Worse Processing Speed Research Articles

HIV Stigma is Associated with Two-Year Decline in Cognitive Performance Among People with HIV.

HIV stigma is associated with suboptimal clinical outcomes and has been cross-sectionally linked to cognitive deficits in people with HIV (PWH). However, it is unclear whether HIV stigma precedes cognitive decline or vice versa. We examined associations in 303 adult PWH (mean age 50.01 (11.91) years; 46% female; 67% non-Hispanic Black) between the abbreviated Berger Stigma Scale score and longitudinal change across the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery measures. 89% of participants reported experiencing HIV stigma. In unadjusted analyses, greater HIV stigma was associated with worse attention performance at yearly follow-up visits (B = -0.07, 95% CI = -0.13 - -0.01, p = 0.025). When adjusting for clinicodemographic variables, HIV stigma was associated with worse processing speed and global cognition at yearly follow-up visits. This finding suggests that HIV stigma precedes subsequent cognitive decline and highlights the importance of reducing stigma to improve cognitive functioning among PWH.

Neurocognitive and Adaptive Functioning in Young Patients with Severe Chronic Kidney Disease

Background: To assess the association between neurocognitive functioning, adaptive functioning, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), in Children and Young Adults with Severe Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). Methods: We included patients with severe CKD (stages 4 and 5), aged 8-30 years, on different therapy modalities (pre-dialysis, dialysis, and transplanted) and healthy controls matched on age, sex, and parental education. All patients and healthy controls performed tasks to assess neurocognitive functioning (WISC/WAIS and a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery), and completed questionnaires to assess adaptive functioning (WFIRS or WHODAS) and HRQoL (PedsQL). Group differences were explored using MANCOVA. Mediation analyses were done to explore whether the relation between neurocognitive functioning and HRQoL was mediated by adaptive functioning. Results: 28 patients with severe CKD and 21 healthy matched controls were included. CKD patients had worse HRQoL (p < .001) than healthy controls. Adaptive functioning problems increased with age in the CKD patient group but not in the healthy control group (significant interaction effect: p = .024). Significant mediation effects were found, where impaired adaptive functioning mediated the relation between both low estimated Full Scale Intelligence Quotient (eFSIQ) and worse Processing Speed & Working Memory, and impaired HRQoL (eFSIQ: 95% confidence interval = .01-.58; Processing Speed & Working Memory: 95% confidence interval = 2.31-16.36). Conclusion: We found that impaired neurocognitive functioning is associated with worse HRQoL, which is conditional to impaired adaptive functioning. Especially towards young adulthood problems in adaptive functioning are more likely to be reported than when patients are younger.

Disentangling effects of remote mild traumatic brain injury characteristics and posttraumatic stress on processing speed and executive function in veterans.

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and posttraumatic stress are prevalent in military service members and share objective and subjective cognitive symptoms, complicating recovery. We investigated the effects of remote mTBI characteristics and current posttraumatic stress symptoms on neuropsychological performance in 152 veterans with a history of remote mTBI and current cognitive concerns. Participants completed clinical neuropsychological evaluations within a Veterans Affairs Level-II TBI/Polytrauma outpatient clinic (i.e. tertiary trauma care center for US military veterans outside of a research or teaching hospital setting). Archival data analysis of mTBI injury characteristics, clinical diagnoses, scores on the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Military Version (PCL-M) and performance on tests of processing speed, attention and executive function was conducted. Hierarchical linear regression demonstrated that elevated PCL-M scores were associated with slower performance on trail making test (TMT) Parts A and B (p < .016). PCL-M symptoms moderated the effect of alteration of consciousness (AOC) on TMT performance, with endorsement of AOC associated with better performance, but only when PCL-M scores were high (p < .005). Follow-up mediation analyses demonstrated that PCL-M score fully mediated the relationship between AOC and TMT-A performance and partially mediated the relationship between AOC and TMT-B performance. Post-hoc analyses meant to separate the impact of processing speed on TMT-B were all non-significant. Remote mTBI characteristics, specifically AOC, were not associated with decrements in cognitive performance. Posttraumatic symptoms were associated with worse processing speed, suggesting that psychological distress and psychopathology are contributing factors in understanding and treating persistent cognitive distress following remote mTBI.

Plasma Biomarkers of Alzheimer Disease in Women With and Without HIV

Blood-based biomarkers associated with increased risk of Alzheimer disease (AD) are understudied in people living with and without HIV, particularly women. To determine whether baseline or 1-year changes in plasma amyloid-β40 (Aβ40), Aβ42, ratio of Aβ42 to Aβ40, total tau (t-tau), phosphorylated tau 231 (p-tau231), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and/or neurofilament light chain (NFL) are associated with neuropsychological performance (NP) among women living with HIV (WLWH) and women living without HIV (WLWOH). This longitudinal, prospective, cohort study with 1-year repeated clinical measures (NP only measured once) and biospecimen collection occurred between 2017 and 2019. Participants were women aged 40 years or older from 10 clinical research sites in cities across the US that were part of the Women's Interagency HIV Study. Data analysis was conducted from April to December 2022. Laboratory-confirmed HIV status and AD biomarkers. Sociodemographically adjusted NP T-scores (attention and working memory, executive function, processing speed, memory, learning, verbal fluency, motor function, and global performance) were the primary outcomes. Baseline and 1-year fasting plasma Aβ40, Aβ42, t-tau, p-tau231, GFAP, and NFL levels were measured and analyzed using multivariable linear regression. The study consisted of 307 participants (294 aged ≥50 years [96%]; 164 African American or Black women [53%]; 214 women with a high school education or higher [70%]; 238 women who were current or former smokers [78%]; and 236 women [77%] who were overweight or obese [body mass index >25]) including 209 WLWH and 98 WLWOH. Compared with WLWOH at baseline, WLWH performed worse on learning (mean [SD] T-score 47.8 [11.3] vs 51.4 [10.5]), memory (mean [SD] T-score 48.3 [11.6] vs 52.4 [10.2]), verbal fluency (mean [SD] T-score 48.3 [9.8] vs 50.7 [8.5]), and global (mean [SD] T-score 49.2 [6.8] vs 51.1 [5.9]) NP assessments. Baseline median Aβ40, GFAP, and NFL levels were higher among WLWH vs WLWOH. There were no differences in 1-year biomarker change by HIV serostatus. Lower learning, memory, and motor NP were associated with 1-year Aβ40 increase; lower learning and motor with Aβ42 increase; lower motor with p-tau231 increase; and lower processing speed, verbal fluency and motor with NFL increase in the entire sample. Among WLWH, a 1-year increase in Aβ40 from baseline to follow-up was associated with worse learning, memory, and global NP; a 1-year increase in t-tau with worse executive function; and a 1-year increase in NFL with worse processing speed. Among WLWOH, a 1-year increase in Aβ40 and Aβ42 were associated with poorer memory performance and NFL was associated with poorer motor performance. These findings suggest that increases in certain plasma AD biomarkers are associated with NP in WLWH and WLWOH and may be associated with later onset of AD, and measuring these biomarkers could be a pivotal advancement in monitoring aging brain health and development of AD among women with and without HIV.

1 Neuropsychological Outcome After Cardiac Arrest: Results from a Sub-study of the Targeted Hypothermia Versus Targeted Normothermia After Out-of-hospital Cardiac Arrest (TTM2) Trial

Objective:To describe cognitive impairment in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survivors, with the hypothesis that OHCA survivors would perform significantly worse on neuropsychological tests of cognition than controls with acute myocardial infarction (MI). Another aim was to investigate the relationship between cognitive performance and the associated factors of emotional problems, fatigue, insomnia, and cardiovascular risk factors following OHCA.Participants and Methods:This was a prospective case control sub-study of The Targeted Hypothermia versus Targeted Normothermia after Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (TTM2) trial. Eight of 61 TTM2-sites in Sweden, Denmark, and the United Kingdom included adults with OHCA of presumed cardiac or unknown cause. A matched non-arrest control group with acute MI was recruited. We administered an extensive neuropsychological assessment at approximately 7 months post-cardiac event, including a neuropsychological test battery and questionnaires on anxiety, depression, fatigue, and insomnia, and collected information on the cardiovascular risk factors hypertension and diabetes. Z-scores of individual tests were converted to neuropsychological composite scores per cognitive domain (verbal, visual/constructive, working memory, episodic memory, processing speed, executive functions). Between-group differences on the neuropsychological composite scores were investigated with linear regression. Associations between anxiety, depression, fatigue, insomnia, hypertension, diabetes, and the neuropsychological composite scores among OHCA survivors were calculated with Spearman’s rho.Results:Of 184 eligible OHCA survivors, 108 were included (mean age = 62, 88% male), with 92 MI controls enrolled (mean age = 64, 89% male). Amongst OHCA survivors, 29% performed z &lt;-1 indicating at least borderline-mild impairment in &gt;2 cognitive domains, and 14% performed z &lt;-2 exhibiting major impairment in &gt;1 cognitive domain. OHCA survivors performed significantly worse than MI controls in episodic memory (mean difference, MD = -0.37, 95% confidence intervals [-0.61, -0.12]), verbal (MD = -0.34 [-0.62, -0.07]), and visual/constructive functions (MD = -0.26 [-0.47, -0.04]) on linear regressions adjusted for educational attainment and sex. When additionally adjusting for anxiety, depression, fatigue, insomnia, hypertension, and diabetes, processing speed (MD = -0.41 [-0.74, -0.09]) and executive functions (MD = -0.69 [-1.13, -0.24]) were also worse following OHCA. Depressive symptoms were associated with worse executive functions (rs = -0.37, p &lt;0.001) and worse processing speed (rs = -0.27, p = 0.01) post-OHCA. Anxiety symptoms (rs = -0.21, p = 0.01) and general fatigue (rs = -0.24, p = 0.01) were associated with worse executive functions. Diabetes was associated with worse processing speed (rs = -0.20, p = 0.03), visual/constructive (rs = -0.29, p &lt;0.001) and executive functions (rs = -0.25, p = 0.02), while hypertension and insomnia were not significantly associated with neuropsychological test performance.Conclusions:Cognitive impairment is generally mild following OHCA, but most pronounced in episodic memory, executive functions, and processing speed. OHCA survivors performed worse than MI controls. We suggest that a post-OHCA follow-up service should screen for cognitive impairment, emotional problems, and fatigue.

H - 68 Effects of Depression, Apathy and Anxiety in Hispanic Parkinson Disease Individuals' Cognition.

Previous research in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) found that heightened apathy is associated with worse executive function. Most studies to-date have involved primarily White, non-Hispanic individuals. Indeed, recent research suggests that mood/motivation's relationship to cognitive decline differs between Hispanic and non-Hispanic individuals (Thakur et al., 2021). In this study, we examined relationships between depression, apathy, anxiety, and cognition in Hispanic PD participants who were seen in a specialized movement disorders center. Participants included 31 non-demented Hispanic individuals with PD (age mean = 59.94, SD = 8.49years; education mean = 14.39, SD = 2.79; 83.9% male) who completed neuropsychological and mood measures (Beck Depression Inventory-II, Apathy Scale, STAI-Trait Anxiety Scale). Prevalence estimates were calculated using established cut-offs (BDI-II:14, AS:14, STAI-Trait:40). Cognitive raw scores were z-scored and averaged into the composites: attention (WAIS-III Digit Span Forward, Backward), processing speed (Stroop Word, Trails A), executive function (Trails B, Stroop Color-Word), and memory (Hopkin's Verbal Learning Test, WMS-III Logical Memory delayed recalls). Non-parametric partial correlations (correcting for age/education) assessed mood and cognitive composite relationships. 17% had clinically significant depressive symptoms, 12% had apathy, and 35% had anxiety. More depressive symptoms were significantly associated with worse memory (r = -0.54, p = 0.007). Greater anxiety symptoms trended with worse processing speed (r = -0.41, p = 0.065) and memory (r = -0.38, p = 0.094). Apathy did not relate to cognition (p's > 0.05). This pattern of associations differs from existing studies with predominantly White, non-Hispanic samples (Butterfield et al., 2010; Ratajska, et al.,2022), highlighting the importance of further investigating ethnic differences in PD.

Sleep-disordered breathing and neurocognitive function in multiple sclerosis: Differential associations across cognitive domains

Background: Sleep disorders are common in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) and could contribute to cognitive dysfunction. However, effects of pathological sleep on cognitive domains are insufficiently characterized. Objective: To evaluate associations between cognitive performance and polysomnographic (PSG)-based sleep disturbances in PwMS. Methods: PwMS with known/suspected untreated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA, N = 131) underwent PSG and cognitive tests: Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT), California Verbal Learning Test-II (CVLT-II), Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMT-R Total and Delayed), Judgment of Line Orientation (JLO), Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT), Trail Making Test, Go/No-Go, and Nine-Hole Peg Test (NHPT). Results: Apnea severity measures were associated with worse processing speed, attention, and working memory (SDMT); immediate and delayed visual memory (BVMT-R Total and Delayed); attention, psychomotor speed, and cognitive flexibility (Trails); and manual dexterity and visuomotor coordination (NHPT) (ps ⩽ 0.011). Sleep macrostructure measures showed stronger associations with verbal memory and response inhibition (CVLT-II Total Recognition Discriminability Index), and immediate visual memory (BVMT-R Total) (ps ⩽ 0.011). Conclusions: Pathological sleep, including hypoxia, sleep fragmentation, and disturbances in sleep/wake states, are differentially associated with worse cognitive performance in PwMS. These findings could inform future personalized approaches to cognitive impairment in PwMS with sleep disorders. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02544373 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02544373).

Association between serum cystatin C level and cognition in older adults: a cross-sectional analysis.

Serum Cystatin C level, an indication of kidney function, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease and cognitive impairment. In this cross-sectional study, we looked into the relation between serum Cystatin C levels and cognition in a group of U.S. older adults. The data of this study were from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2002. A total of 4,832 older adults aged ≥60 who met the inclusion criteria were included. The Dade Behring N Latex Cystatin C assay, which is a particle-enhanced nephelometric assay (PENIA), was utilized to assess Cystatin C levels in participants' blood samples. Participants' cognition was examined using the digit symbol substitution test (DSST). Z-scores of the DSST were calculated based on sample means and standard deviations (SD). To investigate the relationships between the quartiles of serum Cystatin C level and DSST z scores, multiple linear regression models were developed while controlling for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and education. The average age of the participants was 71.1 (SD 7.8). The participants were about half female (50.5%), non-Hispanic White (61.2%), and (36.1%) who had completed at least some college. They had an average serum Cystatin C level of 1.0 mg/dl (SD 0.44). After performing multiple linear regression with a reference group consisting of participants in quartile one of plasma Cystatin C levels, we found that serum Cystatin C levels in quartiles three and four were independently associated with lower DSST z scores (β = -0.059, 95% CI -0.200 to -0.074 and β = -0.108, 95% CI -0.319 to -0.184, respectively). Higher serum Cystatin C level is associated with worse processing speed, sustained attention, and working memory in older adults. Cystatin C level may be a biomarker for cognitive decline in older adults.

Dissociable Contributions of Thalamic-Subregions to Cognitive Impairment in Small Vessel Disease.

Structural network damage is a potentially important mechanism by which cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) can cause cognitive impairment. As a central hub of the structural network, the role of thalamus in SVD-related cognitive impairments remains unclear. We aimed to determine the associations between the structural alterations of thalamic subregions and cognitive impairments in SVD. In this cross-sectional study, 205 SVD participants without thalamic lacunes from the third follow-up (2020) of the prospective RUN DMC study (Radboud University Nijmegen Diffusion Tensor and Magnetic Resonance Cohort), which was initiated in 2006, Nijmegen, were included. Cognitive functions included processing speed, executive function, and memory. Probabilistic tractography was performed from thalamus to 6 cortical regions, followed by connectivity-based thalamic segmentation to assess each thalamic subregion volume and connectivity (measured by mean diffusivity [MD] of the connecting white matter tracts) with the cortex. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression analysis was conducted to identify the volumes or connectivity of the total thalamus and 6 thalamic subregions that have the strongest association with cognitive performance. Linear regression and mediation analyses were performed to test the association of least absolute shrinkage and selection operator-selected thalamic subregion volume or MD with cognitive performance, while adjusting for age and education. We found that higher MD of the thalamic-motor tract was associated with worse processing speed (β=-0.27; P<0.001), higher MD of the thalamic-frontal tract was associated with worse executive function (β=-0.24; P=0.001), and memory (β=-0.28; P<0.001), respectively. The mediation analysis showed that MD of thalamocortical tracts mediated the association between corresponding thalamic subregion volumes and the cognitive performances in 3 domains. Our results suggest that the structural alterations of thalamus are linked to cognitive impairment in SVD, largely depending on the damage pattern of the white matter tracts connecting specific thalamic subregions and cortical regions.

A multimodal marker for cognitive functioning in multiple sclerosis: the role of NfL, GFAP and conventional MRI in predicting cognitive functioning in a prospective clinical cohort

BackgroundCognitive impairment in people with MS (PwMS) has primarily been investigated using conventional imaging markers or fluid biomarkers of neurodegeneration separately. However, the single use of these markers do only partially explain the large heterogeneity found in PwMS.ObjectiveTo investigate the use of multimodal (bio)markers: i.e., serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and conventional imaging markers in predicting cognitive functioning in PwMS.MethodsEighty-two PwMS (56 females, disease duration = 14 ± 9 years) underwent neuropsychological and neurological examination, structural magnetic resonance imaging, blood sampling and lumbar puncture. PwMS were classified as cognitively impaired (CI) if scoring ≥ 1.5SD below normative scores on ≥ 20% of test scores. Otherwise, PwMS were defined as cognitively preserved (CP). Association between fluid and imaging (bio)markers were investigated, as well as binary logistics regression to predict cognitive status. Finally, a multimodal marker was calculated using statistically important predictors of cognitive status.ResultsOnly higher NfL levels (in serum and CSF) correlated with worse processing speed (r = − 0.286, p = 0.012 and r = − 0.364, p = 0.007, respectively). sNfL added unique variance in the prediction of cognitive status on top of grey matter volume (NGMV), p = 0.002). A multimodal marker of NGMV and sNfL yielded most promising results in predicting cognitive status (sensitivity = 85%, specificity = 58%).ConclusionFluid and imaging (bio)markers reflect different aspects of neurodegeneration and cannot be used interchangeably as markers for cognitive functioning in PwMS. The use of a multimodal marker, i.e., the combination of grey matter volume and sNfL, seems most promising for detecting cognitive deficits in MS.

Estimated Pulse Wave Velocity Inversely Associates with Cognition in the Northern Manhattan Study (S8.002)

Estimated Pulse Wave Velocity Inversely Associates with Cognition in the Northern Manhattan Study (S8.002)

Frailty is associated with worse cognitive functioning in older adults.

Frailty and impaired cognitive functioning often co-occur in older adults and are associated with adverse health outcomes. However, their relationship is unclear. This study sought to examine the association of frailty status with cognitive functioning in older adults. The study population consisted of 2,296 older adults aged ≥60 from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2014. Frailty status was measured based on the Fried Phenotype and the participants were categorized into three groups- robust, pre-frailty, and frailty. Cognitive functioning was measured using the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease Word Learning subtest (CERAD-WL) immediate and delayed recall tests, the Animal Fluency test (AFT), and the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST). Test-specific and global cognition z-scores were calculated. Multinomial linear regression models were constructed to examine the association between frailty status (reference: robust) and test-specific and global cognition z-scores. Multiple linear regression models were used to examine the relationship between the number of frailty dimensions and test-specific and global cognition z-scores. All models controlled for age, race/ethnicity, education, total cholesterol level, and systolic blood pressure. About half of the participants (median age 68 years) were female (49.9%) and non-Hispanic White (48.7%). A quarter (23.3%) of the participants completed some college and above. Multinominal linear regression showed that compared with participants who were robust, those with frailty had worse DSST [β = -0.234, 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.391, -0.078, P = 0.003] and global cognition z scores (β = -0.129, 95% CI -0.233, -0.025, P = 0.02). Multiple linear regression model showed that the number of frailty dimensions was significantly associated with decreased the DSST (β = -0.065, 95% CI -0.103, -0.026, P = 0.001) and global cognition z-scores (β= -0.034, 95% CI -0.06, -0.009, P = 0.009). Frailty is associated with worse processing speed, sustained attention, working memory, and global cognition in older adults. Prevention and treatment of frailty in older adults may help protect their cognitive functioning. Further, clinicians should consider assessing cognitive functioning, especially processing speed, sustained attention, and working memory, among frail older patients, which may allow early identification and interventions of cognitive impairment.

Risk factors for neurocognitive impairment and the relation with structural brain abnormality in children and young adults with severe chronic kidney disease

BackgroundSevere chronic kidney disease (CKD) in children and young adults has shown to be associated with abnormal brain development, which may contribute to neurocognitive impairments. We aimed to investigate risk factors for neurocognitive impairment and investigate the relation with structural brain abnormalities in young severe CKD patients.MethodsThis cross-sectional study includes 28 patients with severe CKD (eGFR < 30), aged 8–30 years (median 18.5 years), on different treatment modalities (pre-dialysis [n = 8], dialysis [n = 8], transplanted [n = 12]). We assessed neurocognitive functioning using a comprehensive test battery and brain structure by magnetic resonance imaging metrics of brain volume and white matter integrity (fractional anisotropy [FA] and mean diffusivity [MD] measured with diffusion tensor imaging). Multivariate regression and mediation analyses were performed between clinical CKD parameters, brain structure, and neurocognitive outcome.ResultsA combination of risk factors (e.g., longer time since kidney transplantation, longer dialysis duration and late CKD onset) was significantly associated with lower intelligence and/or worse processing speed and working memory. Lower FA in a cluster of white matter tracts was associated with lower intelligence and mediated the relation between clinical risk factors and lower intelligence.ConclusionsYoung severe CKD patients with a prolonged duration of kidney replacement therapy, either dialysis or transplantation are at particular risk for impairments in intelligence, processing speed, and working memory. Disrupted white matter integrity may importantly contribute to these neurocognitive impairments. Prospective, longitudinal studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms involved in CKD and treatment that affect white matter integrity and neurocognitive outcome in young patients.Graphical abstractA higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information

Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with worse cognitive outcomes in acute moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury: A TBI Model Systems study

ObjectiveTo examine the relationship between polysomnography-classified obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) severity and cognitive performance in acute moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). MethodThis was a cross-sectional, secondary analysis leveraging data from a clinical trial (NCT03033901) and TBI Model Systems. Sixty participants (mean age = 50 ± 18y, 72% male, 67% white) with moderate-to-severe TBI from five civilian rehabilitation hospitals were assessed at one-month post-injury. Participants underwent Level 1 polysomnography. OSA severity was classified as mild, moderate, and severe using the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI). Associations between OSA metrics of hypoxemia (nadir and total time spent below 90%) and AHI with cognition were examined. Cognition was assessed with the Brief Test of Adult Cognition by Telephone (BTACT), which is comprised of six subtests assessing verbal memory, attention/working memory, processing speed, language, and executive function. ResultsOver three-quarters of this acute TBI sample (76.7%) were diagnosed with OSA (no OSA n = 14; mild OSA n = 19; moderate/severe OSA n = 27). After adjustment for age, gender, and education, those with OSA had worse processing speed, working memory, and executive functioning compared to those without OSA. Compared to those with moderate/severe OSA, those with mild OSA had worse working memory and executive function. ConclusionsOSA is highly prevalent during acute stages of TBI recovery, and even in mild cases is related to poorer cognitive performance, particularly in the domains of attention/working memory and executive functioning. Our results support the incorporation of OSA diagnostic tools and interventions into routine clinical care in rehabilitation settings.

Predictors of employment status and stability in Bipolar Disorder: Findings from an 8-year longitudinal study

IntroductionUnderstanding how Bipolar Disorder (BD) affects employment is limited by cross-sectional or short-term longitudinal designs. The aims for this study are to examine condition-related and other clinical predictors of longitudinal employment status and stability in those with BD compared to healthy controls (HC). MethodsParticipants were 358 individuals with BD and HC who were enrolled in the Heinz C. Prechter Longitudinal Study of BD. Participants completed self-report measurements of employment, symptoms, health, personality, life events, and neuropsychological tests at study enrollment, yearly and/or every two months. Repeated measures logistic regression was used to predict employment status and stability. ResultsThose with BD were less likely to be employed than HC. Significant predictors of unemployment in BD include having BD type I, younger age, less years with BD, higher depression, worse processing speed, and worse mental and physical health. Of those with BD, 64 % demonstrated greater employment instability compared to 37 % of HC. History of psychosis, worse memory, physical health, and greater disruption of negative life events significantly predicted employment instability. LimitationsThe limitations of this study include the generalizability of this sample, a large reliance of self-report measures, and a lack of employment-related factors such as job-type, functioning, performance, and satisfaction. Lastly, the effects of medication, treatment adherence, and treatment optimization were not assessed in this study. ConclusionsThese findings highlight that different aspects of BD are important for being employed versus maintaining stable employment. These findings indicate the need for more effective treatment strategies beyond symptom management.

Correlates of subjective and objective everyday functioning in middle-aged and older adults with human immunodeficiency virus

People with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (PWH) are at an increased risk for impaired everyday functioning and they may also experience poor awareness of their functional status. This study identified factors associated with (1) subjective and objective instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) and (2) awareness of functional capacity in PWH. In this cross-sectional study, 236 PWH completed a neurobehavioral assessment, including self-report and performance-based measures of IADLs. Multiple regressions were performed to identify demographic, personality, and cognitive factors contributing to subjective and objective evaluation of everyday functioning, as well as discrepancy between self-report and performance-based measures of IADLs. Results indicated that increased depression was associated with worsened self-report of everyday functioning but not performance of IADLs. Cognitive function and age were associated with IADL performance. Most participants (58.1%) demonstrated a discrepancy between self-report and actual performance of IADLs. Worse processing speed was correlated with greater discrepancy. Inaccurate self-reporters had worse overall cognitive functioning and lower levels of personality traits, including openness, conscientiousness, and agreeableness. In conclusion, self-report and actual performance of IADLs in PWH is influenced by different factors. Self-report may be more affected by psychological variables, such as mood and personality, while actual performance is more sensitive to age and cognitive function.

In Older Adults, Perceived Stress and Self-Efficacy Are Associated with Verbal Fluency, Reasoning, and Prospective Memory (Moderated by Socioeconomic Position).

Despite evidence that stress relates negatively to cognitive functioning in older adults, little is known how appraisal of stress and socioeconomic meso-level factors influence different types of cognitive functions in older adults. Here, we assess the relationship between perceived stress (PSS scale) and a battery of cognitive functions, including prospective memory in 1054 older adults (65+). A moderator analysis assessed whether this relationship varies with neighborhood socioeconomic status using an area-based measure of Socioeconomic Position (SEP). Perceived stress was associated with worse processing speed, verbal fluency, and inductive reasoning. The perceived self-efficacy subscale of the PSS is related to better performance in these measures. Higher self-efficacy was also associated with better prospective memory; this relationship was more pronounced for people with high neighborhood SEP. These findings indicate that not only do perceived stress and perceived self-efficacy relate to cognitive functioning in older age but also that neighborhood SEP is a moderator of this relationship.

COVID-19-Related Anxiety and Cognition in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Examining Sex as a Moderator.

Aging populations experience disproportionate risk for cognitive decline, which may be exacerbated by coronavirus (COVID-19) illness, particularly among women. This study tested sex as a moderator of associations between COVID-19 state anxiety and cognition in middle-aged/older adults. Adults aged 50+ (N = 275; 151 men/124 women) completed the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale and Cognitive Failures Questionnaire online from remote locations in July/August 2020. A subset of participants (n = 62) completed an objective cognitive task (Stroop). Multiple regressions determined whether sex moderated associations between COVID-19 anxiety and cognitive outcomes. Sex was a significant moderator, such that for women (not men), greater COVID-19 anxiety was associated with more memory failures and blunders (subjective measures) and worse processing speed (objective measure). COVID-19 state anxiety is linked to everyday cognition and processing speed in women, but not men. Consistency across subjective and objective measures promotes the need for sex-specific understanding of the pandemic’s behavioral and cognitive effects in mid-to-late life.

The African American United Memory and Aging Project: AD Knowledge and Family History as It Relates to Cognition

This study explores the influence of Black adults’ Alzheimer’s disease (AD) knowledge and family history of AD on cognition. A sample of Black adults (n=66, age range=45-84) completed a computerized cognitive (CogState Brief) battery and surveys of AD knowledge, family history of AD diagnosis, and health. On the 14-item AD knowledge survey, participants correctly answered a mean of 10.80 (SD=1.50) items. Approximately, 56% reported a biological family member diagnosed with AD, of these 30% reported this being a mother or father. Linear regression models suggested no significant association between AD knowledge and cognitive performance. However, adults with a family member diagnosed with AD had worse visual learning accuracy even after adjusting for age, education, and income. Increased age was associated with worse processing speed, particularly in adults with a mother diagnosed with AD. These findings demonstrate the importance of examining the influence of family history on Black adults’ cognitive health.

Seizures' impact on cognition and quality of life in childhood cancer survivors.

The objective of this study was to determine the impact of seizure-related factors on neurocognitive, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and social outcomes in survivors of childhood cancer. Survivors of childhood cancer treated at St. Jude Children's Hospital (n = 2022; 48.3% female; median age, 31.5 years; median time since diagnosis, 23.6 years) completed neurocognitive testing and questionnaires. The presence, severity, resolution, and treatment history of seizures were abstracted from medical records. Adjusting for the age at diagnosis, sex, and prior cancer therapy, multivariable models examined the impact of seizures on neurocognitive and HRQOL outcomes. Mediation analyses were conducted for social outcomes. Seizures were identified in 232 survivors (11.5%; 29.9% of survivors with central nervous system [CNS] tumors and 9.0% of those without CNS tumors). In CNS tumor survivors, seizures were associated with poorer executive function and processing speed (P < .02); in non-CNS tumor survivors, seizures were associated with worse function in every domain (P < .05). Among non-CNS survivors, seizure severity was associated with worse processing speed (P = .023), and resolution was associated with better executive function (P = .028) and attention (P = .044). In CNS survivors, seizure resolution was associated with improved attention (P = .047) and memory (P < .02). Mediation analysis revealed that the impact of seizures on social outcomes was mediated by neurocognitive function. Seizures in cancer survivors adversely affect long-term functional and psychosocial outcomes independently of cancer therapy. The resolution of seizure occurrence is associated with better outcomes. Seizure severity is associated with poorer outcomes and should be a focus of clinical management and patient education.