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Panico F, Catalano L, Sagliano L, Trojano L. The False Recognition Test, a new tool for the assessment of false memories, with normative data from an Italian sample. Neurol Sci 2024:10.1007/s10072-024-07656-9. [PMID: 38884895 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-024-07656-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION False memory can be defined as remembering something that did not happen. To a certain extent it is a normal phenomenon, but its occurrence seems to increase in healthy and pathological aging, possibly providing relevant clues on some clinical conditions in the spectrum of dementia. We adapted a well-established Deed-Roediger-McDermott paradigm, frequently used in experimental contexts, to devise a new neuropsychological assessment tool, the False Recognition Test (FRT), that can investigate classical facets of episodic memory performance (i.e. free recall and recognition), and assess proneness to produce semantically related and non-semantic false memories. Here we describe the FRT and provide normative data and correction grids to consider the possible effects of age, gender, and education on the FRT scores. METHOD Two-hundred and thirty-two Italian healthy individuals (99 male) aged 18-91 years, with different educational levels (from primary to university) underwent the FRT, together with validated tests for cognitive screening and episodic memory assessment and one scale for depression. RESULTS Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that age and education significantly influenced performance on FRT. From the derived linear equations, we provide correction grids for the raw scores of the FRT, and equivalent scores estimated using a nonparametric method. Correlational analysis showed significant associations between FRT subscores and cognitive, executive and memory functions, and depression. CONCLUSION The FRT may constitute a useful instrument for both clinical and research purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Panico
- University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Viale Ellittico 31, 81100, Caserta, Italy.
| | - Laura Catalano
- University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Viale Ellittico 31, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Laura Sagliano
- University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Viale Ellittico 31, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Luigi Trojano
- University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Viale Ellittico 31, 81100, Caserta, Italy
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Winblad S, Eliasdottir O, Nordström S, Lindberg C. Neurocognitive disorder in Myotonic dystrophy type 1. Heliyon 2024; 10:e30875. [PMID: 38778932 PMCID: PMC11109806 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Cognitive deficits and abnormal cognitive aging have been associated with Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), but the knowledge of the extent and progression of decline is limited. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of signs of neurocognitive disorder (mild cognitive impairment and dementia) in adult patients with DM1. A total of 128 patients with childhood, juvenile, adult, and late onset DM1 underwent a screening using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Demographic and clinical information was collected. The results revealed that signs of neurocognitive disorder were relatively rare among the participants. However, 23.8 % of patients with late onset DM1 (aged over 60 years) scored below MoCA cut-off (=23), and this group also scored significantly worse compared to patients with adult onset. Age at examination were negatively correlated with MoCA scores, although it only explained a small portion of the variation in test results. Other demographic and clinical factors showed no association with MoCA scores. In conclusion, our findings indicate a low prevalence of signs of neurocognitive disorder in adult patients with DM1, suggesting that cognitive deficits rarely progress to severe disorders over time. However, the performance of patients with late onset DM1 suggests that this phenotype warrants further exploration in future studies, including longitudinal and larger sample analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Winblad
- Icon Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Olöf Eliasdottir
- Department of Neurology, Neuromuscular Center, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Sara Nordström
- Department of Neurology, Neuromuscular Center, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Christopher Lindberg
- Department of Neurology, Neuromuscular Center, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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Strongyli E, Evangelidis P, Sakellari I, Gavriilaki M, Gavriilaki E. Change in Neurocognitive Function in Patients Who Receive CAR-T Cell Therapies: A Steep Hill to Climb. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:591. [PMID: 38794161 PMCID: PMC11123727 DOI: 10.3390/ph17050591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy with chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapies has brought substantial improvement in clinical outcomes in patients with relapsed/refractory B cell neoplasms. However, complications such as cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) limit the therapeutic efficacy of this treatment approach. ICANS can have a broad range of clinical manifestations, while various scoring systems have been developed for its grading. Cognitive decline is prevalent in CAR-T therapy recipients including impaired attention, difficulty in item naming, and writing, agraphia, and executive dysfunction. In this review, we aim to present the diagnostic methods and tests that have been used for the recognition of cognitive impairment in these patients. Moreover, up-to-date data about the duration of cognitive impairment symptoms after the infusion are presented. More research on the risk factors, pathogenesis, preventive measures, and therapy of neurocognitive impairment is crucial for better outcomes for our patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evlampia Strongyli
- Hematology Department and Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) Unit, G. Papanicolaou Hospital, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (E.S.); (I.S.)
| | - Paschalis Evangelidis
- Second Propedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Hippocration Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54642 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Ioanna Sakellari
- Hematology Department and Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) Unit, G. Papanicolaou Hospital, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (E.S.); (I.S.)
| | - Maria Gavriilaki
- 1st Department of Neurology, AHEPA University Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Eleni Gavriilaki
- Hematology Department and Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) Unit, G. Papanicolaou Hospital, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (E.S.); (I.S.)
- Second Propedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Hippocration Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54642 Thessaloniki, Greece;
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Aiello EN, Solca F, Torre S, Colombo E, Maranzano A, De Lorenzo A, Patisso V, Treddenti M, Curti B, Morelli C, Doretti A, Verde F, Ferrucci R, Barbieri S, Ruggiero F, Priori A, Silani V, Ticozzi N, Poletti B. Longitudinal Feasibility of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) in Non-Demented ALS Patients. Eur Neurol 2024; 87:79-83. [PMID: 38643758 DOI: 10.1159/000538828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The present study aimed at testing the longitudinal feasibility of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) in an Italian cohort of non-demented amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. METHODS N = 39 non-demented ALS patients were followed-up at a 5-to-10-month interval (M = 6.8; SD = 1.4) with the MoCA and the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioral ALS Screen (ECAS). Practice effects, test-retest reliability, and predictive validity (against follow-up ECAS scores) were assessed. Reliable change indices (RCIs) were derived via a regression-based approach by accounting for retest interval and baseline confounders (i.e., demographics, disease duration, and severity and progression rate). RESULTS At retest, 100% and 69.2% of patients completed the ECAS and the MoCA, respectively. Patients who could not complete the MoCA showed a slightly more severe and fast-progressing disease. The MoCA was not subject to practice effects (t[32] = -0.80; p = 0.429) and was reliable at retest (intra-class correlation = 0.82). Moreover, baseline MoCA scores predicted the ECAS at retest. RCIs were successfully derived - with baseline MoCA scores being the only significant predictor of retest performances (ps < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS As long as motor disabilities do not undermine its applicability, the MoCA appears to be longitudinally feasible at a 5-to-10-month interval in non-demented ALS patients. However, ALS-specific screeners - such as the ECAS - should be preferred whenever possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edoardo Nicolò Aiello
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy,
| | - Federica Solca
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy
| | - Silvia Torre
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy
| | - Eleonora Colombo
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy
| | - Alessio Maranzano
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy
| | - Alberto De Lorenzo
- Neurology Residency Program, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Valerio Patisso
- Neurology Residency Program, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Mauro Treddenti
- Neurology Residency Program, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Beatrice Curti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy
| | - Claudia Morelli
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy
| | - Alberto Doretti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy
| | - Federico Verde
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari" Center, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Roberta Ferrucci
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milano, Italy
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Sergio Barbieri
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Fabiana Ruggiero
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Alberto Priori
- Aldo Ravelli Center for Neurotechnology and Experimental Brain Therapeutics, Department of Health Sciences, International Medical School, University of Milan, Milano, Italy
- ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, San Paolo University Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Silani
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari" Center, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Nicola Ticozzi
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari" Center, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Barbara Poletti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milano, Italy
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Ranucci L, Brischigiaro L, Mazzotta V, Anguissola M, Menicanti L, Bedogni F, Ranucci M. Neurocognitive function in procedures correcting severe aortic valve stenosis: patterns and determinants. Front Cardiovasc Med 2024; 11:1372792. [PMID: 38682100 PMCID: PMC11055462 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2024.1372792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Neurocognitive changes occurring after a surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) or transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedure for the correction of severe aortic stenosis (AS) have not been widely addressed and, if addressed, have produced conflicting results. The purpose of this study is to identify the pre-procedural neurocognitive pattern and its determinants in a setting of elderly (>65 years) patients with severe AS undergoing SAVR or TAVI and the changes occurring at a 2-3 month follow-up. Methods This was a prospective cohort study included in the Italian Registry on Outcomes in Aortic Stenosis Treatment in Elderly Patients. Patients were assessed both before and after (2-3 months) the procedure using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test. Data on periprocedural demographics, clinical factors, and outcome measures were collected. Results Before the procedure, 70% of the patients demonstrated a MoCA score <23 points, which was indicative of cognitive dysfunction. The factors associated with neurocognitive dysfunction were age, functional capacity, chronic heart failure, and hemoglobin levels. After the procedure, there was an overall improvement in the MoCA score of the patients, but 28% of the patients showed a reliable worsening of their condition. The factors associated with MoCA worsening were platelet transfusions and the amount of red blood cell units transfused. Conclusion The correction of severe AS leads to an improvement in neurocognitive function after 2-3 months. This improvement does not differentiate between SAVR and TAVI after matching for pre-procedural factors. The only modifiable factor associated with pre-procedural neurocognitive function is anemia, and anemia correction with red blood cell transfusions is associated with a worsening of neurocognitive function. This leads to the hypothesis that anemia correction before the procedure (with iron and/or erythropoietin) may limit the risk of a post-procedural worsening of neurocognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. Ranucci
- Department of Cardiovascular Anesthesia and Intensive Care, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, Milan, Italy
| | - L. Brischigiaro
- Department of Cardiovascular Anesthesia and Intensive Care, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, Milan, Italy
| | - V. Mazzotta
- Department of Cardiovascular Anesthesia and Intensive Care, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, Milan, Italy
| | - M. Anguissola
- Department of Cardiovascular Anesthesia and Intensive Care, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, Milan, Italy
| | - L. Menicanti
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, Milan, Italy
| | - F. Bedogni
- Department of Cardiology, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, Milan, Italy
| | - M. Ranucci
- Department of Cardiovascular Anesthesia and Intensive Care, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, Milan, Italy
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Aiello EN, Mameli F, Ruggiero F, Zirone E, Zago S, Piacentini S, Poletti B, Reitano MR, Santangelo G, Ticozzi N, Silani V, Priori A, Ferrucci R. Psychometrics and diagnostics of the Italian version of the Alternate Verbal Fluency Battery (AVFB) in non-demented Parkinson's disease patients. Neurol Sci 2024:10.1007/s10072-024-07436-5. [PMID: 38467953 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-024-07436-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Verbal fluency (VF) tasks are known as suitable for detecting cognitive impairment (CI) in Parkinson's disease (PD). This study thus aimed to evaluate the psychometrics and diagnostics of the Alternate Verbal Fluency Battery (AVFB) by Costa et al. (2014) in an Italian cohort of non-demented PD patients, as well as to derive disease-specific cut-offs for it. METHODS N = 192 non-demented PD patients were screened with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and underwent the AVFB-which includes phonemic, semantic and alternate VF tests (PVF; SVF; AVF), as well as a Composite Shifting Index (CSI) reflecting the "cost" of shifting from a single- to a double-cued VF task. Construct validity and diagnostics were assessed for each AVFB measure against the MoCA. Internal reliability and factorial validity were also tested. RESULTS The MoCA proved to be strongly associated with PVF, SVF and AVF scores, whilst moderately with the CSI. The AVFB was internally consistent and underpinned by a single component; however, an improvement in both internal reliability and fit to its factorial structure was observed when dropping the CSI. Demographically adjusted scores on PVF, SVF and AVF tests were diagnostically sound in detecting MoCA-defined cognitive impairment, whilst this was not true for the CSI. Disease-specific cut-offs for PVF, SVF and AVF tests were derived. DISCUSSION In conclusion, PVF, SVF and AVF tests are reliable, valid and diagnostically sound instruments to detect cognitive impairment in non-demented PD patients and are therefore recommended for use in clinical practice and research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edoardo Nicolò Aiello
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Mameli
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabiana Ruggiero
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Eleonora Zirone
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Zago
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Barbara Poletti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, Università Degli Studi Di Milano, Via Santa Sofia 9, 20122, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Gabriella Santangelo
- Department of Psychology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Nicola Ticozzi
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari" Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Silani
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari" Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Alberto Priori
- ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, San Paolo University Hospital, Milan, Italy
- "Aldo Ravelli" Center for Neurotechnology and Experimental Brain Therapeutics, Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberta Ferrucci
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, Università Degli Studi Di Milano, Via Santa Sofia 9, 20122, Milan, Italy.
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Aiello EN, Solca F, Torre S, Lafronza A, Maranzano A, Bonetti R, Scheveger F, Maffi S, Ceccarelli C, Scocchia M, Casella M, Verde F, Migliore S, Silani V, Ticozzi N, Squitieri F, Ciammola A, Poletti B. Validity, diagnostics and feasibility of the Italian version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) in Huntington's disease. Neurol Sci 2024; 45:1079-1086. [PMID: 37770762 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-023-07070-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study is aimed at assessing the clinimetric properties and feasibility of the Italian version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) in patients with Huntington's disease (HD). METHODS N = 39 motor-manifest HD patients, N = 74 Parkinson's disease (PD) patients and N = 92 matched HCs were administered the MoCA. HD patients further underwent the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS), self-report questionnaires for anxiety and depression and a battery of first- and second-level cognitive tests. Construct validity was tested against cognitive and behavioural/psychiatric measures, whereas ecological validity against motor-functional subscales of the UHDRS. Sensitivity to disease severity was tested, via a logistic regression, by exploring whether the MoCA discriminated between patients in Shoulson-Fahn stage ≤ 2 vs. > 2. The same analysis was employed to test its ability to discriminate HD patients from HCs and PD patients. RESULTS The MoCA converged towards cognitive and behavioural measures but diverged from psychiatric ones, being also associated with motor/functional measures from the UHDRS. In identifying patients with cognitive impairment, adjusted MoCA scores were highly accurate (AUC = .92), yielding optimal diagnostics at the cut-off of < 19.945 (J = .78). The MoCA was able to discriminate patients in the middle-to-advanced from those in the early-to-middle stages of the disease (p = .037), as well as to differentiate HD patients from both HCs (p < .001) and PD patients (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS The MoCA is a valid, diagnostically sound and feasible cognitive screener in motor-manifest HD patients, whose adoption is thus encouraged in clinical practice and research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edoardo Nicolò Aiello
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Solca
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Torre
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Annalisa Lafronza
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessio Maranzano
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Ruggero Bonetti
- Neurology Residency Program, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Sabrina Maffi
- Huntington and Rare Diseases Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo Della Sofferenza Research Hospital, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | | | - Marta Scocchia
- Italian League for Research On Huntington (LIRH) Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Melissa Casella
- Italian League for Research On Huntington (LIRH) Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Federico Verde
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari Center", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Simone Migliore
- Huntington and Rare Diseases Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo Della Sofferenza Research Hospital, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Silani
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari Center", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicola Ticozzi
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari Center", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Ferdinando Squitieri
- Huntington and Rare Diseases Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo Della Sofferenza Research Hospital, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Andrea Ciammola
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Barbara Poletti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy.
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
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Cammisuli DM, Tuena C, Riva G, Repetto C, Axmacher N, Chandreswaran V, Isella V, Pomati S, Zago S, Difonzo T, Pavanello G, Prete LA, Stramba-Badiale M, Mauro A, Cattaldo S, Castelnuovo G. Exploring the Remediation of Behavioral Disturbances of Spatial Cognition in Community-Dwelling Senior Citizens with Mild Cognitive Impairment via Innovative Technological Apparatus (BDSC-MCI Project): Protocol for a Prospective, Multi-Center Observational Study. J Pers Med 2024; 14:192. [PMID: 38392625 PMCID: PMC10890288 DOI: 10.3390/jpm14020192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Spatial navigation (SN) has been reported to be one of the first cognitive domains to be affected in Alzheimer's disease (AD), which occurs as a result of progressive neuropathology involving specific brain areas. Moreover, the epsilon 4 isoform of apolipoprotein-E (APOE-ε4) has been associated with both sporadic and familial late-onset AD, and patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to AD are more likely to progressively deteriorate. Spatial navigation performance will be examined on a sample of 76 community-dwelling senior citizens (25 healthy controls; 25 individuals with subjective cognitive decline (SCD); and 26 patients with MCI due to AD) via a virtual computer-based task (i.e., the AppleGame) and a naturalistic task (i.e., the Detour Navigation Test-modified version) for which a wearable device with sensors will be used for recording gait data and revealing physiological parameters that may be associated with spatial disorientation. We expect that patients with MCI due to AD and APOE-ε4 carriers will show altered SN performances compared to individuals with SCD and healthy controls in the experimental tasks, and that VR testing may predict ecological performance. Impaired SN performances in people at increased risk of developing AD may inform future cognitive rehabilitation protocols for counteracting spatial disorientation that may occur during elders' traveling to unfamiliar locations. The research protocol has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the Istituto Auxologico Italiano. Findings will be published in peer-reviewed medical journals and discussed in national and international congresses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cosimo Tuena
- Applied Technology for Neuro-Psychology Lab, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, 20145 Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Riva
- Applied Technology for Neuro-Psychology Lab, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, 20145 Milan, Italy
- Human Technology Lab, Catholic University, 20145 Milan, Italy
| | - Claudia Repetto
- Department of Psychology, Catholic University, 20123 Milan, Italy
| | - Nikolai Axmacher
- Department of Neuropsychology, Faculty of Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Ruhr University, 44801 Bochum, Germany
| | - Varnan Chandreswaran
- Department of Neuropsychology, Faculty of Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Ruhr University, 44801 Bochum, Germany
| | - Valeria Isella
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy
- Milan Center for Neurosciences, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Simone Pomati
- Neurology Unit, Luigi Sacco University Hospital, 20157 Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Zago
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Teresa Difonzo
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Giada Pavanello
- School of Specialization in Clinical Psychology, Catholic University, 20123 Milan, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Augusto Prete
- School of Specialization in Clinical Psychology, Catholic University, 20123 Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Stramba-Badiale
- Department of Geriatrics and Cardiovascular Medicine, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, 20145 Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Mauro
- "Rita Levi Montalcini" Department of Neurosciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
- Neurology and Neurorehabilitation Unit, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, "San Giuseppe" Hospital, 33081 Piancavallo, Italy
| | - Stefania Cattaldo
- Clinic Neurobiology Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, "San Giuseppe" Hospital, 33081 Piancavallo, Italy
| | - Gianluca Castelnuovo
- Department of Psychology, Catholic University, 20123 Milan, Italy
- Clinical Psychology Research Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, 20149 Milan, Italy
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9
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Lombardi G, Baccini M, Gualerzi A, Pancani S, Campagnini S, Doronzio S, Longo D, Maselli A, Cherubini G, Piazzini M, Ciapetti T, Polito C, Pinna S, De Santis C, Bedoni M, Macchi C, Ramat S, Cecchi F. Comparing the effects of augmented virtual reality treadmill training versus conventional treadmill training in patients with stage II-III Parkinson's disease: the VIRTREAD-PD randomized controlled trial protocol. Front Neurol 2024; 15:1338609. [PMID: 38327625 PMCID: PMC10847255 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1338609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Intensive treadmill training (TT) has been documented to improve gait parameters and functional independence in Parkinson's Disease (PD), but the optimal intervention protocol and the criteria for tailoring the intervention to patients' performances are lacking. TT may be integrated with augmented virtual reality (AVR), however, evidence of the effectiveness of this combined treatment is still limited. Moreover, prognostic biomarkers of rehabilitation, potentially useful to customize the treatment, are currently missing. The primary aim of this study is to compare the effects on gait performances of TT + AVR versus TT alone in II-III stage PD patients with gait disturbance. Secondary aims are to assess the effects on balance, gait parameters and other motor and non-motor symptoms, and patient's satisfaction and adherence to the treatment. As an exploratory aim, the study attempts to identify biomarkers of neuroplasticity detecting changes in Neurofilament Light Chain concentration T0-T1 and to identify prognostic biomarkers associated to blood-derived Extracellular Vesicles. Methods Single-center, randomized controlled single-blind trial comparing TT + AVR vs. TT in II-III stage PD patients with gait disturbances. Assessment will be performed at baseline (T0), end of training (T1), 3 (T2) and 6 months (T3, phone interview) from T1. The primary outcome is difference in gait performance assessed with the Tinetti Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment gait scale at T1. Secondary outcomes are differences in gait performance at T2, in balance and spatial-temporal gait parameters at T1 and T2, patients' satisfaction and adherence. Changes in falls, functional mobility, functional autonomy, cognition, mood, and quality of life will be also assessed at different timepoints. The G*Power software was used to estimate a sample size of 20 subjects per group (power 0.95, α < 0.05), raised to 24 per group to compensate for potential drop-outs. Both interventions will be customized and progressive, based on the participant's performance, according to a predefined protocol. Conclusion This study will provide data on the possible superiority of AVR-associated TT over conventional TT in improving gait and other motor and non-motor symptoms in persons with PD and gait disturbances. Results of the exploratory analysis could add information in the field of biomarker research in PD rehabilitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gemma Lombardi
- Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Florence, Italy
| | - Marco Baccini
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Silvia Pancani
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Stefano Doronzio
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Florence, Italy
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Diego Longo
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Florence, Italy
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandro Maselli
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Florence, Italy
- Department of Technical-Health Professions, Rehabilitation, and Prevention, Campostaggia Hospital, Poggibonsi (SI), USL Toscana Sudest, Italy
| | - Giulio Cherubini
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Florence, Italy
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Samuele Pinna
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Florence, Italy
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Chiara De Santis
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Marzia Bedoni
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudio Macchi
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Florence, Italy
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Silvia Ramat
- Parkinson Unit, Department of NeuroMuscular-Skeletal and Sensorial Organs, AOU Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Francesca Cecchi
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Florence, Italy
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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10
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Basagni B, Malloggi S, Polito C, Pellicciari L, Campagnini S, Pancani S, Mannini A, Gemignani P, Salvadori E, Marignani S, Giovannelli F, Viggiano MP, Hakiki B, Grippo A, Macchi C, Cecchi F. MoCA Domain-Specific Pattern of Cognitive Impairment in Stroke Patients Attending Intensive Inpatient Rehabilitation: A Prospective Study. Behav Sci (Basel) 2024; 14:42. [PMID: 38247694 PMCID: PMC10813017 DOI: 10.3390/bs14010042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
A domain-specific perspective to cognitive functioning in stroke patients may predict their cognitive recovery over time and target stroke rehabilitation intervention. However, data about domain-specific cognitive impairment after stroke are still scarce. This study prospectively investigated the domain-specific pattern of cognitive impairments, using the classification proposed by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), in a cohort of 49 stroke patients at admission (T0), discharge (T1), and six-month follow-up (T2) from subacute intensive rehabilitation. The predictive value of T0 cognitive domains cognitive impairment at T1 and T2 was also investigated. Patients' cognitive functioning at T0, T1, and T2 was assessed through the MoCA domains for executive functioning, attention, language, visuospatial, orientation, and memory. Different evolutionary trends of cognitive domain impairments emerged across time-points. Patients' impairments in all domains decreased from T0 to T1. Attention and executive impairments decreased from T0 to T2 (42.9% and 26.5% to 10.2% and 18.4%, respectively). Conversely, altered visuospatial, language, and orientation increased between T1 and T2 (16.3%, 36.7%, and 40.8%, respectively). Additionally, patients' global cognitive functioning at T1 was predicted by the language and executive domains in a subacute phase (p = 0.031 and p = 0.001, respectively), while in the long term, only attention (p = 0.043) and executive (p = 0.019) domains intervened. Overall, these results confirm the importance of a domain-specific approach to target cognitive recovery across time in stroke patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedetta Basagni
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, 50143 Firenze, Italy; (B.B.); (S.M.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (S.P.); (A.M.); (P.G.); (E.S.); (S.M.); (B.H.); (A.G.); (C.M.); (F.C.)
| | - Serena Malloggi
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, 50143 Firenze, Italy; (B.B.); (S.M.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (S.P.); (A.M.); (P.G.); (E.S.); (S.M.); (B.H.); (A.G.); (C.M.); (F.C.)
| | - Cristina Polito
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, 50143 Firenze, Italy; (B.B.); (S.M.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (S.P.); (A.M.); (P.G.); (E.S.); (S.M.); (B.H.); (A.G.); (C.M.); (F.C.)
| | - Leonardo Pellicciari
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, 50143 Firenze, Italy; (B.B.); (S.M.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (S.P.); (A.M.); (P.G.); (E.S.); (S.M.); (B.H.); (A.G.); (C.M.); (F.C.)
| | - Silvia Campagnini
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, 50143 Firenze, Italy; (B.B.); (S.M.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (S.P.); (A.M.); (P.G.); (E.S.); (S.M.); (B.H.); (A.G.); (C.M.); (F.C.)
| | - Silvia Pancani
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, 50143 Firenze, Italy; (B.B.); (S.M.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (S.P.); (A.M.); (P.G.); (E.S.); (S.M.); (B.H.); (A.G.); (C.M.); (F.C.)
| | - Andrea Mannini
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, 50143 Firenze, Italy; (B.B.); (S.M.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (S.P.); (A.M.); (P.G.); (E.S.); (S.M.); (B.H.); (A.G.); (C.M.); (F.C.)
| | - Paola Gemignani
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, 50143 Firenze, Italy; (B.B.); (S.M.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (S.P.); (A.M.); (P.G.); (E.S.); (S.M.); (B.H.); (A.G.); (C.M.); (F.C.)
| | - Emilia Salvadori
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, 50143 Firenze, Italy; (B.B.); (S.M.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (S.P.); (A.M.); (P.G.); (E.S.); (S.M.); (B.H.); (A.G.); (C.M.); (F.C.)
| | - Sara Marignani
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, 50143 Firenze, Italy; (B.B.); (S.M.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (S.P.); (A.M.); (P.G.); (E.S.); (S.M.); (B.H.); (A.G.); (C.M.); (F.C.)
| | - Fabio Giovannelli
- Department of NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, 50143 Firenze, Italy; (F.G.); (M.P.V.)
| | - Maria Pia Viggiano
- Department of NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, 50143 Firenze, Italy; (F.G.); (M.P.V.)
| | - Bahia Hakiki
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, 50143 Firenze, Italy; (B.B.); (S.M.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (S.P.); (A.M.); (P.G.); (E.S.); (S.M.); (B.H.); (A.G.); (C.M.); (F.C.)
| | - Antonello Grippo
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, 50143 Firenze, Italy; (B.B.); (S.M.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (S.P.); (A.M.); (P.G.); (E.S.); (S.M.); (B.H.); (A.G.); (C.M.); (F.C.)
| | - Claudio Macchi
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, 50143 Firenze, Italy; (B.B.); (S.M.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (S.P.); (A.M.); (P.G.); (E.S.); (S.M.); (B.H.); (A.G.); (C.M.); (F.C.)
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50143 Firenze, Italy
| | - Francesca Cecchi
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, 50143 Firenze, Italy; (B.B.); (S.M.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (S.P.); (A.M.); (P.G.); (E.S.); (S.M.); (B.H.); (A.G.); (C.M.); (F.C.)
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50143 Firenze, Italy
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11
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D'Iorio A, Aiello EN, Trinchillo A, Silani V, Ticozzi N, Ciammola A, Poletti B, Esposito M, Santangelo G. Clinimetrics of the Italian version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) in adult-onset idiopathic focal dystonia. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2023; 130:1571-1578. [PMID: 37308662 PMCID: PMC10682121 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-023-02663-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed at assessing the clinimetrics of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) in an Italian cohort of patients with adult-onset idiopathic focal dystonia (AOIFD). N = 86 AOIFD patients and N = 92 healthy controls (HCs) were administered the MoCA. Patients further underwent the Trail-Making Test (TMT) and Babcock Memory Test (BMT), being also screened via the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and the Dimensional Apathy Scale (DAS). Factorial structure and internal consistency were assessed. Construct validity was tested against TMT, BMT, BDI-II and DAS scores, whilst diagnostics against the co-occurrence of a defective performance on at least one TMT measure and on the BMT. Case-control discrimination was examined. The association between MoCA scores and motor-functional measures was explored. The MoCA was underpinned by a mono-component structure and acceptably reliable at an internal level. It converged towards TMT and BMT scores, as well as with the DAS, whilst diverging from the BDI-II. Its adjusted scores accurately detected cognitive impairment (AUC = .86) at a cut-off of < 17.212. The MoCA discriminated patients from HCs (p < .001). Finally, it was unrelated to disease duration and severity, as well as to motor phenotypes. The Italian MoCA is a valid, diagnostically sound and feasible cognitive screener in AOIFD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfonsina D'Iorio
- Department of Psychology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy.
| | - Edoardo Nicolò Aiello
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Assunta Trinchillo
- Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Silani
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari" Center, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicola Ticozzi
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari" Center, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Ciammola
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Barbara Poletti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Gabriella Santangelo
- Department of Psychology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
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12
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D'Iorio A, Aiello EN, Amboni M, Vitale C, Verde F, Silani V, Ticozzi N, Ciammola A, Poletti B, Santangelo G. Validity and diagnostics of the Italian version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) in non-demented Parkinson's disease patients. Aging Clin Exp Res 2023; 35:2157-2163. [PMID: 37480503 PMCID: PMC10519859 DOI: 10.1007/s40520-023-02493-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed at: (1) assessing, in an Italian cohort of non-demented Parkinson's disease (PD) patients, the construct validity of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) against both first- and second-level cognitive measures; (2) delivering an exhaustive and updated evaluation of its diagnostic properties. METHODS A retrospective cohort of N = 237 non-demented PD patients having been administered the MoCA was addressed, of whom N = 169 further underwent the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and N = 68 the Parkinson's Disease Cognitive Rating Scale (PD-CRS). A subsample (N = 60) also underwent a second-level cognitive battery encompassing measures of attention/executive functioning, language, memory, praxis and visuo-spatial abilities. Construct validity was assessed against both the PD-CRS and the second-level cognitive battery. Diagnostics were tested via receiver-operating characteristics analyses against a below-cut-off MMSE score. RESULTS The MoCA was associated with both PD-CRS scores (p < .001) and the vast majority of second-level cognitive measures (ps < .003). Both raw and adjusted MoCA scores proved to be highly accurate to the aim of identifying patients with MMSE-confirmed cognitive dysfunctions. A MoCA score adjusted for age and education according to the most recent normative dataset and < 19.015 is herewith suggested as indexing cognitive impairment in this population (AUC = .92; sensitivity = .92; specificity = .80). DISCUSSION The Italian MoCA is a valid and diagnostically sound screener for global cognitive inefficiency in non-demented PD patients. Further studies are nevertheless needed that confirm its diagnostic values against a measure other than the MMSE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfonsina D'Iorio
- Department of Psychology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy.
| | - Edoardo Nicolò Aiello
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Marianna Amboni
- Institute of Diagnosis and Health, IDC-Hermitage Capodimonte, Naples, Italy
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Carmine Vitale
- Institute of Diagnosis and Health, IDC-Hermitage Capodimonte, Naples, Italy
- Department of Motor Sciences and Wellness, University "Parthenope", Naples, Italy
| | - Federico Verde
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari" Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Silani
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari" Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicola Ticozzi
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari" Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Ciammola
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Barbara Poletti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Gabriella Santangelo
- Department of Psychology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
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13
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Aiello EN, D'Iorio A, Solca F, Torre S, Colombo E, Maranzano A, De Lorenzo A, Patisso V, Treddenti M, Morelli C, Doretti A, Maderna L, Verde F, Ferrucci R, Barbieri S, Ruggiero F, Priori A, Silani V, Ticozzi N, Santangelo G, Ciammola A, Poletti B. Ecological Validity of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment in Non-Demented Parkinson's Disease Patients. NEURODEGENER DIS 2023; 22:159-163. [PMID: 37482058 DOI: 10.1159/000532115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The ecological validity of performance-based cognitive screeners needs to be tested in order for them to be fully recommended for use within clinical practice and research. OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to examine, within an Italian cohort of non-demented Parkinson's disease (PD) patients, the ecological validity of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) by assessing its association with (1) functional independence (FI), (2) quality of life (QoL), and (3) behavioural-psychological (BP) outcomes. METHODS Seventy-four non-demented PD patients were administered the MoCA and underwent motor functional - i.e., Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), Modified Hoehn-Yahr Scale (HY), and Schwab and England Scale (SES) -, behavioural and psychological - i.e., State- and Trait-Anxiety Inventory-Form Y (STAI-Y1/-Y2), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Dimensional Apathy Scale (DAS) - and QoL evaluations - i.e., MOS 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Associations of interest against FI, QoL, and BP outcomes were tested via Bonferroni-corrected Pearson's/Spearman's correlations while covarying for demographics, disease duration as well as UPDRS-III, UPDRS-IV, and HY scores. Intake of psychotropic drugs was also covaried when assessing the association between the MoCA and BP/QoL measures. RESULTS MoCA scores were significantly associated with the SES (rs(73) = 0.34; p = 0.005) and the DAS-Executive (r(67) = -0.47; p < 0.001), while not to other FI/BP outcomes and QoL measures. CONCLUSIONS The MoCA is a valid estimate of daily life functional autonomy in non-demented PD patients, also reflecting apathetic features of a dysexecutive nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edoardo Nicolò Aiello
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy,
| | - Alfonsina D'Iorio
- Department of Psychology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Federica Solca
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy
| | - Silvia Torre
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy
| | - Eleonora Colombo
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy
| | - Alessio Maranzano
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy
| | - Alberto De Lorenzo
- Neurology Residency Program, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Valerio Patisso
- Neurology Residency Program, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Mauro Treddenti
- Neurology Residency Program, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Claudia Morelli
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy
| | - Alberto Doretti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy
| | - Luca Maderna
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy
| | - Federico Verde
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari" Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Roberta Ferrucci
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milano, Italy
- ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, San Paolo University Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | - Sergio Barbieri
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Fabiana Ruggiero
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Alberto Priori
- ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, San Paolo University Hospital, Milano, Italy
- "Aldo Ravelli" Center for Neurotechnology and Experimental Brain Therapeutics, Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, Milano, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Silani
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari" Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Nicola Ticozzi
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari" Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Gabriella Santangelo
- Department of Psychology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Andrea Ciammola
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy
| | - Barbara Poletti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milano, Italy
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14
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Manganotti P, Michelutti M, Furlanis G, Deodato M, Buoite Stella A. Deficient GABABergic and glutamatergic excitability in the motor cortex of patients with long-COVID and cognitive impairment. Clin Neurophysiol 2023; 151:83-91. [PMID: 37210757 PMCID: PMC10170904 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2023.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Attention, working memory and executive processing have been reported to be consistently impaired in Neuro-Long coronavirus disease (COVID). On the hypothesis of abnormal cortical excitability, we investigated the functional state of inhibitory and excitatory cortical regulatory circuits by single "paired-pulse" transcranial magnetic stimulation (ppTMS) and Short-latency Afferent Inhibition (SAI). METHODS We compared clinical and neurophysiological data of 18 Long COVID patients complaining of persistent cognitive impairment with 16 Healthy control (HC) subjects. Cognitive status was evaluated by means of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and a neuropsychological evaluation of the executive function domain; fatigue was scored by the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). Resting motor threshold (RMT), the amplitude of the motor evoked potential (MEP), Short Intra-cortical Inhibition (SICI), Intra-cortical Facilitation (ICF), Long-interval Intracortical Inhibition (LICI) and Short-afferent inhibition (SAI) were investigated over the motor (M1) cortex. RESULTS MoCA corrected scores were significantly different between the two groups (p = 0.023). The majority of the patients' performed sub-optimally in the neuropsychological assessment of the executive functions. The majority (77.80%) of the patients reported high levels of perceived fatigue in the FSS. RMT, MEPs, SICI and SAI were not significantly different between the two groups. On the other hand, Long COVID patients showed a reduced amount of inhibition in LICI (p = 0.003) and a significant reduction in ICF (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Neuro-Long COVID patients performing sub-optimally in the executive functions showed a reduction of LICI related to GABAb inhibition and a reduction of ICF related to glutamatergic regulation. No alteration in cholinergic circuits was found. SIGNIFICANCE These findings can help to better understand the neurophysiological characteristics of Neuro-Long COVID, and in particular, motor cortex regulation in people with "brain fog".
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Manganotti
- Clinical Unit of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University Hospital and Health Services of Trieste - ASUGI, University of Trieste, Strada di Fiume, 447, 34149 Trieste, Italy.
| | - Marco Michelutti
- Clinical Unit of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University Hospital and Health Services of Trieste - ASUGI, University of Trieste, Strada di Fiume, 447, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Giovanni Furlanis
- Clinical Unit of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University Hospital and Health Services of Trieste - ASUGI, University of Trieste, Strada di Fiume, 447, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Manuela Deodato
- Clinical Unit of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University Hospital and Health Services of Trieste - ASUGI, University of Trieste, Strada di Fiume, 447, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Alex Buoite Stella
- Clinical Unit of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University Hospital and Health Services of Trieste - ASUGI, University of Trieste, Strada di Fiume, 447, 34149 Trieste, Italy
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15
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Ajčević M, Iscra K, Furlanis G, Michelutti M, Miladinović A, Buoite Stella A, Ukmar M, Cova MA, Accardo A, Manganotti P. Cerebral hypoperfusion in post-COVID-19 cognitively impaired subjects revealed by arterial spin labeling MRI. Sci Rep 2023; 13:5808. [PMID: 37037833 PMCID: PMC10086005 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-32275-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Cognitive impairment is one of the most prevalent symptoms of post Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome COronaVirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) state, which is known as Long COVID. Advanced neuroimaging techniques may contribute to a better understanding of the pathophysiological brain changes and the underlying mechanisms in post-COVID-19 subjects. We aimed at investigating regional cerebral perfusion alterations in post-COVID-19 subjects who reported a subjective cognitive impairment after a mild SARS-CoV-2 infection, using a non-invasive Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL) MRI technique and analysis. Using MRI-ASL image processing, we investigated the brain perfusion alterations in 24 patients (53.0 ± 14.5 years, 15F/9M) with persistent cognitive complaints in the post COVID-19 period. Voxelwise and region-of-interest analyses were performed to identify statistically significant differences in cerebral blood flow (CBF) maps between post-COVID-19 patients, and age and sex matched healthy controls (54.8 ± 9.1 years, 13F/9M). The results showed a significant hypoperfusion in a widespread cerebral network in the post-COVID-19 group, predominantly affecting the frontal cortex, as well as the parietal and temporal cortex, as identified by a non-parametric permutation testing (p < 0.05, FWE-corrected with TFCE). The hypoperfusion areas identified in the right hemisphere regions were more extensive. These findings support the hypothesis of a large network dysfunction in post-COVID subjects with cognitive complaints. The non-invasive nature of the ASL-MRI method may play an important role in the monitoring and prognosis of post-COVID-19 subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miloš Ajčević
- Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Katerina Iscra
- Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Giovanni Furlanis
- Clinical Unit of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, Trieste University Hospital-ASUGI, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Marco Michelutti
- Clinical Unit of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, Trieste University Hospital-ASUGI, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | | | - Alex Buoite Stella
- Clinical Unit of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, Trieste University Hospital-ASUGI, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Maja Ukmar
- Radiology Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, Trieste University Hospital-ASUGI, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Maria Assunta Cova
- Radiology Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, Trieste University Hospital-ASUGI, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Agostino Accardo
- Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Paolo Manganotti
- Clinical Unit of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, Trieste University Hospital-ASUGI, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
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16
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Terruzzi S, Funghi G, Meli C, Barozzi N, Zappini F, Papagno C, Dodich A. The FACE test: a new neuropsychological task to assess the recognition of complex mental states from faces. Neurol Sci 2023:10.1007/s10072-023-06697-w. [PMID: 36849696 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-023-06697-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social cognition deficits are reported in several neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the availability of tasks for the clinical assessment is still limited, preventing the full characterization of socio-cognitive dysfunctions in neurological patients. This study aims to present a new task to assess the recognition of complex mental states from faces (FACE test), reporting normative data for the Italian population and an example of its clinical application to 40 PD patients. METHODS Two-hundred twenty-nine Italian participants with at least 5 years of education were enrolled. Data were analyzed according to the method of equivalent scores; test-retest reliability and convergent validity were assessed. Two short versions of the FACE test were defined for clinical and research purposes. The prevalence of deficits in the FACE test was computed in the PD sample, as well as correlations with cognitive performance and diagnostic accuracy. RESULTS Regression analyses revealed significant effects of demographic variables on FACE performance, with younger and more educated individuals showing higher scores. Twenty-eight percent of PD patients showed borderline/pathological performance, which was correlated with emotion recognition/attribution abilities, and attentive-executive functions. The FACE test was accurate (80%) in distinguishing PD patients with socio-cognitive dysfunctions from both controls and PD patients without emotion recognition/attribution difficulties. CONCLUSION The FACE test represents a new tool assessing the ability to recognize complex mental states from facial expressions. Overall, these results support its use in both clinical and research settings, as well as the presence of affective processing deficits in a subsample of PD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Terruzzi
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences-CIMeC, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy.,Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Funghi
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences-CIMeC, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
| | - Claudia Meli
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences-CIMeC, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
| | - Nicole Barozzi
- Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Zappini
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences-CIMeC, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
| | - Costanza Papagno
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences-CIMeC, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
| | - Alessandra Dodich
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences-CIMeC, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy.
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17
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Furlanis G, Busan P, Formaggio E, Menichelli A, Lunardelli A, Ajcevic M, Pesavento V, Manganotti P. Stuttering-Like Dysfluencies as a Consequence of Long COVID-19. JOURNAL OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING RESEARCH : JSLHR 2023; 66:415-430. [PMID: 36749838 DOI: 10.1044/2022_jslhr-22-00381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE We present two patients who developed neurogenic stuttering after long COVID-19 related to SARS-CoV-2 infection. METHODS AND RESULTS Both patients experienced both physical (e.g., fatigue) and cognitive difficulties, which led to impaired function of attention, lexical retrieval, and memory consolidation. Both patients had new-onset stuttering-like speech dysfluencies: Blocks and repetitions were especially evident at the initial part of words and sentences, sometimes accompanied by effortful and associated movements (e.g., facial grimaces and oro-facial movements). Neuropsychological evaluations confirmed the presence of difficulties in cognitive tasks, while neurophysiological evaluations (i.e., electroencephalography) suggested the presence of "slowed" patterns of brain activity. Neurogenic stuttering and cognitive difficulties were evident for 4-5 months after negativization of SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal swab, with gradual improvement and near-to-complete recovery. CONCLUSIONS It is now evident that SARS-CoV-2 infection may significantly involve the central nervous system, also resulting in severe and long-term consequences, even if the precise mechanisms are still unknown. In the present report, long COVID-19 resulted in neurogenic stuttering, as the likely consequence of a "slowed" metabolism of (pre)frontal and sensorimotor brain regions (as suggested by the present and previous clinical evidence). As a consequence, the pathophysiological mechanisms related to the appearance of neurogenic stuttering have been hypothesized, which help to better understand the broader and possible neurological consequences of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Furlanis
- Clinical Unit of Neurology, University Hospital and Health Services of Trieste, ASUGI, Italy
- Department of Medicine, Surgical and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Italy
| | | | - Emanuela Formaggio
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Rehabilitation, University of Padua, Italy
| | - Alina Menichelli
- Neuropsychological Service, Clinical Unit of Rehabilitation, University Hospital and Health Services of Trieste, ASUGI, Italy
| | - Alberta Lunardelli
- Neuropsychological Service, Clinical Unit of Rehabilitation, University Hospital and Health Services of Trieste, ASUGI, Italy
| | - Milos Ajcevic
- Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Italy
| | - Valentina Pesavento
- Neuropsychological Service, Clinical Unit of Rehabilitation, University Hospital and Health Services of Trieste, ASUGI, Italy
| | - Paolo Manganotti
- Clinical Unit of Neurology, University Hospital and Health Services of Trieste, ASUGI, Italy
- Department of Medicine, Surgical and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Italy
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18
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Furlanis G, Buoite Stella A, Biaduzzini F, Bellavita G, Frezza NA, Olivo S, Menichelli A, Lunardelli A, Ajčević M, Manganotti P. Cognitive deficit in post-acute COVID-19: an opportunity for EEG evaluation? Neurol Sci 2023; 44:1491-1498. [PMID: 36749529 PMCID: PMC9902820 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-023-06615-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Among the most common post-COVID symptoms, many patients experienced subjective cognitive deficit, commonly named "brain fog," that might be present also in those individuals without severe acute COVID-19 respiratory involvement. Some studies have investigated some of the mechanisms that might be associated with the brain fog with objective techniques including transcranial magnetic stimulation and neuroimaging. METHODS The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of electroencephalographic (EEG) alterations in people with post-COVID self-reported cognitive deficit. RESULTS Out of the 90 patients attending the post-COVID neurology ambulatory service, twenty patients presenting brain fog at least 4 weeks after acute non-severe COVID-19 infection, and without previous history of epilepsy, were investigated with 19-channel EEG, Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). EEG was found altered in 65% of the sample, among which 69% presented a slowing activity and 31% were characterized by epileptic discharges principally in the frontal areas. None of the patients showed DWI MRI lesions. CONCLUSIONS These findings highlight the usefulness of EEG analysis to objectively describe possible neurophysiological abnormalities in post-COVID patients presenting subjective cognitive deficit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Furlanis
- Clinical Unit of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University Hospital and Health Services of Trieste - ASUGI, University of Trieste, Strada di Fiume, 447, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Alex Buoite Stella
- Clinical Unit of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University Hospital and Health Services of Trieste - ASUGI, University of Trieste, Strada di Fiume, 447, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Francesco Biaduzzini
- Clinical Unit of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University Hospital and Health Services of Trieste - ASUGI, University of Trieste, Strada di Fiume, 447, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Giulia Bellavita
- Clinical Unit of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University Hospital and Health Services of Trieste - ASUGI, University of Trieste, Strada di Fiume, 447, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Nicolò Arjuna Frezza
- School of Medicine and Surgery, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, Trieste University Hospital-ASUGI, University of Trieste, Strada di Fiume, 447, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Sasha Olivo
- Clinical Unit of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University Hospital and Health Services of Trieste - ASUGI, University of Trieste, Strada di Fiume, 447, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Alina Menichelli
- Rehabilitation Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, Maggiore City Hospital, Trieste, Italy
| | - Alberta Lunardelli
- Rehabilitation Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, Maggiore City Hospital, Trieste, Italy
| | - Miloš Ajčević
- Clinical Unit of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University Hospital and Health Services of Trieste - ASUGI, University of Trieste, Strada di Fiume, 447, 34149 Trieste, Italy ,Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Paolo Manganotti
- Clinical Unit of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University Hospital and Health Services of Trieste - ASUGI, University of Trieste, Strada di Fiume, 447, 34149, Trieste, Italy.
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19
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Basagni B, Marignani S, Pancani S, Mannini A, Hakiki B, Grippo A, Macchi C, Cecchi F. Cognitive Profile in Patients Admitted to Intensive Rehabilitation after Stroke Is Associated with the Recovery of Dysphagia: Preliminary Results from the RIPS (Intensive Post-Stroke Rehabilitation) Study. Semin Speech Lang 2023; 44:15-25. [PMID: 36649702 DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1759612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Dysphagia represents one of the most frequent symptoms in the post-acute stroke population. Swallowing impairment and cognitive deficits can often co-occur. This study aims to investigate the relationship between cognitive impairment and the recovery of dysphagia in patients attending specific rehabilitation. Patients admitted to intensive rehabilitation units were administered the Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) and Montreal Cognitive Screening Test (MoCA); when screening positive for dysphagia, they entered a rehabilitation program. Their FOIS score at discharge was the primary outcome measure. In the multivariate analysis, younger age (B = - 0.077, p = 0.017), higher MoCA (B = 0.191, p = 0.002), and higher FOIS (B = 1.251, p = 0.032) at admission were associated with higher FOIS at discharge. When executive function (EF) replaced the MoCA total score in the model, younger age (B = - 0.134, p = 0.001), higher admission EF (B = 1.451, p < 0.001), and FOIS (B = 1.348, p = 0.035) were associated with higher FOIS at discharge. Our results confirm the hypothesis that a better cognitive profile upon admission is associated with a higher probability of dysphagia recovery at discharge. EF seems to have a crucial role in dysphagia recovery. These results highlight the importance of considering the cognitive profile when assessing and treating dysphagia after stroke and of using screening tests that include executive functions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Bahia Hakiki
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Florence, Italy
| | | | | | - Francesca Cecchi
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Florence, Italy.,Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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20
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Ilardi CR, Menichelli A, Michelutti M, Cattaruzza T, Manganotti P. Optimal MoCA cutoffs for detecting biologically-defined patients with MCI and early dementia. Neurol Sci 2023; 44:159-170. [PMID: 36169756 PMCID: PMC9816212 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-022-06422-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In this phase II psychometric study on the Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA), we tested the clinicometric properties of Italian norms for patients with mild cognitive impairment (PwMCI) and early dementia (PwD) and provided optimal cutoffs for diagnostic purposes. METHODS Retrospective data collection was performed for consecutive patients with clinically and biologically defined MCI and early dementia. Forty-five patients (24 PwMCI and 21 PwD) and 25 healthy controls were included. Raw MoCA scores were adjusted according to the conventional 1-point correction (Nasreddine) and Italian norms (Conti, Santangelo, Aiello). The diagnostic properties of the original cutoff (< 26) and normative cutoffs, namely, the upper limits (uLs) of equivalent scores (ES) 1, 2, and 3, were evaluated. ROC curve analysis was performed to obtain optimal cutoffs. RESULTS The original cutoff demonstrated high sensitivity (0.93 [95% CI 0.84-0.98]) but low specificity (0.44 [0.32-0.56]) in discriminating between patients and controls. Nominal normative cutoffs (ES0 uLs) showed excellent specificity (SP range = 0.96-1.00 [0.88-1.00]) but poor sensitivity (SE range = 0.09-0.24 [0.04-0.36]). The optimal cutoff for Nasreddine's method was 23.50 (SE = 0.82 [0.71-0.90]; SP = 0.72 [0.60-0.82]). Optimal cutoffs were 20.97, 22.85, and 22.29 (SE range = 0.69-0.73 [0.57-0.83], SP range = 0.88-0.92 [0.77-0.97]) for Conti's, Santangelo's, and Aiello's methods, respectively. CONCLUSION Using the 1-point correction, combined with a cutoff of 23.50, might be useful in ambulatory settings with a large turnout. Our optimal cutoffs can offset the poor sensitivity of Italian cutoffs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ciro Rosario Ilardi
- Department of Psychology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Viale Ellittico 31, 81100, Caserta, Italy.
| | - Alina Menichelli
- Neuropsychology Service, Rehabilitation Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, Trieste University Hospital-ASUGI, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Marco Michelutti
- Clinical Unit of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, Trieste University Hospital-ASUGI, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Tatiana Cattaruzza
- Clinical Unit of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, Trieste University Hospital-ASUGI, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Paolo Manganotti
- Clinical Unit of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, Trieste University Hospital-ASUGI, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
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21
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Extra-Linguistic Cognitive Functions Involved in the Token Test: Results from a Cohort of Non-Aphasic Stroke Patients with Right Hemisphere Lesion. Behav Sci (Basel) 2022; 12:bs12120494. [PMID: 36546977 PMCID: PMC9774596 DOI: 10.3390/bs12120494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Token Test (TT) is widely used to examine comprehension disorders in aphasic patients, but abilities other than language may affect a patient's performance. This study aims to explore the correlation between the TT subtest performances and the performances in extra-linguistic cognitive areas in a cohort of patients from the Intensive Rehabilitation Post-Stroke (RIPS) study with a first, right hemisphere stroke and without aphasia, prospectively enrolled at admission to intensive inpatient post-acute rehabilitation. METHODS The patients were administered the TT (50-item version), the forward and backward digit span (DST), and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Spearman's partial correlations adjusted by age were used to evaluate the association between the number of errors in the TT and the other tests' corrected scores. RESULTS Of the 37 patients enrolled in this study, 29.7% made 3-11 errors on the TT, 27.0% more than 11 errors, mostly in parts IV and V. The forward and backward digit span scores showed correlations with errors in part V of the TT (r = -0.408, p = 0.013; r = -0.307, p = 0.027). The errors in part IV of the TT presented a correlation with a forward digit span too (r = -0.394, p = 0.017). With respect to MoCA domains, executive functioning, and orientation were related to the TT part V errors (r = -0.468, p = 0.007; r = -0.499, p = 0.003). The orientation also correlated with the TT part III (r = -0.504, p = 0.002). CONCLUSION Our findings show that the TT performances in patients with right hemisphere stroke and without aphasia are related to impairments in auditory-verbal span/auditory working memory mostly for TT scores on subpart V as measured by the DST and to executive function and orientation, as measured by the MoCA subtests.
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22
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Solca F, Aiello EN, Migliore S, Torre S, Carelli L, Ferrucci R, Priori A, Verde F, Ticozzi N, Maffi S, Ceccarelli C, Squitieri F, Silani V, Ciammola A, Poletti B. Diagnostic properties of the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) in Huntington's disease. Front Psychol 2022; 13:1031871. [PMID: 36533005 PMCID: PMC9748548 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1031871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed at assessing the diagnostic properties of the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) as to its capability to (1) discriminate healthy controls (HCs) from patients with Huntington's disease (HD) and (2) identify cognitive impairment in this population. MATERIALS Thirty-eight consecutive HD patients were compared to 73 HCs on the FAB. Patients further underwent the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS). Receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) analyses were run to assess both intrinsic-i.e., sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp), and post-test diagnostics, positive and negative predictive values (PPV; NPV) and likelihood ratios (LR+; LR-), of the FAB both in a case-control setting and to identify, within the patient cohort, cognitive impairment (operationalized as a below-cut-off MoCA score). In patients, its diagnostic accuracy was also compared to that of the cognitive section of the UHDRS (UHDRS-II). RESULTS The FAB and UHDRS-II were completed by 100 and 89.5% of patients, respectively. The FAB showed optimal case-control discrimination accuracy (AUC = 0.86-0.88) and diagnostic properties (Se = 0.68-0.74; Sp = 0.88-0.9; PPV = 0.74-0.8; NPV = 0.84-0.87; LR+ = 5.6-7.68; LR- = 0.36-0.29), performing even better (AUC = 0.9-0.91) at identifying cognitive impairment among patients (Se = 0.73-1; Sp = 0.86-0.71; PPV = 0.79-0.71; NPV = 0.82-1; LR+ =5.13-3.5; LR- = 0.31-0) and comparably to the UHDRS-II (89% vs. 85% of accuracy, respectively; p = 0.46). DISCUSSION In HD patients, the FAB is highly feasible for cognitive screening aims, being also featured by optimal intrinsic/post-test diagnostics within both case-control and case-finding settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Solca
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Edoardo Nicolò Aiello
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
- PhD Program in Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Simone Migliore
- Huntington and Rare Diseases Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo Della Sofferenza Research Hospital, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Silvia Torre
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Carelli
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberta Ferrucci
- Aldo Ravelli Center for Neurotechnology and Experimental Brain Therapeutics, Department of Health Sciences, International Medical School, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, San Paolo University Hospital, Milan, Italy
- IRCCS Ca’ Granda Foundation Maggiore Policlinico Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Alberto Priori
- Aldo Ravelli Center for Neurotechnology and Experimental Brain Therapeutics, Department of Health Sciences, International Medical School, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, San Paolo University Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Federico Verde
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Dino Ferrari Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicola Ticozzi
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Dino Ferrari Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Sabrina Maffi
- Huntington and Rare Diseases Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo Della Sofferenza Research Hospital, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | | | - Ferdinando Squitieri
- Huntington and Rare Diseases Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo Della Sofferenza Research Hospital, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Silani
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Dino Ferrari Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Ciammola
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Barbara Poletti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
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23
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Ang SH, Hsu NW, Tsai PH, Pan PJ, Chen HC, Chou P, Lin KC. Different item characteristics of a mild cognitive impairment screening tool in the community-based Yilan Study: application of the item response theory. Psychogeriatrics 2022; 22:813-821. [PMID: 36054326 DOI: 10.1111/psyg.12888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to use item response theory (IRT) to explore the item-by-item characteristics of a mild cognitive impairment (MCI) screening tool using community-based data. METHODS The Yilan Study is a community-based study that has been conducted since 2012. Until March 2020, 2230 older adults were interviewed according to the household registration data. IRT was applied to determine the item-by-item distinctive characteristics of the Eight-item Interview to Differentiate Aging and Dementia (AD8). RESULTS The MCI characteristics in the AD8 items have varying degrees of item response threshold. In all circumstances, item AD8-8, which is related to self-rated memory ability, had a low item response threshold. AD8-5 and AD8-7, which are related to the comparisons of time-oriented functional status, had slightly lower thresholds, especially for those aged 65-79 years or without activity limitations. Conversely, AD8-1, AD8-2, AD8-3, AD8-4, and AD8-6 had similar item response thresholds and discriminative power; these items have more detailed functional descriptions or examples for illustration. CONCLUSIONS Concise and understandable elements are often expected in community-based screening tools. For community-based health screening and population empowerment in the early detection of MCI, assessment tool items with detailed functional descriptions and examples for illustration have similar validities in most of the population. Items related to self-rated memory ability might be less valid. More examples may be needed for items constructed for comparing time-oriented functional status, especially in extremely old adults and individuals with activity limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sin-Ho Ang
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Master of Public Health Program, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Nai-Wei Hsu
- Community Medicine Research Center and Institute of Public Health, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University Hospital, Yilan City, Taiwan.,Public Health Bureau, Yilan City, Taiwan
| | - Ping-Huang Tsai
- Department of Neurology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University Hospital, Yilan City, Taiwan.,Institute of Hospital and Health Care Administration, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Kaillan Group Practice Clinic, Yilan City, Taiwan
| | - Po-Jung Pan
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University Hospital, Yilan City, Taiwan
| | - Hsi-Chung Chen
- Department of Psychiatry and Center of Sleep Disorders, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Pesus Chou
- Community Medicine Research Center and Institute of Public Health, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Kuan-Chia Lin
- Community Medicine Research Center and Institute of Public Health, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Institute of Hospital and Health Care Administration, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
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Ottonello M, Fiabane E, Aiello EN, Manera MR, Spada F, Pistarini C. The association between objective cognitive measures and ecological-functional outcomes in COVID-19. Front Psychol 2022; 13:903697. [DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.903697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundCognitive dysfunctions, both subjective and detectable at psychometric testing, may follow SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, the ecological-functional relevance of such objective deficits is currently under-investigated. This study thus aimed at investigating the association between objective cognitive measures and both physical and cognitive, ecological-functional outcomes in post-COVID-19.MethodsForty-two COVID-19-recovered individuals were administered the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). The Functional Independence Measure (FIM) was adopted to assess functional-ecological, motor/physical (FIM-Motor) and cognitive (FIM-Cognitive) outcomes at admission (T0) and discharge (T1).ResultsWhen predicting both T0/T1 FIM-total and-Motor scores based on MMSE/MoCA scores, premorbid risk for cognitive decline (RCD) and disease-related features, no model yielded a significant fit. However, the MoCA - but not the MMSE significantly predicted T0/T1 FIM-Cognitive scores. The MoCA was significantly related only to T0/T1 FIM-Cognitive Memory items.DiscussionCognitive measures are not associated with physical/motor everyday-life outcomes in post-COVID-19 patients. The MoCA may provide an ecological estimate of cognitive functioning in this population.
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Fiabane E, Pain D, Aiello EN, Radici A, Manera MR, Grossi F, Ottonello M, Pistarini C. Psychiatric symptoms subsequent to COVID-19 and their association with clinical features: A retrospective investigation. Psychiatry Res 2022; 316:114757. [PMID: 35932573 PMCID: PMC9339098 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2022.114757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
This study explores the association between psychiatric symptoms following COVID-19 and demographic, disease-related and premorbid clinical confounders. Global cognition, depression, anxiety and PTSD features were assessed in 152 post-COVID-19 patients, subdivided into being at risk for brain disorders or not. In both groups, clinically meaningful depression, anxiety and PTSD symptoms were mildly-to-moderately frequent (4-45%). No demographic or clinical variables predicted psychiatric measures (except for lower age predicting higher anxiety levels). Depression, anxiety and PTSD measures were associated among each other. Hence, depression-, anxiety- and PTSD-spectrum disturbances in COVID-19 survivors are likely to be unassociated with disease-related and premorbid features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Fiabane
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine of Genova Nervi Institute, Genova, Italy.
| | - Debora Pain
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, IRCCS, Neurorehabilitation Department of Milano Institute, Milano, Italy.
| | - Edoardo Nicolò Aiello
- PhD Program in Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Cadore 48, Monza 20900, Italy.
| | - Alice Radici
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, IRCCS, Neurorehabilitation Department of Milano Institute, Milano, Italy.
| | - Marina Rita Manera
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, IRCCS, Psychology Unit of Pavia Institute, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Federica Grossi
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, IRCCS, Psychology Unit of Pavia Institute, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Marcella Ottonello
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine of Genova Nervi Institute, Genova, Italy.
| | - Caterina Pistarini
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, IRCCS, Department of Neurorehabilitation of Pavia Institute, Pavia, Italy.
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Aiello EN, Solca F, Torre S, Carelli L, Ferrucci R, Priori A, Verde F, Silani V, Ticozzi N, Poletti B. Diagnostics and clinical usability of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Front Psychol 2022; 13:1012632. [PMID: 36211901 PMCID: PMC9540377 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1012632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundThe present study aimed at (1) assessing the diagnostic properties of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) in non-demented ALS patients and at (2) exploring the MoCA administrability according to motor-functional status.MaterialsN = 348 patients were administered the MoCA and Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen (ECAS). Administrability rates and prevalence of defective MoCA scores were compared across King’s and Milano-Torino clinical stages. Regression models were run to test whether the non-administrability of the MoCA and a defective score on it were predicted, net of the ECAS-Total, by disease duration, ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R) and progression rate, computed as (48: ALSFRS-R)/disease duration. Intrinsic and post-test diagnostics were tested against a below-cut-off ECAS-total score.ResultsThe 79.9% of patients successfully underwent the MoCA, whose administrability rates decreased with advanced clinical stages, at variance with its defective score prevalence. The probability of the FAB not being administrable was predicted only by lower ALSFRS-R-bulbar and-upper-limb scores; no motor features, but the ECAS-Total, predicted a defective MoCA performance. The MoCA showed high accuracy (AUC = 0.82) and good intrinsic and post-test properties—being slightly more specific than sensitive.DiscussionIn non-demented ALS patients, the MoCA is featured by optimal diagnostics as a screener for cognitive impairment, especially for ruling-out its occurrence, as long as patients are in the early stages of the disease and have sufficiently spared bulbar and upper-limb functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edoardo Nicolò Aiello
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
- PhD Program in Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Federica Solca
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Torre
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Carelli
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberta Ferrucci
- Department of Health Sciences, International Medical School, Aldo Ravelli Center for Neurotechnology and Experimental Brain Therapeutics, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, San Paolo University Hospital, Milan, Italy
- IRCCS Ca’ Granda Foundation Maggiore Policlinico Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Alberto Priori
- Department of Health Sciences, International Medical School, Aldo Ravelli Center for Neurotechnology and Experimental Brain Therapeutics, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, San Paolo University Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Federico Verde
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari Center", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Silani
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari Center", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicola Ticozzi
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari Center", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Barbara Poletti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
- *Correspondence: Barbara Poletti,
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Pirani A, Nasreddine Z, Neviani F, Fabbo A, Rocchi MB, Bertolotti M, Tulipani C, Galassi M, Belvedere Murri M, Neri M. MoCA 7.1: Multicenter Validation of the First Italian Version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment. J Alzheimers Dis Rep 2022; 6:509-520. [PMID: 36186724 PMCID: PMC9484132 DOI: 10.3233/adr-210053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The early detection of neurocognitive disorders, especially when mild, is a key issue of health care systems including the Italian Dementia National Plan. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), i.e., the reference screening tool for dementia in Italian Memory Clinics, has low sensitivity in detecting mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild dementia. Objective: Availability of a 10-minute screening test sensitive to MCI and mild dementia, such as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), is relevant in the field. This study presents initial validity and reliability data for the Italian version of MoCA 7.1 that is being collected as part of a large ongoing longitudinal study to evaluate the rate of incident MCI and dementia in older adults. Methods: MoCA 7.1 and MMSE were administered to cognitive impaired patients (n = 469; 214 with MCI, 255 with dementia; mean age: 75.5; 52% females,) and healthy older adults (n = 123, mean age: 69.7, 64 % females). Results: Test-retest (0.945, p < 0.001) and inter-rater (0.999, p < 0.001) reliability of MoCA 7.1, assessed on randomly selected participants with normal cognition, MCI, dementia, were significant. MoCA 7.1 showed adequate sensitivity (95.3%) and specificity (84.5%) in detecting MCI compared to MMSE (sensitivity: 53.8%; specificity: 87.5%). The Area Under the Curve of MoCA 7.1 was significantly greater than that of MMSE (0.963 versus 0.742). MoCA 7.1 showed similar results in detecting both MCI and dementia. Conclusion: MoCA 7.1 is a reliable and useful tool that can aid in the diagnosis of MCI and dementia in the Italian population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Pirani
- Center for Cognitive Disorders and Dementia, Health County of Ferrara, Cento, Italy
- Alzheimer’s Association “Francesco Mazzuca”, Cento, (Fe), Italy
| | | | - Francesca Neviani
- Center for Cognitive Disorders and Dementia. Chair of Geriatrics, University of Modenaand Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Andrea Fabbo
- Dementia Program, HealthTrust, Health County of Modena, Italy
| | | | - Marco Bertolotti
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia and University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy
- Center for Gerontological Evaluation and Research, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Cristina Tulipani
- Center for Cognitive Disorders and Dementia, Health County of Ferrara, Cento, Italy
- Alzheimer’s Association “Francesco Mazzuca”, Cento, (Fe), Italy
| | - Matteo Galassi
- Center for Cognitive Disorders and Dementia. Chair of Geriatrics, University of Modenaand Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Martino Belvedere Murri
- Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - Mirco Neri
- Center for Cognitive Disorders and Dementia. Chair of Geriatrics, University of Modenaand Reggio Emilia, Italy
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Kessels RPC, de Vent NR, Bruijnen CJWH, Jansen MG, de Jonghe JFM, Dijkstra BAG, Oosterman JM. Regression-Based Normative Data for the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Its Memory Index Score (MoCA-MIS) for Individuals Aged 18–91. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11144059. [PMID: 35887823 PMCID: PMC9318507 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11144059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: There is a need for a brief assessment of cognitive function, both in patient care and scientific research, for which the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is a psychometrically reliable and valid tool. However, fine-grained normative data allowing for adjustment for age, education, and/or sex are lacking, especially for its Memory Index Score (MIS). (2) Methods: A total of 820 healthy individuals aged 18–91 (366 men) completed the Dutch MoCA (version 7.1), of whom 182 also completed the cued recall and recognition memory subtests enabling calculation of the MIS. Regression-based normative data were computed for the MoCA Total Score and MIS, following the data-handling procedure of the Advanced Neuropsychological Diagnostics Infrastructure (ANDI). (3) Results: Age, education level, and sex were significant predictors of the MoCA Total Score (Conditional R2 = 0.4, Marginal R2 = 0.12, restricted maximum likelihood (REML) criterion at convergence: 3470.1) and MIS (Marginal R2 = 0.14, REML criterion at convergence: 682.8). Percentile distributions are presented that allow for age, education and sex adjustment for the MoCA Total Score and the MIS. (4) Conclusions: We present normative data covering the full adult life span that can be used for the screening for overall cognitive deficits and memory impairment, not only in older people with or people at risk of neurodegenerative disease, but also in younger individuals with acquired brain injury, neurological disease, or non-neurological medical conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roy P. C. Kessels
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, 6525 GD Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (M.G.J.); (J.M.O.)
- Vincent van Gogh Institute for Psychiatry, Center of Excellence for Korsakoff and Alcohol-Related Cognitive Disorders, 5803 DN Venray, The Netherlands;
- Klimmendaal Rehabilitation Specialists, 6813 GG Arnhem, The Netherlands
- Tactus Addiction Care, 7400 AD Deventer, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Psychology and Radboudumc Alzheimer Center, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +31-24-3612-541
| | - Nathalie R. de Vent
- Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, 1018 WS Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
| | - Carolien J. W. H. Bruijnen
- Vincent van Gogh Institute for Psychiatry, Center of Excellence for Korsakoff and Alcohol-Related Cognitive Disorders, 5803 DN Venray, The Netherlands;
- Nijmegen Institute for Scientist-Practitioners in Addiction (NISPA), Radboud University, 6525 GD Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
| | - Michelle G. Jansen
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, 6525 GD Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (M.G.J.); (J.M.O.)
| | | | - Boukje A. G. Dijkstra
- Nijmegen Institute for Scientist-Practitioners in Addiction (NISPA), Radboud University, 6525 GD Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
- Novadic-Kentron, Addiction Care Center, 5261 LX Vught, The Netherlands
| | - Joukje M. Oosterman
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, 6525 GD Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (M.G.J.); (J.M.O.)
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Trajectories of MMSE and MoCA scores across the healthy adult lifespan in the Italian population. Aging Clin Exp Res 2022; 34:2417-2420. [PMID: 35780219 PMCID: PMC9637628 DOI: 10.1007/s40520-022-02174-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Background This study compares the performance at the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) across the healthy adult lifespan in an Italian population sample. Methods The MMSE and MoCA were administered to 407 Italian healthy native-speakers (165 males; age range 20–93 years; education range 4–25 years). A generalized Negative Binomial mixed model was run to profile MMSE and MoCA scores across 8 different age classes (≤ 30; 31–40; 41–50; 51–60; 61–70; 71–80; 81–85; ≥ 86) net of education and sex. Results MMSE and MoCA total scores declined with age (p < 0.001), with the MoCA proving to be “more difficult” than the MMSE (p < 0.001). The Age*Test interaction (p < 0.001) indicates that the MoCA proved to profile a sufficiently linear involutional trend in cognition with advancing age and to be able to detect poorer cognitive performances in individuals aged ≥ 71 years. By contrast, MMSE scores failed in capturing the expected age-related trajectory, reaching a plateau in the aforementioned age classes. Discussion The MoCA seems to be more sensitive than the MMSE in detecting age-related physiological decline of cognitive functioning across the healthy adult lifespan. The MoCA might be therefore more useful than the MMSE as a test for general cognitive screening aims. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40520-022-02174-0.
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Lazzeri G, Franco G, Difonzo T, Carandina A, Gramegna C, Vergari M, Arienti F, Naci A, Scatà C, Monfrini E, Dias Rodrigues G, Montano N, Comi GP, Saetti MC, Tobaldini E, Di Fonzo A. Cognitive and Autonomic Dysfunction in Multiple System Atrophy Type P and C: A Comparative Study. Front Neurol 2022; 13:912820. [PMID: 35785342 PMCID: PMC9243310 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.912820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) is a rare neurodegenerative disease, clinically defined by a combination of autonomic dysfunction and motor involvement, that may be predominantly extrapyramidal (MSA-P) or cerebellar (MSA-C). Although dementia is generally considered a red flag against the clinical diagnosis of MSA, in the last decade the evidence of cognitive impairment in MSA patients has been growing. Cognitive dysfunction appears to involve mainly, but not exclusively, executive functions, and may have different characteristics and progression in the two subtypes of the disease (i.e., MSA-P and MSA-C). Despite continued efforts, combining in-vivo imaging studies as well as pathological studies, the physiopathological bases of cognitive involvement in MSA are still unclear. In this view, the possible link between cardiovascular autonomic impairment and decreased cognitive performance, extensively investigated in PD, needs to be clarified as well. In the present study, we evaluated a cohort of 20 MSA patients (9 MSA-P, 11 MSA-C) by means of a neuropsychological battery, hemodynamic assessment (heart rate and arterial blood pressure) during rest and active standing and bedside autonomic function tests assessed by heart rate variability (HRV) parameters and sympathetic skin response (SSR) in the same experimental session. Overall, global cognitive functioning, as indicated by the MoCA score, was preserved in most patients. However, short- and long-term memory and attentional and frontal-executive functions were moderately impaired. When comparing MSA-P and MSA-C, the latter obtained lower scores in tests of executive functions and verbal memory. Conversely, no statistically significant difference in cardiovascular autonomic parameters was identified between MSA-P and MSA-C patients. In conclusion, moderate cognitive deficits, involving executive functions and memory, are present in MSA, particularly in MSA-C patients. In addition, our findings do not support the role of dysautonomia as a major driver of cognitive differences between MSA-P and MSA-C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Lazzeri
- Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
- Centro Dino Ferrari, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Franco
- Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
- Centro Dino Ferrari, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Teresa Difonzo
- Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Angelica Carandina
- Department of Internal Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Gramegna
- PhD Program in Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Maurizio Vergari
- Neurophysiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Arienti
- Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
- Centro Dino Ferrari, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Anisa Naci
- Neurophysiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Costanza Scatà
- Department of Internal Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Edoardo Monfrini
- Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
- Centro Dino Ferrari, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Nicola Montano
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Giacomo P. Comi
- Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
- Centro Dino Ferrari, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Saetti
- Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
- Centro Dino Ferrari, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Eleonora Tobaldini
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessio Di Fonzo
- Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
- Centro Dino Ferrari, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- *Correspondence: Alessio Di Fonzo
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Aiello EN, Esposito A, Pucci V, Mondini S, Bolognini N, Appollonio I. Italian telephone-based Mini-Mental State Examination (Itel-MMSE): item-level psychometric properties. Aging Clin Exp Res 2022; 34:1259-1265. [PMID: 34997544 PMCID: PMC8741569 DOI: 10.1007/s40520-021-02041-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Background The Italian telephone-based Mini-Mental State Examination (Itel-MMSE), despite being psychometrically sound, has shown relevant ceiling effects, which may negatively impact the interpretation of its scores. In address to overcome such an issue, this study aimed at providing item-level insights on the Itel-MMSE through Item Response Theory (IRT) analyses. Methods Five-hundred and sixty-seven healthy Italian adults (227 males, 340 females; mean age: 51 ± 17 years, range 18–96; mean education: 13.31 ± 4.3 years). A two-parameter logistic IRT model was implemented to assess item discrimination and difficulty of the Itel-MMSE. Construct unidimensionality, statistical independence of items, and model and item fit were tested. Informativity levels were also assessed graphically. Results With respect to the Itel-MMSE total score, ceiling effects were found in 92.7% of participants. Unidimensionality was violated; both model and item fit were poor; a few items showed statistical dependence. Both the whole test and its items proved to be scarcely informative, especially for medium-to-high levels of ability, except for attention and spatial orientation subtests, which consistently yielded the highest discriminative capability. Discussion The Itel-MMSE appears to be most informative in low-performing healthy individuals. However, the present findings should not lead practitioners to aprioristically equate ceiling effects/low informativity to clinical uselessness. Items assessing attention and, to a lesser extent, spatial orientation appear to be the most informative. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40520-021-02041-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edoardo Nicolò Aiello
- PhD Program in Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Cadore 48, 20900, Monza, Italy.
| | | | - Veronica Pucci
- Dipartimento di Filosofia, Sociologia, Pedagogia e Psicologia Applicata (FISPPA), University of Padova, Padua, Italy
- Human Inspired Technology Research Centre (HIT), University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Sara Mondini
- Dipartimento di Filosofia, Sociologia, Pedagogia e Psicologia Applicata (FISPPA), University of Padova, Padua, Italy
- Human Inspired Technology Research Centre (HIT), University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Nadia Bolognini
- Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
- Neuropsychological Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Ildebrando Appollonio
- Neurology Section, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
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Dodich A, Funghi G, Meli C, Pennacchio M, Longo C, Malaguti MC, Di Giacopo R, Zappini F, Turella L, Papagno C. Deficits in Emotion Recognition and Theory of Mind in Parkinson's Disease Patients With and Without Cognitive Impairments. Front Psychol 2022; 13:866809. [PMID: 35645902 PMCID: PMC9138611 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.866809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Emotion recognition and social deficits have been previously reported in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the extent of these impairments is still unclear and social cognition is excluded from the cognitive domains considered in the current criteria for PD mild cognitive impairment (MCI). This study aims to analyze emotion recognition, affective and cognitive theory of mind in early PD patients classified according to Level II MCI criteria, and to evaluate the prevalence of socio-cognitive deficits in this sample. Methods We enrolled 45 participants with PD, classified as cognitively unimpaired (CU; n = 32) or MCI (n = 13) based on a standard neuropsychological assessment. Social cognitive skills were evaluated through validated tests for emotion recognition (i.e., Ekman 60-faces test, Ek60 Test) and mental states attribution (Story-based Empathy Task, SET) and compared to a group of 45 healthy controls (HC). Between-group differences in social tasks were performed, as well as correlation analyses to assess the relationship between social, cognitive, and clinical variables. Finally, the number of patients with social cognitive impairments in both MCI and CU subgroups was computed based on Italian normative data. Results Statistical comparison revealed significant differences among groups in the Ek60 test, with MCI obtaining significantly lower scores than HC and CU, especially for negative emotions. Significant differences were detected also in the SET, with lower performance in emotion and intention attribution for both PD groups compared to HC. A significant correlation emerged between the Ek60 test and emotion attribution. Nine patients showed poor performance at social tasks, five of them being classified as PD-CU. Discussion Parkinson's disease cognitive profile was characterized by emotion recognition and attribution deficits. These results, as well as the detection of CU patients with isolated socio-cognitive impairments, underline the importance of assessing social cognition in PD as a possible early marker of cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Dodich
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences CIMeC, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
| | - Giulia Funghi
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences CIMeC, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
| | - Claudia Meli
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences CIMeC, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
| | - Maria Pennacchio
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences CIMeC, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
- Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Longo
- Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
- Dipartimento di Scienze Neurologiche, Ospedale Santa Chiara, Trento, Italy
| | | | | | - Francesca Zappini
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences CIMeC, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
| | - Luca Turella
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences CIMeC, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
| | - Costanza Papagno
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences CIMeC, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
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Diagnostic properties of the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) in Italian healthy adults. Aging Clin Exp Res 2022; 34:1021-1026. [PMID: 34981429 DOI: 10.1007/s40520-021-02035-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sub-clinical cognitive efficiency deficits of a dysexecutive nature are moderately prevalent in healthy older adults and negatively affect their functional outcomes. To screen for such dysfunctions, the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) provided promising evidence, although its diagnostic properties have not been tested to date. This study thus aimed at exploring the performance on the FAB of a large sample of Italian healthy adults and comparing it in individuals aged < 75 years vs. ≥ 75 years. METHODS Four hundred and seventy-five healthy adults (169 males, 306 females, age: 61.1 ± 15.1; education 11.7 ± 4.6) were administered the FAB and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and likelihood ratios were computed through receiver-operating characteristics analyses by addressing an above- vs. below-cutoff performance on the MoCA as the state variable (as including measures of executive functioning). RESULTS The FAB overall showed good accuracy (AUC = 0.71-0.76), although higher for healthy older adults. A trend towards higher specificity (64.4-80.3%) than sensitivity (61.1-77.8%) was found, despite these metrics being comparable in healthy older adults. Negative predictive values (0.98-0.99) were systematically higher than positive predictive values (0.05-0.24), whereas consistent post-test probabilities were detected (positive likelihood ratios: 2.19-3.35; negative likelihood ratios: 0.28-0.48). DISCUSSION The FAB is an accurate test for the first-level assessment of dysexecutive-related global cognitive inefficiency in the general population, despite being moderately conservative as far as both its pre- and post-test features are concerned. Its diagnostic value is more informative for individuals aged ≥ 75 years.
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Prediction of post-stroke cognitive impairment by Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) performances in acute stroke: comparison of three normative datasets. Aging Clin Exp Res 2022; 34:1855-1863. [PMID: 35441928 PMCID: PMC9283135 DOI: 10.1007/s40520-022-02133-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Background Cognitive assessment in acute stroke is relevant for identifying patients at risk of persistent post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI). Despite preliminary evidence on MoCA accuracy, there is no consensus on its optimal score in the acute stroke setting to predict PSCI. Aims (1) To explore whether the application of different normative datasets to MoCA scores obtained in the acute stroke setting results in variable frequency of patients defined as cognitively impaired; (2) to assess whether the normality cut-offs provided by three normative datasets predict PSCI at 6–9 months; (3) to calculate alternative MoCA cut-offs able to predict PSCI. Methods Consecutive stroke patients were reassessed at 6–9 months with extensive neuropsychological and functional batteries for PSCI determination. Results Out of 207 enrolled patients, 118 (57%) were followed-up (mean 7.4 ± 1.7 months), and 77 of them (65%) received a PSCI diagnosis. The application of the normality thresholds provided by the 3 normative datasets yielded to variable (from 28.5% to 41%) rates of patients having an impaired MoCA performance, and to an inadequate accuracy in predicting PSCI, maximizing specificity instead of sensitivity. In ROC analyses, a MoCA score of 22.82, adjusted according to the most recent normative dataset, achieved a good diagnostic accuracy in predicting PSCI. Conclusions The classification of acute stroke patients as normal/impaired based on MoCA thresholds proposed by general population normative datasets underestimated patients at risk of persistent PSCI. We calculated a new adjusted MoCA score predictive of PSCI in acute stroke patients to be further tested in larger studies.
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Montemurro S, Daini R, Tagliabue C, Guzzetti S, Gualco G, Mondini S, Arcara G. Cognitive reserve estimated with a life experience questionnaire outperforms education in predicting performance on MoCA: Italian normative data. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-03062-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Equating Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores: conversion norms from a healthy Italian population sample. Aging Clin Exp Res 2022; 34:1721-1724. [PMID: 35182351 DOI: 10.1007/s40520-022-02089-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to provide equating norms for the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) from a sample of healthy Italian adults. METHODS Four-hundred and seven Italian healthy adults (165 males, 242 females; mean age = 60.61 ± 13.74 years, range= 20-93; mean education = 12.2 ± 4.42 years, range= 4-25) were administered the MMSE and the MoCA. 'MMSE-to-MoCA' and 'MoCA-to-MMSE' conversion tables were derived via log-linear smoothing equi-percentile equating (LSEE). Equivalence between empirical and conversion-derived scores was determined with a two one-sided test (TOST) procedure. RESULTS Conversion-derived scores were statistically equivalent to empirical ones for both the MMSE (p = 0.948) and the MoCA (p = 0.437). The LSEE yielded impossible/unreliable conversion estimates for floor scores on both tests, whereas conversions for uppermost scores were highly consistent. DISCUSSION The present data will help avoid inter-rater heterogeneity in cross-sectionally and longitudinally adopting either one of the two cognitive screening tests, and to retrospective analyze data collected via either one test or the other.
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Parker K, Vincent B, Rhee Y, Choi BJ, Robinson-Lane SG, Hamm JM, Klawitter L, Jurivich DA, McGrath R. The estimated prevalence of no reported dementia-related diagnosis in older Americans living with possible dementia by healthcare utilization. Aging Clin Exp Res 2022; 34:359-365. [PMID: 34524654 PMCID: PMC8925882 DOI: 10.1007/s40520-021-01980-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Screening for dementia in relevant healthcare settings may help in identifying low cognitive functioning for comprehensive cognitive assessments and subsequent dementia treatment after diagnosis. AIMS This study sought to estimate the prevalence of no reported dementia-related diagnosis in a nationally-representative sample of older Americans with a cognitive impairment consistent with dementia (CICD) by healthcare utilization. METHODS The unweighted analytical sample included 1514 Americans aged ≥ 65 years that were identified as having a CICD without history of stroke, cancers, neurological conditions, or brain damage who participated in at least one-wave of the 2010-2016 waves of the Health and Retirement Study. An adapted Telephone Interview of Cognitive Status assessed cognitive functioning. Those with scores ≤ 6 had a CICD. Dementia-related diagnosis was self-reported. Respondents indicated if they visited a physician, received home healthcare, or experienced an overnight nursing home stay in the previous two years. RESULTS The prevalence of no reported dementia-related diagnosis in persons with a CICD who visited a physician was 89.9% (95% confidence interval (CI): 85.4%-93.1%). Likewise, the prevalence of no reported diagnosis in those with a CICD who received home healthcare was 84.3% (CI: 75.1-90.5%). For persons with a CICD that had an overnight nursing home stay, the prevalence of no reported dementia-related diagnosis was 83.0% (CI: 69.1-91.4%). DISCUSSION Although the prevalence of no reported dementia-related diagnosis in individuals with a CICD differed across healthcare settings, the prevalence was generally high nonetheless. CONCLUSIONS We recommend increased awareness and efforts be given to dementia screenings in various clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Parker
- Department of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences, North Dakota State University, NDSU Dept 2620, PO Box 6050, Fargo, ND 58108, USA
| | - Brenda Vincent
- Department of Statistics, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA
| | - Yeong Rhee
- Department of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences, North Dakota State University, NDSU Dept 2620, PO Box 6050, Fargo, ND 58108, USA,Department of Statistics, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA,Department of Public Health, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA
| | - Bong-Jin Choi
- Department of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences, North Dakota State University, NDSU Dept 2620, PO Box 6050, Fargo, ND 58108, USA,Department of Statistics, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA,Department of Public Health, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA
| | | | - Jeremy M. Hamm
- Department of Psychology, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA
| | - Lukus Klawitter
- Department of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences, North Dakota State University, NDSU Dept 2620, PO Box 6050, Fargo, ND 58108, USA
| | - Donald A. Jurivich
- Department of Geriatrics, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, USA
| | - Ryan McGrath
- Department of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences, North Dakota State University, NDSU Dept 2620, PO Box 6050, Fargo, ND, 58108, USA. .,Fargo VA Healthcare System, Fargo, ND, USA.
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Daniel B, Agenagnew L, Workicho A, Abera M. Psychometric Properties of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) to Detect Major Neurocognitive Disorder Among Older People in Ethiopia: A Validation Study. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2022; 18:1789-1798. [PMID: 36035074 PMCID: PMC9416441 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s377430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognition is one of the most complex functions of the human brain, and major neurocognitive disorders affect this function causing a wide array of problems in an individual's life. Screening for major neurocognitive disorders can be helpful in designing and implementing early interventions. PURPOSE This study was designed to assess the reliability and validity of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) tool to detect major neurocognitive disorders among older people in Ethiopia. METHODS One hundred and sixteen randomly selected older adults in Ethiopia were involved in a cross-sectional study. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria for major neurocognitive disorders was used as a gold standard. Data were analyzed using STATA v16 statistical software. Receiver operating curve analysis was performed, and inter-rater, internal consistency reliabilities, content, criterion and construct validities were determined. Statistically significance was declared at a p-value of <0.05. RESULTS The study had a 100% response rate. The mean age of the study participants was 69.87 ± 7.8. The inter-rater reliability value was 0.96, and Cronbach's alpha was 0.79. The optimal cutoff value was ≤21, and Montreal Cognitive Assessment has an area under curve value of 0.89. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios, and positive and negative predictive values of MoCA are 87.18%, 74.03%, 3.35, 0.17, 63%, and 91.9%, respectively. The tool also has good concurrent and construct validities. CONCLUSION The Montreal Cognitive Assessment tool was a reliable and valid tool to detect major neurocognitive disorder. It can be incorporated into the clinical and research practices in developing countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beniam Daniel
- Department of Psychiatry, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | | | | | - Mubarek Abera
- Department of Psychiatry, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
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Manera MR, Fiabane E, Pain D, Aiello EN, Radici A, Ottonello M, Padovani M, Wilson BA, Fish J, Pistarini C. Clinical features and cognitive sequelae in COVID-19: a retrospective study on N=152 patients. Neurol Sci 2022; 43:45-50. [PMID: 34779965 PMCID: PMC8591589 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-021-05744-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The novel human coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) shows neurotropism and systemically affects the central nervous system (CNS). Cognitive deficits have been indeed reported as both short- and long-term sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, the association between these disturbances and background/disease-related clinical features remains elusive. This work aimed at exploring how post-infective cognitive status relates to clinical/treatment outcomes by controlling for premorbid/current risk factors for cognitive deficits. METHODS Cognitive measures (Mini-Mental State Examination, MMSE) of N=152 COVID-19 patient were retrospectively assessed in relation to disease severity, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, steroidal treatment, and occurrence of other viral/bacterial infections by controlling for remote/recent/COVID-19-related risk factors for cognitive deficits (at-risk vs. not-at-risk: Neuro+ vs. Neuro-). RESULTS Descriptively, impaired MMSE performances were highly prevalent in mild-to-moderate patients (26.3%). ICU-admitted patients made less errors (p=.021) on the MMSE than those not admitted when partialling out risk factors and age-the latter negatively influencing performances. When addressing Neuro- patients only, steroidal treatment appears to improve MMSE scores among those suffering from other infections (p=.025). DISCUSSION Cognitive sequelae of COVID-19 are likely to arise from a complex interplay between background/clinical premorbid features and disease-related/interventional procedures and outcomes. Mild-to-moderate patients requiring assistive ventilation who however are not admitted to an ICU are more likely to suffer from cognitive deficits-despite their etiology remaining elusive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Rita Manera
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, IRCCS, Psychology Unit of Pavia Institute, Pavia, Italy
| | - Elena Fiabane
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine of Genova Nervi Institute, Genoa, Italy
| | - Debora Pain
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, IRCCS, Neurorehabilitation Department of Milano Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Edoardo Nicolò Aiello
- PhD Program in Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Alice Radici
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, IRCCS, Neurorehabilitation Department of Milano Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Marcella Ottonello
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine of Genova Nervi Institute, Genoa, Italy
| | - Mariacristina Padovani
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, IRCCS, Psychology Unit of Pavia Institute, Pavia, Italy
| | - Barbara Ann Wilson
- Department of Clinical Neuropsychology & Clinical Health Psychology, St George’s University, London, UK
| | - Jessica Fish
- Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University Of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Caterina Pistarini
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, IRCCS, Department of Neurorehabilitation of Pavia Institute, Pavia, Italy
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Bolognini N, Gramegna C, Esposito A, Aiello EN, Difonzo T, Zago S. The Testamentary Capacity Assessment Tool (TCAT): validation and normative data. Neurol Sci 2021; 43:2831-2838. [PMID: 34787752 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-021-05736-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is an increasing need for objective and standardized assessment of testamentary capacity (TC) in dementia. A new instrument, the Testamentary Capacity Assessment Tool (TCAT), has been recently developed; however, the lack of validation and normative data regarding this cognitive screening test has limited its adoption in forensic and clinical settings. The present study collects normative data for the TCAT and assesses its convergent validity with standardized cognitive tests and the capacity to define what a 'testament' is. METHODS The study involved 323 neurologically healthy adults (123 males, 200 females) of different ages (31-93 years) and different educational levels (4-25 years). The TCAT was administered along with the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) and the Testament Definition Scale (TDS). RESULTS Multiple regression analyses revealed a significant effect for gender, age and education on TCAT scores. Correlation analyses showed significant associations between the TCAT and the MMSE, MoCA, FAB and BDI-II. A positive correlation between the TCAT and TDS was also found, proving good convergent validity of the TCAT with respect to TC. Finally, cut-off scores and Equivalent Scores (ES) were computed. DISCUSSION The present study provides normative data for using the TCAT as an adjuvant cognitive screening test in the neuropsychological evaluation of TC. Our findings shall be of interest for the adoption of the TCAT also in clinical practice, since it evaluates cognitive functions (e.g., autobiographic memory, Theory of Mind) not measured by traditional screening tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Bolognini
- Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy. .,Neuropsychological Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Chiara Gramegna
- Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy.,Ph.D. Program in Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | | | - Edoardo Nicolò Aiello
- Ph.D. Program in Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Teresa Difonzo
- U.O.C. Di Neurologia, IRCCS Fondazione Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Zago
- U.O.C. Di Neurologia, IRCCS Fondazione Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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Episodic long-term memory in post-infectious SARS-CoV-2 patients. Neurol Sci 2021; 43:785-788. [PMID: 34791568 PMCID: PMC8598275 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-021-05752-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Background Episodic long-term memory (LTM) difficulties/deficits are frequent in COVID-19-recovered patients and negatively impact on prognosis and outcome. However, little is known about their semiology and prevalence, also being still debated whether they arise from primary amnesic features or are secondary to dysexecutive/inattentive processes and disease-related/premorbid status. Hence, this study aimed at (1) assessing LTM functioning in post-infectious SARS-CoV-2 patients by accounting for premorbid and disease-related confounders and (2) exploring its cognitive etiology. Methods Measures of global cognition (Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)) and LTM (Babcock Memory Test (BMT)) of fifty-four COVID-19-recovered patients were retrospectively collected. Patients were subdivided into those being already at risk or not for cognitive decline (RCD + ; RCD −). Cognitive measures were converted into equivalent scores (ESs). Results LTM sub-clinical/clinical deficits (ESs = 0/1) were mildly-to-moderately prevalent in both RCD + (MoCA-Memory, 31.8%; BMT, 31.8%) and RCD − (MoCA-Memory, 28.6%; BMT, 39.3%) patients. MMSE and MoCA total scores, but not the MoCA-Attention subtest, were associated with the BMT. RCD + asymptomatic patients performed better on the BMT (p = .033) than those requiring O2 therapy (but not ventilation). Discussion COVID-19-recovered individuals might show LTM deficits of both primary and secondary etiology and should be thus screened for them, especially those having suffered mid-to-moderate COVID-19 and those already being at risk for cognitive decline. Both I- and II-level measures of verbal LTM can be adopted, although the former might be more sensitive.
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Cova I, Nicotra A, Maestri G, Canevelli M, Pantoni L, Pomati S. Translations and cultural adaptations of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment: a systematic and qualitative review. Neurol Sci 2021; 43:113-124. [PMID: 34750686 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-021-05716-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
This study provides a systematic review of linguistically and culturally adapted versions of the original Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) full version. Adapted versions were identified through a systematic review in 3 databases and on the MoCA website. Overall, 86 culturally different versions of MoCA are available: 74 versions on the MoCA website (25 of them have a corresponding paper concerning the translation process found with the systematic review) and 12 additional versions identified only with the search in biomedical databases. Culturally different adapted versions of the MoCA were unevenly distributed across different geographic areas. The quality of the process of cultural adaptation of MoCA differs considerably among different available versions as well as the number of items adapted in the various language versions. The potential availability of many culturally adapted and translated versions of the MoCA increases the chance of offering a linguistically and culturally sensitive screening for cognitive impairment to diverse populations; further studies are needed to identify if MoCA can be considered a truly cross-cultural fair test.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Cova
- Neurology Unit, "Luigi Sacco" Hospital, University of Milan, Via G.B. Grassi, 74, 20157, Milan, Italy.
| | - Alessia Nicotra
- Neurology Unit, "Luigi Sacco" Hospital, University of Milan, Via G.B. Grassi, 74, 20157, Milan, Italy
| | - Giorgia Maestri
- Neurology Unit, "Luigi Sacco" Hospital, University of Milan, Via G.B. Grassi, 74, 20157, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Canevelli
- National Center for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
- Department of Human Neuroscience, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Leonardo Pantoni
- Stroke and Dementia Lab, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Luigi Sacco, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Simone Pomati
- Neurology Unit, "Luigi Sacco" Hospital, University of Milan, Via G.B. Grassi, 74, 20157, Milan, Italy
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Screening for cognitive sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection: a comparison between the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Neurol Sci 2021; 43:81-84. [PMID: 34668124 PMCID: PMC8526352 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-021-05630-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Background Due to SARS-CoV-2-related encephalopathic features, COVID-19 patients may show cognitive sequelae that negatively affect functional outcomes. However, although cognitive screening has been recommended in recovered individuals, little is known about which instruments are suitable to this scope by also accounting for clinical status. This study thus aimed at comparatively assessing the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) in detecting cognitive deficits in post-COVID-19 patients premorbidly/contextually being or not at risk for cognitive deficits (RCD + ; RCD-). Methods Data from N = 100 COVID-19-recovered individuals having been administered both the MMSE and the MoCA were retrospectively analyzed separately for each group. RCD ± classification was performed by taking into consideration both previous and disease-related conditions. Equivalent scores (ESs) were adopted to examine classification performances of the two screeners. Results The two groups were comparable as for most background and cognitive measures. MMSE or MoCA adjusted scores were mostly unrelated to disease-related features. The two screeners yielded similar estimates of below-cut-off performances—RCD + : MMSE: 20%, MoCA: 23.6%; RCD-: MMSE: 2.2%, MoCA: 4.4%. However, agreement rates dropped when also addressing borderline, “low-end” normal, and normal ability categories—with the MoCA attributing lower levels than the MMSE (RCD + : Cohen’s k = .47; RCD-: Cohen’s k = .17). Discussion Although both the MMSE and the MoCA proved to be equally able to detect severe cognitive sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection in both RCD + and RCD- patients, the MoCA appeared to be able to reveal sub-clinical defects and more sharply discriminate between different levels of ability.
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Aiello EN, Esposito A, Giannone I, Diana L, Woolley S, Murphy J, Christodoulou G, Tremolizzo L, Bolognini N, Appollonio I. ALS Cognitive Behavioral Screen-Phone Version (ALS-CBS™-PhV): norms, psychometrics, and diagnostics in an Italian population sample. Neurol Sci 2021; 43:2571-2578. [PMID: 34601697 PMCID: PMC8487338 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-021-05636-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Up to 50% of motor neuron disease (MND) patients show neuropsychological deficits which negatively affect prognosis and care. However, disability-related logistical issues and uneven geographical coverage of healthcare services may prevent MND patients from accessing neuropsychological evaluations. This study thus aimed to standardize for the Italian population the ALS Cognitive Behavioral Screen-Phone Version (ALS-CBS™-PhV), an MND-specific, telephone-based screening for frontotemporal dysfunction. METHODS The cognitive section of the ALS-CBS™-PhV, the Italian telephone-based Mini-Mental State Examination (Itel-MMSE), and the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS) was administered to 359 healthy individuals (143 males, 216 females; age, 52.7 ± 15.8; education, 13.1 ± 4.4). Norms were derived through equivalent scores. Validity, factorial structure, reliability, diagnostic accuracy, and item difficulty and discrimination were examined. Statistical equivalence between the telephone-based and in-person versions was tested. RESULTS ALS-CBS™-PhV measures were predicted by age and education. The ALS-CBS™-PhV reflected a mono-component structure, converged with Itel-MMSE and TICS scores (rs = .23-.51) and was equivalent to its in-person format (t = .37; p = .72). Good internal (Cronbach's α = .61), test-retest (ICC = .69), and inter-rater (ICC = .96) reliability was detected. High accuracy was found when tested against both the Itel-MMSE and the TICS (AUC = .82-89). Backward digit span items were the most discriminative. DISCUSSION The ALS-CBS™-PhV is a statistically solid screening test for frontotemporal disorders featuring MND. Its standardization allows for (1) improvements in tele-healthcare for MND patients, (2) epidemiological applications, and (3) effective assessments in decentralized clinical trials. The ALS-CBS™-PhV can be also suitable for assessing bedridden and visually impaired patients with motor disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edoardo Nicolò Aiello
- PhD Program in Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
| | | | - Ilaria Giannone
- Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Diana
- PhD Program in Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Susan Woolley
- Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Georgia Christodoulou
- Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Lucio Tremolizzo
- Neurology Section, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Nadia Bolognini
- Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy.,Neuropsychological Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Ildebrando Appollonio
- Neurology Section, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
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