with greater cerebral amyloid accumulation, one of the earliest pathological AD changes. SCD appears most useful in detecting early AD-related brain changes prior to objective cognitive impairment, in men, and those with higher quantity and quality of education and highlight the importance of considering these factors.

Relationship of subjective and objective cognition with post-stroke mood differs between early and long-term stroke

Objective: Depression and anxiety affects approximately 1 in 3 stroke survivors. Performance on standardized objective cognitive tests and self-reported subjective cognitive symptoms are associated with concurrent depression and anxiety, but longitudinal data on whether and how objective and subjective cognition relate to emotional outcomes are lacking. Method: N = 99 stroke survivors (M age = 68.9, SD = 13.1; Median NIH Stroke Severity = 5) completed measures of depression and anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; HADS), objective cognition (Oxford Cognitive Screen) and subjective cognitive symptoms (Cognitive Failures Questionnaire) at 6-months, 4.5, and 5.5 years post-stroke. The contribution of objective and subjective cognition to depression and anxiety was determined via mixed-effects models. Results: We found no evidence that age, stroke severity, years of education, and participant sex related to changes in HADS-Depression or HADS-Anxiety scores (Marginal R 2=0.03 and 0.05, respectively). Objective cognitive impairments at 6-months and increases in subjective cognitive symptoms at 5.5 years significantly related to increased HADS-Depression scores (Marginal R 2=0.22). Only increases in subjective cognitive symptoms at 5.5 years significantly related to increased HADS-Anxiety scores (Marginal R 2=0.20). When conducting models in reverse, HADS-Depression and HADS-Anxiety scores did not reciprocally explain changes in subjective cognitive symptoms. Conclusions: Objective cognitive abilities are more strongly associated with depression at 6-months post-stroke, while subjective cognitive symptoms are more relevant to both long-term post-stroke depression and anxiety. There may be a unique unidirectional influence of subjective cognitive symptoms to post-stroke depression and anxiety.

Modifiable dementia risk factors associated with objective and subjective cognition.

Early detection of both objective and subjective cognitive impairment is important. Subjective complaints in healthy individuals can precede objective deficits. However, the differential associations of objective and subjective cognition with modifiable dementia risk factors are unclear. We gathered a large cross-sectional sample (N=3327, age 18 to 84) via a smartphone app and quantified the associations of 13 risk factors with subjective memory problems and three objective measures of executive function (visual working memory, cognitive flexibility, model-based planning). Depression, socioeconomic status, hearing handicap, loneliness, education, smoking, tinnitus, little exercise, small social network, stroke, diabetes, and hypertension were all associated with impairments in at least one cognitive measure. Subjective memory had the strongest link to most factors; these associations persisted after controlling for depression. Age mostly did not moderate these associations. Subjective cognition was more sensitive to self-report risk factors than objective cognition. Smartphones could facilitate detecting the earliest cognitive impairments. Smartphone assessments of cognition were sensitive to dementia risk factors. Subjective cognition had stronger links to most factors than did objective cognition. These associations were not fully explained by depression. These associations were largely consistent across the lifespan.

The neuropsychological impacts of coronavirus disease 2019 in nonhospitalized patients with long coronavirus disease and brain fog.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) causes persistent symptoms, including brain fog. Based on limited research on the long-term consequences of mild COVID-19, which has yielded inconsistent results, we investigated which cognitive functions were most affected by COVID-19 in nonhospitalized Asian patients with long-term COVID and subjective cognitive complaints. Fifty-five nonhospitalized patients with subjective cognitive complaints after COVID infection (24 males and 31 females, mean age: 45.6 ± 14.6 years, mean duration of education: 14.4 ± 3.0 years) finished the study. Neuropsychological assessments included screening tests for overall cognition, and comprehensive tests for memory, executive function, processing speed, and subjective emotional and disease symptoms. Cognitive test scores were converted into Z -scores. Moreover, principal component analysis (PCA) was used to define cognitive domains across subtest scores. Comprehensive assessments revealed cognitive impairment in 69.1% of patients (<1.5 SD in at least one test). The processing speed (27.3%), memory recall (21.8%), memory learning (20.0%), and inhibitory control (18.2%) were the most affected areas. Self-reported anxiety and depression were observed in 35% and 33% of patients, respectively. Furthermore, the degree of anxiety was predictive of learning performance. Nearly 70% of patients with subjective cognitive complaints and long COVID had objective cognitive impairments. A comprehensive evaluation is essential for these patients, even when they present with mild symptoms.

Association between Multi-Domain Lifestyle and Objective Cognitive Impairment in Elderly People with SCD and MCI in Chinese Communities.

Controlling the lifestyle associated with dementia risk can delay the process of cognitive decline. Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are early states in the development of dementia and are also the window period for early intervention in dementia. The purpose of this study was to explore the association between multi-domain lifestyle and objective cognitive impairment in elderly people with SCD and MCI in Chinese communities and to provide reference for effective implementation of precise health management measures to reduce the risk of dementia. A total of 265 middle-aged and elderly volunteers recruited from the community were divided into SCD group (107 cases), MCI group (80 cases), and healthy control (HC) group (78 cases). All participants received clinical interview, examination, and cognitive assessments. The total Dementia Risk Reduction Lifestyle Scale (DRRLS) scores in the HC, SCD, and MCI groups [110.00 (11.25) vs. 101.00 (10.00) vs. 79.50 (20.75)] exhibited statistically significant differences among them. The total score of the DRRLS showed a significant negative correlation with the Trail-Making Test (TMT), and significant positive correlations with both the Verbal Fluency Test (VFT) and Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT) scores (p < 0.05). After adjusting for confounding factors, such as age and years of education, multiple linear regression analysis revealed several points. In the SCD group, brain-strengthening exercise and interpersonal relationship scores were negatively correlated with TMT scores (β = -11.257, -15.077; all p < 0.05), while health responsibility, smoking control behavior, and interpersonal relationship scores were positively correlated with AVLT scores (β = 0.485, 0.344, and 0.406; all p < 0.05). In the MCI Group, brain-strengthening exercise, brain-healthy diet, and interpersonal relationship were negatively correlated with TMT (β = -22.011, -16.206, -11.696; all p < 0.01), whereas health responsibility, mental activity, smoking control behavior, interpersonal relationship, and stress management were positively correlated with AVLT (β = 0.450, 0.435, 0.308, 0.256, 0.607; all p < 0.05). In Chinese communities, the unhealthy lifestyle of elderly individuals with SCD and MCI is significantly associated with cognitive function impairment. The greater their unhealthy lifestyle habits, the more pronounced the scope and severity of cognitive function impairment becomes. Furthermore, different dimensions of lifestyle have varying impacts on cognitive domains.

Perinatal attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder diagnosis rates among commercially insured delivering women 2008–2020

ObjectivesCognitive impairment and decreased executing functioning represent common symptoms of both ADHD and pregnancy. This study aimed to characterize temporal trends and racial/ethnic disparities in ADHD diagnosis during the perinatal period. MethodsIn this serial cross-sectional study, we used administrative claims to create a cohort of commercially insured women with a documented live birth between 2008 and 2020 and identified those with an ADHD diagnosis in the year before or after delivery. We applied logistic regression to assess the probability of ADHD diagnosis adjusting for race/ethnicity, age, and comorbid conditions. We used this model to calculate the predicted probability of ADHD diagnosis by racial/ethnic group for each year. ResultsWe identified 736,325 deliveries from 2008 to 2020. Overall, 16,801 (2.28 %) of deliveries had an ADHD diagnosis in the year before or after delivery. ADHD rates increased 290 % from 101 (95%CI: 92–111) per 10,000 deliveries in 2008 to 394 (95%CI: 371–419) per 10,000 deliveries in 2020. White women experienced the highest rates followed by Black, Hispanic, and Asian, respectively. ConclusionsIncreasing ADHD diagnosis rates during the perinatal period may reflect improved detection but racial disparities persist. Additional research is needed to develop equitable outreach strategies to better support women experiencing ADHD during the perinatal period.

German Society of Neurology guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of cognitive impairment and affective disorders in people with Parkinson’s disease: new spotlights on diagnostic procedures and non-pharmacological interventions

Background and objectiveCognitive impairment and dementia as well as affective disorders are common and debilitating syndromes that develop in people with Parkinson’s disease (PwPD). The authors summarized recommendations for the 2023 updated German guidelines on “Parkinson’s disease” from the German Neurological Society (DGN), focusing on the diagnosis and treatment of these disorders.MethodsThe recommendations were based on literature reviews, other relevant guidelines, and expert opinions.ResultsMeasurements to assess cognitive and affective states were reviewed for psychometric properties, use in routine clinical practice, and availability in German. To improve mild cognitive impairment, cognitive training and physical aerobic training are recommended. To treat Parkinson’s disease (PD)-related dementia, cognitive stimulation (as a non-pharmacological intervention) and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs, i.e., rivastigmine) are recommended. Cognitive behavioral therapy is recommended to treat depression, anxiety, and fear of progression. Physical interventions are recommended to treat depression, fatigue, and apathy. Optimized dopaminergic treatment is the first-line pharmacological strategy recommended to manage depression, apathy, anhedonia, fatigue, and mood swings. Major depression can be additionally treated using venlafaxine or desipramine, while moderate depression can be treated pharmacologically according to its clinical phenotype (psychomotor retardation or agitation) and comorbidities (e.g., sleep disturbances, pain). Venlafaxine and nortriptyline can be used to treat anhedonia, while citalopram can be used for anxiety.ConclusionsIn addition to the updated pharmacological treatment options, new insights into recommendations for standardized diagnostics and non-pharmacological interventions were provided for the German health care system. However, more studies are needed to explore the full potential of non-pharmacological interventions to treat and prevent cognitive impairment and affective disorders.

Hand motor dysfunction is associated with both subjective and objective cognitive impairment across the dementia continuum.

Motor dysfunction is an important feature of early-stage dementia. Gait provides a non-invasive biomarker across the dementia continuum. Gait speed and rhythm aid risk stratification of incident dementia in subjective cognitive impairment (SCI) and associate with cognitive domains in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. However, hand movement analysis, which may be more accessible, has never been undertaken in SCI, and rarely in MCI or dementia. We aimed to address this gap and improve understanding of hand motor-cognitive associations across the dementia continuum. 208 participants were recruited: 50 with dementia, 58 MCI, 40 SCI and 60 healthy controls. Consensus diagnoses were made after comprehensive gold-standard assessments. A computer key-tapping test measured frequency, dwell-time, rhythm, errors and speed. Associations between key-tapping and cognitive domains and diagnoses were analysed using regression. Classification accuracy was measured using Area under Receiver-Operating-Characteristic curves. Hand frequency and speed were associated with memory and executive domains (P≤.001). Nondominant hand rhythm was associated with all cognitive domains. Frequency, rhythm and speed were associated with SCI, MCI and dementia. Frequency and speed classified ≥94% of dementia, and ≥88% of MCI, from controls. Rhythm of nondominant hand classified ≥86% of dementia and MCI and 69% of SCI. Our findings show hand motor dysfunction occurs across the dementia continuum and, similar to gait, associates with executive and memory domains, and with cognitive diagnoses. Key-tapping performance differentiated dementia and MCI from healthy controls. More research is required before recommending key-tapping as a non-invasive motor biomarker of cognitive impairment.

Subjective cognitive decline: Memory complaints, cognitive awareness, and metacognition.

Cognitive complaints are common in elderly subjects and are a frequent reason for referral to memory clinics. If the complaints are not associated with objective cognitive impairment, the condition is labelled subjective cognitive decline (SCD). SCD is often considered as a stage antedating objective impairment, and an at-risk condition for subsequent dementia. Recent large-scale studies indicate that a significantly increased risk of clinical progression in subjects with SCD is associated with positivity for Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers, a finding supporting the notion that SCD can be due to different mechanisms not associated with neurodegeneration, including functional cognitive disorders. In this paper we present a selective review of research on the relations among SCD, cognitive awareness, and metacognitive abilities. We propose that longitudinal studies of metacognitive efficiency in SCD may provide useful cues about the risk of progression to dementia and the possible presence of a functional cognitive disorder, with different implications for the management of this prevalent aging-related condition. HIGHLIGHTS: Subjective cognitive decline (SCD), a common cause of referral to memory clinics, can be due to multiple conditions. The predictive value of SCD for progression to Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia is high in association with AD biomarker positivity. The awareness of cognitive decline is the mechanism responsible for the emergence of SCD and metacognition is the underlying neuropsychological function. The awareness of cognitive decline in clinical patients is usually assessed comparing an informant rating to the patient self-assessment, a method that can be affected by informant bias. While there is strong evidence that awareness starts to decline with the onset of objective cognitive impairment, progressively leading to the anosognosia of AD, the status of metacognitive efficiency in SCD needs to be further investigated. Quantitative, performance-based indexes of metacognitive efficiency may contribute both to the assessment of progression risk and to the management of subjects with functional cognitive disorders.

The Prognostic Test Accuracy of the Short and Standard Forms of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment.

Cognitive impairment is a critical concern in stroke care, and international guidelines recommend early cognitive screening. The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic accuracy of both the short and standard forms of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) in predicting long-term cognitive recovery following a stroke. For this study, we used data from the Efficacy of Fluoxetine - a Randomized Controlled Trial in Stroke (EFFECTS) study, which encompassed stroke patients from 35 Swedish centers over the period from 2014 to 2019. Cognitive assessments were initially conducted at 2-15 days post-stroke, with follow-up data gathered at 6 months. We used the MoCA for objective cognitive evaluation. For assessing subjective cognitive impairment, we used the memory and thinking domain of the Stroke Impact Scale. For psychometric evaluation of the short Swedish version of MoCA (s-MoCA-SWE), we used cross tables and binary logistic regression. The study included 1,141 patients (62.2% men; median [interquartile range; IQR] age, 72.3 [13.2] years; median [IQR] stroke severity, 3.0 [3.0]). At baseline, the prevalence of cognitive impairment was 71.7% according to the s-MoCA-SWE (≤12) and 67.0% according to the MoCA (≤25). The s-MoCA-SWE demonstrated a sensitivity of 92.3% for correctly identifying patients with objective cognitive impairment and 81.5% for identifying those with subjective impairments at 6 months. Although the s-MoCA-SWE had higher sensitivity, the MoCA had a more balanced sensitivity and specificity in detecting both subjective and objective cognitive impairments. In both crude and multivariable models, the s-MoCA-SWE was more strongly associated than the MoCA with cognitive impairment at 6 months. Both the short and standard versions of the MoCA appear to be effective in identifying individuals likely to experience persistent cognitive issues following a stroke. Considering the limited time available in an acute stroke unit, the short-form version may be more practical. Nevertheless, further prospective studies are required to validate these findings.

A - 17 Pre-injury Predictors of Protracted Recovery from Pediatric Concussion: a Latent Class Analysis

Abstract Purpose This person-centered study examined pre-injury psychological and neurodevelopmental risk factors in youth experiencing persistent concussion symptoms (PCS). Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to empirically define groups of children and adolescents experiencing PCS, and compare their functional outcomes. Method 126 pediatric patients (Mean age = 15.94 years; 65.1% female) experiencing PCS (Mean time since injury = 315 days) participated in a clinical neuropsychological consultation and evaluation within the Minds Matter Concussion Program at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. LCA models were run using pre-injury variables (mood and anxiety concerns, attention and learning challenges). Functional outcomes (neuropsychological performance, academic decline, symptom magnification) were then compared across the resulting classes. Results Statistical indicators [Akaike Information Criteria (804.59), adjusted Bayesian Information Criteria (801.01), Bootstrap Likelihood Ratio Test (p &amp;lt; 0.001)] indicated that a two-class model provided the best fit. Class 1 (n = 58) was predominately females (78.3%) with comorbid pre-injury developmental (46.6% learning challenges, 54.6% attention concerns) and psychological concerns (75.6% anxiety, 48.9% mood concerns). Class 2 (n = 68) was half females (49.8%) with fewer comorbid pre-injury developmental (14.6% learning challenges, 22.5% attention concerns) and psychological concerns (39.3% anxiety, 0% mood concerns). The two classes did not significantly differ on functional outcomes. Standardized testing scores were within the average range across the sample. Conclusions Pre-injury risk factors contribute to persistent symptom experience and functional complaints in the absence of objective cognitive impairment. Given the incidence across groups, these findings highlight the importance of understanding psychological and neurodevelopmental factors, as well as sex-based differences when directing referrals and treatment of PCS within a multidisciplinary program.

Subjective cognitive concerns not related to objective impairment in patients with somatic symptom and related disorders

ABSTRACT Objectives Patients with Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders (SSRD) report subjective cognitive concerns, and research indicates that they show objective cognitive impairment. This study explored the value of subjective concerns flagging objective impairment. Furthermore, we investigated whether coping moderated this relationship, and the role of depressive symptomatology. Method In a cross-sectional design, objective impairment was measured with an extensive neuropsychological assessment; subjective concerns with the Cognitive Failure Questionnaire; coping styles with the Coping Inventory of Stressful Situations; and symptoms of depression with the Patient Health Questionnaire- 9. Results The results show that subjective concerns are of limited value in signaling objective impairment in patients with SSRD. Regression analyses performed on data from 225 patients showed that symptoms of depression (β = .32) were the main predictor of subjective concerns, which were unrelated to objective impairment. Coping was not a moderator, but patients with emotion-oriented coping styles had more subjective concerns (β=.40), and conversely, patients with avoidance- and/or task-oriented coping styles had less (respectively, β=-.27 and β=-.24). Conclusions These results align with the Somatosensory Amplification Theory; patients with SSRD may amplify benign cognitive failures and experience them as intrusive, noxious, and more intense. In patients with SSRD, subjective cognitive concerns are more related to psychological constructs (symptoms of depression and coping styles) than to objective impairment.

Chronic intranasal oxytocin alleviates cognitive impairment and reverses oxytocin signaling upregulation in MK801-induced mice

ObjectiveCognitive impairment, especially impaired social cognition, is largely responsible for the deterioration of the social life of patients with schizophrenia (SZ). Oxytocin (OT) is a neuropeptide that offers promising therapy for SZ. This study aimed to explore whether OT could affect dizocilpine (MK801)-induced cognitive impairment and to investigate the effect of exogenous OT on the endogenous OT system in the hippocampus. MethodsThe SZ mouse model was established by repeated administration of dizocilpine [MK801, 0.6 mg/kg, intraperitoneal (i.p.)], and then OT (6–60 μg/kg, intranasal) or risperidone (0.3 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered to explore the effect of OT on cognitive impairment. ResultsOT at a dose of 6 μg/kg alleviated MK801-induced hyperactivity, sociability impairment, and spatial memory impairment. OT at a dose of 20 or 60 μg/kg attenuated the hyperactivity and social novelty impairment. In MK801-injected mice, the compensatory upregulation of OT mRNA in the hippocampus was reversed by three OT doses, whereas 60 μg/kg OT reversed the compensatory upregulation of CD38 protein expression. ConclusionOT alleviated cognitive impairment in the SZ mouse model to varying degrees, reversing the compensatory upregulation of OT signaling in the hippocampus.