Repeatable Battery For The Assessment Of Neuropsychological Status Index Research Articles

59 Investigating the Relationship Between Neuropsychological Test Performance and Electrophysiological Measures of Semantic Functioning in Alzheimer's Disease.

Objective:Improving the timeline for intervention in Alzheimer's disease (AD) has considerable potential to delay and mitigate disability and suffering. Neuropsychological assessment is useful for distinguishing AD from normal aging and other dementias but is less useful in preclinical detection due to its limited sensitivity. The N400 (N4), a language-based EEG event-related potential (ERP) related to semantic functioning, is a promising candidate marker of AD with potential to improve early detection and monitoring of AD. For example, studies have shown that individuals with AD show a reduced N4 "effect"—a smaller difference in the size of the N4 to semantically congruent vs. incongruent word-pairs. The goal of this study is to assess the presence of the N4 effect in healthy seniors, and those with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild AD, and to evaluate associations between performance on the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) and the N4 across these samples.Participants and Methods:Fifty older adults (intact=27, combined MCI/mild AD group=23; "impaired") completed neuropsychological testing, including the RBANS, as part of a larger study. Participants were re-contacted and returned for EEG assessment between several weeks to one year later. During EEG recording, participants completed a word-pair judgement paradigm, which involved distinguishing between semantically congruent and incongruent word-pairs. Data was collected and analyzed according to customized N4 analysis scripts provided as part of ERPCORE, an online resource for acquiring and analyzing common ERP components (Kappenman et al., 2021; https://osf.io/thsqg/). The change in N4 amplitude between congruent and incongruent trials (the N4 effect) was used as an index of participants' semantic functioning. Participants' N4 effect was quantified using the mean amplitude from 300-550 milliseconds poststimulus at electrode Cz.Results:Repeated measures ANOVAs indicated a significant effect of trial type on the N400 amplitude in the intact individuals (F(1, 26)=77.66, p<.001), which remained significant in the sample as a whole (F(1, 48)=65.18, p<.001). Although intact participants numerically showed a larger N4 effect (intact: M=-4.02, SD=2.37; impaired: M=-2.60, SD=3.40), the expected group-by-trial interaction was not significant (F(1, 48)=3.01, p=.089). Correlational analyses revealed no significant associations between the N4 effect and the RBANS Total Scale scores (r=-.14, p=.32), nor for the Immediate Memory (r=-.002, p=.99), Visuospatial/Constructional (r=-.069, p=.63), Language (r=-.15, p=.30) Attention (r=-.21, p=.14), or Delayed Memory (r=-.18 p=.58) indexes.Conclusions:Results confirmed the presence of the N4 effect in intact participants and in the sample as a whole. Although the N4 effect was numerically smaller in the impaired group as expected, this difference was not significant in the present sample. Likewise, we observed no evidence for associations between the size of N4 effect and performance on RBANS indexes. Overall, the present study provides mixed evidence for the utility of the N4 as a biomarker in mild AD. Factors that may have contributed to the lack of associations between the N4 effect and the RBANS include the limited sample size and variable lengths of time between participants' initial cognitive assessments and EEG testing.

Cognitive function in patients with irritable bowel syndrome: impairment is common and only weakly correlated with depression/anxiety and severity of gastrointestinal symptoms

Objective To investigate cognitive function in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and its relation to anxiety/depression and severity of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. Methods Patients with IBS (n = 65) and healthy controls (HCs, n = 37) performed the ten subtests of the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). Age-normed index scores of five cognitive domains (Immediate memory, Visuospatial function, Language function, Attention, Recall) and a total (Fullscale) score were derived from the performance. Emotional function was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the IBS Symptom Scoring System (IBS-SSS) was used to define the severity of GI symptoms. Results Patients with IBS reported significantly higher scores than the HC group on symptom measures of anxiety and depression, and significantly lower scores on the Immediate memory, Recall, and Fullscale RBANS indexes. Approximately 30% of the IBS patients obtained index scores at least one standard deviation below the population mean, and more than 50% scored above the screening threshold for an anxiety disorder. The severity of GI symptoms was significantly correlated with the severity level of anxiety symptoms (p=.006), but neither the severity level of emotional nor GI symptoms was significantly correlated with the RBANS index scores in the IBS group. Conclusion Cognitive and emotional function were more severely affected in patients with IBS than in HCs. The weak correlation between the two functional areas suggests that both should be assessed as part of a clinical examination of patients with IBS.

The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status, While Useful for Measuring Cognitive Changes in Manifest Huntington Disease, May Show Limited Utility in Premanifest Disease.

The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) is a brief, standardized neuropsychological test that assesses several areas of cognitive function. Recent studies, although sparse, have examined the use of the RBANS to detect cognitive deficits in individuals with manifest Huntington disease (HD); however, no studies have investigated its utility to detect cognitive deficits in individuals with premanifest HD (PreHD), where cognitive symptoms are thought to be more subtle. To assess cognitive deficits in individuals with HD, particularly in individuals with PreHD, using an easily administered, brief but comprehensive, neuropsychological test. We administered the RBANS to 31 individuals with HD, 29 individuals with PreHD, and 22 healthy controls (HC) at an academic HD clinical research center and collected RBANS Total, Index, and subtest scores for group comparisons. The HD group had significantly lower RBANS Total, Index, and subtest scores than the HC. The PreHD group had significantly lower RBANS Total scores and Coding subtest scores than the HC, but no other significant group differences were identified. Our results substantiate previous findings of significant impairment on the RBANS in individuals with HD. In addition, we are the first to demonstrate that, although the RBANS can identify deficits in psychomotor speed and information processing in individuals with PreHD, it does not appear to have the ability to detect impairment in any additional cognitive domains in individuals with PreHD.

Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status: Italian Normative Data for Older Adults.

The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS), widely used for detecting cognitive impairment in different neuropsychiatric conditions, is increasingly applied for measuring cognitive functioning in older individuals. Available normative data for RBANS Italian version suffer from under-representation of the older ages (>60years) and are not corrected for education. Moreover, normative data are provided only for Indexes and Total scores. We thus administered RBANS Italian version in a larger sample of older adults, taking into account the effect of age, education and gender on all scores. We used a regression-based model to assess the effect of age, education, and gender on RBANS Subtests, Indexes and Total scores in a consecutive series of healthy cognitively normal volunteers aged 60-79years (N = 158). The obtained norms were compared with the Italian original normative data by means of Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Multiple linear regression analyses showed that age and educational level significantly influence performances on most RBANS scores. A free-to-use Excel to calculate subject's percentiles for any single score was developed. When compared with original normative values, our percentiles distribution of Indexes and Total scores did not reveal significant differences (p > .05). The obtained normative data show good concordance with previous norms. The instrument seems not significantly affected by educational level. The possibility to correct for any single score could make RBANS a more precise measure for capturing subtle cognitive deficits in prevention studies.

Predicting biomarkers in intact older adults and those with amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment, and mild Alzheimer’s Disease using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status

ABSTRACT Introduction: The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) has been associated, to varying degrees, with commonly used biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Given the ease of RBANS administration as a screening tool for clinical trials and other applications, a better understanding of how RBANS performance is associated with presence of APOE ε4 allele[s], cerebral amyloid burden, and hippocampal volume is warranted. Method: One hundred twenty-one older adults who were classified as intact, amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment, or mild AD underwent cognitive assessment with the RBANS, genetic analysis, and quantitative brain imaging. APOE ε4 carrier status, 18F-Flutemetamol composite standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR), and hippocampal volume were each regressed on demographic variables and RBANS Total Scale score, Index scores, and subtest scores. Results: Lower RBANS Total Scale score or Delayed Memory Index (DMI) predicted the presence of APOE ε4 allele[s], higher cerebral amyloid burden, and lower hippocampal volumes. DMI was a slightly better predictor than Total Scale score for most AD biomarkers. No demographic variables consistently contributed to these models. Conclusions: The RBANS – DMI in particular – is sensitive to AD pathology. As such, it could be used as a predictive tool, particularly in clinical drug trials to enrich samples prior to less accessible AD biomarker investigation.

Repeatable battery for the assessment of neuropsychological status and its relationship to biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease

Background: The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) has been associated with commonly used biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, prior studies have typically utilized small and poorly characterized samples, and they have not analyzed the subtests of the RBANS. The current study sought to expand on prior work by examining the relationship between the Indexes and subtest scores of the RBANS and three AD biomarkers: amyloid deposition via positron emission tomography, hippocampal volume via magnetic resonance imaging, and APOE ε4 status. Method: One-hundred twenty-one older adults across the AD continuum (intact, amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment, mild AD), who were mostly Caucasian and well-educated, underwent assessment with the RBANS and collection of the three biomarkers. Results: Greater amyloid deposition was significantly related to lower scores on all five Indexes and the Total Scale score of the RBANS, as well as 11 of 12 subtests. For bilateral hippocampal volume, significant correlations were observed for 4 of the 5 Indexes, Total Scale score, and 9 of 12 subtests, with smaller hippocampi being related to lower RBANS scores. Participants with at least one APOE ε4 allele had significantly lower scores on 3 of the 5 Indexes, Total Scale score, and 8 of the 12 subtests. Conclusions: In this sample of participants across the dementia spectrum, most RBANS Indexes and subtests showed relationships with the amyloid deposition, hippocampal volumes, and APOE status, with poorer performance on the RBANS being associated with biomarker positivity. Although memory scores on the RBANS have traditionally been linked to biomarkers in AD, other Index and subtest scores also hold promise as indicators of AD. Replication in a more diverse sample is needed.

Examining the repeatable battery for the assessment of neuropsychological status validity indices in people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders

Objective: We examined the frequency of possible invalid test scores on the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, and whether there was an association between scores on the embedded RBANS performance validity tests (PVTs) and self-reported symptoms of apathy as measured by the Initiate Scale of the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Adult Version (BRIEF-A). Methods: Participants included 250 patients (M = 24.4 years-old, SD = 5.7) with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Base rates of RBANS Effort Index (EI), Effort Scale (ES), and Performance Validity Index (PVI) test scores were computed. Spearman correlations were used to examine the associations between the RBANS PVTs, the RBANS Index scores, and the BRIEF-A Initiate Scale. Regression analyses were used to investigate how well the RBANS PVTs predicted scores on the BRIEF-A Initiate Scale. Results: The frequency of invalid scores on the EI (>3) and the PVI (<42) in participants with schizophrenia spectrum disorders was 6%. The frequency of invalid ES scores (<12) was 28% in the patients compared to 15% in the U.S. standardization sample. There was a small significant correlation between the EI and the BRIEF-A Initiate Scale (rho=.158, p<.05). Conclusions: The rates of invalid scores were similar to previously published studies. Invalid scores on the BRIEF-A were uncommon. Apathy measured with the BRIEF-A Initiate Scale was not associated with performance on the RBANS validity measures or with measures of cognition.

Validation of one-year reliable change in the RBANS for community-dwelling older adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment

Objective The current study sought to externally validate previously published standardized regression-based (SRB) equations for the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) Indexes administered twice over a one-year period. Method: Hammers and colleagues’ SRB prediction equations were applied to two independent samples of community-dwelling older adults with amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), including those recruited from the community (n = 64) and those recruited from a memory disorders clinic (n = 58). Results: While Observed Baseline and Observed Follow-up performances were generally comparable for both MCI samples over one year, both samples possessed significantly lower Observed One-Year Follow-up scores than were predicted based on Hammers and colleagues' development sample across many RBANS Indexes. Relatedly, both amnestic MCI samples possessed a greater percentage of participants either “declining” or failing to exhibit a long-term practice effect over one year relative to expectation across most Indexes. Further, the clinic-recruited amnestic MCI sample displayed worse baseline performances, smaller long-term practice effects, and greater proportions of individual participants exhibiting a decline across one year relative to the community amnestic MCI sample. Conclusions: These findings validate Hammers and colleagues' SRB prediction equations by (1) indicating their ability to identify clinically meaningful change across RBANS Indexes in independent samples, and (2) discriminating rates of cognitive change among cognitively nuanced samples.

Generalizability of reliable change equations for the RBANS over one year in community-dwelling older adults

ABSTRACTObjective: Reliable change methods can assist neuropsychologists in determining whether observed changes in a patient’s performance are clinically meaningful. The current study sought to validate previously published standardized regression-based (SRB) equations for the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) Indexes and subtests.Methods: Duff and colleagues’s SRB prediction equations, developed from 223 cognitively intact primary care patients, were applied to an independent sample of robustly cognitively intact (n = 129) community-dwelling older adults assessed with the RBANS twice over a one-year period.Results: Results suggest that the cognitively intact participants in the current validation sample possessed significantly better Observed Follow-up scores than was predicted based on Duff’s developmental sample across most RBANS Indexes and many RBANS subtests, though significantly lower Observed Follow-up scores were observed for the Visuospatial/Constructional Index than was predicted. As a result of these findings, the current study calculated updated prediction algorithms for the RBANS Index and subtest scores from the sample of 129 cognitively intact participants.Conclusions: Duff’s 2004 and 2005 SRB prediction equations for the RBANS Index and subtest scores failed to generalize to a sample of cognitively intact community-dwelling participants recruited from senior living centers and independent assisted living facilities. These updated SRB prediction equations – being developed from a more medically “clean” sample of cognitively intact older adults who remained stable over 12 months – have the potential to provide a more accurate assessment of reliable change in an individual patient.

The Utility of the Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Status in Patients with Temporal and Non-temporal Lobe Epilepsy.

The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) is a brief neuropsychological battery that has been validated in the assessment of dementia and other clinical populations. The current study examines the utility of the RBANS in patients with epilepsy. Ninety-eight patients with epilepsy completed the RBANS as part of a more comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation. Performance on the RBANS was evaluated for patients with a diagnosis of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE; n=51) and other epilepsy patients (non-TLE, n=47) in comparison to published norms. Multivariate analysis of variance compared group performances on RBANS indices. Rates of impairment were also compared across groups using cutoff scores of ≤1.0 and ≤1.5 standard deviations below the normative mean. Exploratory hierarchical regressions were used to examine the relations between epilepsy severity factors (i.e., age of onset, disease duration, and number of antiepileptic drugs [AEDs]) and RBANS performance. TLE and non-TLE patients performed below the normative sample across all RBANS indices. Those with TLE performed worse than non-TLE patients on the Immediate and Delayed Memory indices and exhibited higher rates of general cognitive impairment. Number of AEDs was the only epilepsy severity factor that significantly predicted RBANS total performance, accounting for 14% of the variance. These findings suggest that the RBANS has utility in evaluating cognition in patients with epilepsy and can differentiate TLE and non-TLE patients. Additionally, number of AEDs appears to be associated with global cognitive performance in adults with epilepsy.

Cognitive decline on the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status in progressive supranuclear palsy

Objective: Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is associated with a variety of cognitive deficits, but few studies have reported on its cognitive trajectory across time, especially on the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS).Methods: Two hundred twenty participants diagnosed with Richardson’s syndrome of PSP (PSP-RS) were evaluated with the RBANS at baseline, six months, and one year with alternate forms.Results: When using dependent t-tests, significant declines were observed on all Indexes of the RBANS from baseline to six months (ps < 0.01). Between six months and one year, significant declines were observed on three Indexes of the RBANS (ps < 0.05). Using existing regression-based change formulae from cognitively intact older adults, these participants with PSP showed significant decline on all RBANS Indexes (ps < 0.01) across one year. Finally, new regression-based change formulae were developed on this sample of individuals with PSP-RS to more precisely evaluate cognitive change in this condition.Conclusion: In this large, longitudinal cohort of participants with PSP-RS, many (but not all) showed notable cognitive decline across six months and one year on the RBANS. The different methods of examining change across time yielded different results, with regression-based methods appearing to more accurately capture decline in this sample. These findings are expected to allow clinicians to more accurately evaluate cognitive trajectories in patients with PSP, as well as make better estimates of prognosis and offer more appropriate treatment recommendations. Such findings are also expected to inform clinical trials as to the changes in cognitive outcomes with this neurological condition.

Association of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor With Cognitive Function: An Investigation of Sex Differences in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes.

Although a reduction in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been implicated as a cause of cognitive impairment in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), the role of sex in moderating this effect has not been explored. We compared the difference in serum BDNF and performance on the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) between 96 men and 134 women with T2DM. We compared this with the difference in serum BDNF and performance in the control group (104 men, 144 women). Patients with T2DM performed worse on most RBANS indices (η = 0.372, all p < .05); within T2DM patients, men performed worse than women on the delayed memory score (74.1 (12.1) versus 79.9 (11.5), p = .002) and on the total score (71.4 (11.5) versus 76.5 (10.8), p = .025). Serum BDNF was lower in patients with T2DM versus controls (7.5 (2.7) ng/ml versus 11.5 (2.7) ng/ml, p < .001), and in men compared with women (6.9 (2.4) versus 7.9 (2.8), p = .024). Serum BDNF levels positively correlated with delayed memory score in patients with T2DM (β = 0.19, p = .007). However, this association was only observed in women, not in men (pinteraction = 0.04). Among healthy controls, no sex differences were noted in either RBANS or BDNF levels (η = 0.04, Cohen's d < 0.163, all p > .05). Our results show sex differences in poorer cognitive performance, lower BDNF concentration, and their relationship in T2DM patients, suggesting that female sex may be a protective factor for cognitive decline in T2DM patients. However, the findings should be regarded as preliminary because of the cross-sectional design and chronicity of the diabetes.

Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS): preliminary utility in adult neuro-oncology

Neurocognitive assessments have become integral to comprehensive neuro-oncology care. Existing screening tools may be insensitive to cognitive changes caused by medical treatments. Research supports the clinical value and psychometric properties of the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) in various medical populations; however, there is minimal evidence for its use in neuro-oncology. The purpose of the current study was to further explore the cognitive profile of patients with primary brain tumor (PBT) using the RBANS and to assess rates of below-expectation performance compared to normative data and estimated intellectual functioning. Data were collected on 82 PBT patients (54% male; age range, 19-81 years). All patients were administered the RBANS-Update and the Advanced Clinical Solutions-Test of Premorbid Functioning (TOPF) according to standardized instructions. Cognitive strengths and weaknesses were identified for PBT patients. Descriptive analyses, t tests, and chi-squared tests were utilized to identify and compare cognitive profiles. Overall, cognitive performance was low average for PBT patients. When compared to standardization data, PBT patients performed significantly worse across all 5 RBANS indexes, with Attention and Memory showing the largest discrepancies. Estimated intelligence analyses reflected greater deficits in cognitive functioning than when compared to a normal distribution. Preliminary research demonstrates the RBANS is an efficient screening tool to assess cognitive deficits in PBT patients. Data also support the importance of comparison to self, rather than normative distribution in ensuring proper identification and classification of patients.

Reliability and validity of the repeatable battery for the assessment of neuropsychological status in elderly patients with vascular cognitive impairment

Objective To evaluate the reliability and validity of the repeatable Battery for the assessment of neuropsychological status(RBANS)in elderly patients with vascular cognitive impairment(VCI). Methods General information and medical history were collected for 102 elderly patients with VCI, and the Mini-Mental State Exam(MMSE)and RBANS were conducted.Eight weeks later, 91 of the patients were re-evaluated on RBANS.Data were analyzed for correlation, reliability and validity. Results The RBANS total score was negatively correlated with age(r=-0.464, P< 0.01)and disease course of diabetes(r=-0.387, P< 0.01), and was positively correlated with education level(r=0.510, P< 0.01). The internal consistency measure, Cronbach’s alpha, for RBANS total scores was 0.87 at an 8-week interval, and the test-retest reliability of single-item scores ranged from 0.61 to 0.77.Moreover, the correlation coefficient between the RBANS total score and the MMSE total score was 0.622.MMSE was correlated with several RBANS indexes, including immediate memory(r=0.672, P< 0.05), attention(r=0.612, P< 0.05), visual span(r=0.488, P< 0.05), delayed memory(r=0.492, P< 0.05), and language(r=0.298, P< 0.05). Likewise, RBANS was correlated with a number of MMSE categories, such as recall(r=0.473, P<0.05), calculation(r=0.597, P<0.05), delayed memory(r=0.489, P<0.05), command(r=0.351, P<0.05), reading comprehension(r=0.325, P<0.05), command execution(r=0.511, P<0.01), sentence construction(r=0.303, P<0.05), and pattern reproduction(r=0.443, P<0.05). Conclusions The Chinese version of RBANS has good reliability and validity in elderly patients with VCI and can be used as a cognitive measurement tool in these patients. Key words: Cognition disorders; Neuropsychological tests

Relationship Between the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status in Patients Referred for a Dementia Evaluation.

The current study examined the relationship between the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) in a large, heterogeneous sample of patients referred for dementia assessment (N = 495; 37% males, 63% females; M age = 76.8 years, SD = 7.0). The MMSE showed a significant moderate correlation with the RBANS Total Scale score (r = .65). Moderate significant correlations were found between the MMSE and the RBANS indexes (r = .41 to .49). The MMSE demonstrated moderate correlations with RBANS factor scores of .63 for Factor 1 (memory/learning) and .58 for Factor 2 (visuospatial/attention). These correlations suggest that the MMSE is best considered a measure of global cognitive functioning with the strongest correlations between broader measures.

A brief neurocognitive assessment of patients with psychosis following traumatic brain injury (PFTBI): Use of the Repeatable battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS)

Patients who develop psychosis following a traumatic brain injury (PFTBI) show impaired neurocognition; however, the degree of impairment has not been empirically investigated using a standardised battery. We administered the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) to patients with PFTBI (n=10), and to three groups of controls: traumatic brain injury (TBI) (n=10), schizophrenia (n=23), and nonclinical controls (n=23). The results confirmed that the cognitive neuropsychological profile of dually-diagnosed patients with PFTBI is significantly and substantially impaired. Seventy per cent of patients with PFTBI received a neuropsychological classification between the “extremely low” and “low average” ranges. Group-wise analyses on the RBANS indices indicated that patients with PFTBI had the lowest (Immediate Memory, Attention, Delayed Memory, Total Score), or equal lowest (visuospatial, equivalent with schizophrenia patients) scores, with the exception of the Language Index where no group differences were shown (however, the mean PFTBI score on the Language Index was two standard deviations below the RBANS normative score). These findings provide novel evidence of impaired cognitive neuropsychological processing in patients with PFTBI using a standardised and replicable battery.

Utility of the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status in Focal Epilepsy Patients in an Arab Cohort

The RBANS (Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status) is a widely used screening battery in patients with cerebral dysfunction. However, there is little published research in patients who have epilepsy. We present its utility in patients in an Arab cohort, who have focal epilepsy. In this observational study, we selected patients with focal epilepsy who were referred from Epilepsy clinic for neuropsychological evaluation in a tertiary care hospital, in Al Ain, UAE. The RBANS was administered to patients and their standard scores were calculated for each of the five Indexes of the battery (Immediate Memory, Visuospatial/Constructional, Language, Attention and Delayed Memory) and compared to matched healthy controls. Anti-Epilepticdrugs (AED) usage was accounted for and type and number of drugs were noted. Epilepsy patients showed impairments across RBANS Index and Total scores compared to healthy controls. We conclude that RBANS is a quick and convenient tool for detecting cognitive impairment in a cohort of Arab patients with focal epilepsy and can be used to identify impaired cognitive domains for further selective neuropsychological evaluation. The utility of the RBANS in a larger cohort of epileptic patients should be further investigated.

Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) intraindividual variability in older adults: Associations with disease and mortality

Cognitive intraindividual variability (IIV), or dispersion, has been associated with pathological changes, including cognitive and functional decline. Dispersion is typically assessed with experimental cognitive measures or subtests selected from several batteries, and few studies have examined IIV from a single neuropsychological battery. Method: To address this gap, the current study examined the relationship between the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) IIV, mean cognitive performance, self-reported functioning, and death among 699 individuals between 64 and 94 years of age who were screened for neurological illness and living independently in the community. A coefficient of variation statistic served as the dispersion index and was derived by calculating the within-subject variability of the five RBANS indexes for each participant and dividing this value by the overall test battery mean. Results: Results revealed that increased dispersion and poorer mean performance simultaneously predicted self-reported memory problems. In addition, participants with elevated dispersion at baseline had increased rates of death nine years later, although this lost significance after controlling for comorbid heart disease. Cluster analysis of the higher dispersion scores revealed four distinct profile patterns that did not differ on the outcome variables. Conclusions: Elevated RBANS dispersion is a proxy of co-occurring health problems and may be a useful metric of functional decline and death within community-dwelling geriatric populations.

The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) for post-stroke cognitive impairment screening

Aims:Clinical guidelines recommend stroke patients are routinely screened for cognitive impairment. The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) was evaluated for screening for post-stroke cognitive impairment.Methods:The RBANS and a neuropsychological test battery were administered to 60 participants recruited from acute stroke wards.Results:Using a cut-off of &lt; 70 points, the RBANS Total Index demonstrated 50% sensitivity and 100% specificity for detecting any cognitive impairment. ROC curve analysis identified an optimum total index cut-off score of &lt; 84 points (sensitivity 84%; specificity 90%). The RBANS Indices did not have acceptable sensitivity and specificity using a cut-off of &lt; 70 points. ROC curve analysis identified higher optimum cut-offs (sensitivity 79–89%; specificity 48–96%).Conclusion:The RBANS was an acceptable measure for detecting post-stroke cognitive impairment but does not include assessment of executive ability.

Amyloid deposition and cognition in older adults: the effects of premorbid intellect.

Although amyloid deposition remains a marker of the development of Alzheimer's disease, results linking amyloid and cognition have been equivocal. Twenty-five community-dwelling non-demented older adults were examined with (18)F-flutemetamol, an amyloid imaging agent, and a cognitive battery, including an estimate of premorbid intellect and the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). In the first model, (18)F-flutemetamol uptake significantly correlated with the Delayed Memory Index of the RBANS (r = -.51, p = .02) and premorbid intellect (r = .43, p = .03). In the second model, the relationship between (18)F-flutemetamol and cognition was notably stronger when controlling for premorbid intellect (e.g., three of the five RBANS Indexes and its Total score significantly correlated with (18)F-flutemetamol, r's = -.41 to -.58). Associations were found between amyloid-binding (18)F-flutemetamol and cognitive functioning in non-demented older adults. These associations were greatest with delayed memory and stronger when premorbid intellect was considered, suggesting that cognitive reserve partly compensates for the symptomatic expression of amyloid pathology in community-dwelling elderly.