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Ghosh A, S M, Sunny AS, Diwakar L, Issac TG. Prevalence and patterns of vitamin D deficiency and its role in cognitive functioning in a cohort from South India. Sci Rep 2024; 14:11215. [PMID: 38755311 PMCID: PMC11099011 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62010-5] [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: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Vitamin D (VitD) is a naturally occurring, fat-soluble vitamin which regulates calcium and phosphate homeostasis in the human body and is also known to have a neuroprotective role. VitD deficiency has often been associated with impaired cognition and a higher risk of dementia. In this study, we aimed to explore the relationship between levels of VitD and cognitive functioning in adult individuals. 982 cognitively healthy adults (≥ 45 years) were recruited as part of the CBR-Tata Longitudinal Study for Aging (TLSA). Addenbrooke's cognitive examination-III (ACE-III) and Hindi mental status examination (HMSE) were used to measure cognitive functioning. 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels were measured from the collected serum sample and classified into three groups- deficient (< 20 ng/ml), insufficient (20-29 ng/ml) and normal (≥ 30 ng/ml). Statistical analysis was done using IBM SPSS software, version 28.0.1.1(15). The mean age of the participants was 61.24 ± 9 years. Among 982 participants, 572 (58%) were deficient, 224 (23%) insufficient and only 186 (19%) had normal levels of VitD. Kruskal-Wallis H test revealed a significant difference in age (p = 0.015) and education (p = 0.021) across VitD levels and the Chi-square test revealed a significant association between gender (p = 0.001) and dyslipidemia status (p = 0.045) with VitD levels. After adjusting for age, education, gender and dyslipidemia status, GLM revealed that individuals with deficient (p = 0.038) levels of VitD had lower scores in ACE-III verbal fluency as compared to normal. Additionally, we also found that 91.2% individuals who had VitD deficiency were also having dyslipidemia. It is concerning that VitD deficiency impacts lipid metabolism. Lower levels of VitD also negatively impacts verbal fluency in adult individuals. Verbal fluency involves higher order cognitive functions and this result provides us with a scope to further investigate the different domains of cognition in relation to VitD deficiency and other associated disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aishwarya Ghosh
- Centre for Brain Research, Indian Institute of Science Campus, CV Raman Avenue, Bangalore, 560012, India
| | - Monisha S
- Centre for Brain Research, Indian Institute of Science Campus, CV Raman Avenue, Bangalore, 560012, India
| | - Albert Stezin Sunny
- Centre for Brain Research, Indian Institute of Science Campus, CV Raman Avenue, Bangalore, 560012, India
| | - Latha Diwakar
- Centre for Brain Research, Indian Institute of Science Campus, CV Raman Avenue, Bangalore, 560012, India
| | - Thomas Gregor Issac
- Centre for Brain Research, Indian Institute of Science Campus, CV Raman Avenue, Bangalore, 560012, India.
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Tabari F, Berger JI, Flouty O, Copeland B, Greenlee JD, Johari K. Speech, voice, and language outcomes following deep brain stimulation: A systematic review. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0302739. [PMID: 38728329 PMCID: PMC11086900 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Deep brain stimulation (DBS) reliably ameliorates cardinal motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD) and essential tremor (ET). However, the effects of DBS on speech, voice and language have been inconsistent and have not been examined comprehensively in a single study. OBJECTIVE We conducted a systematic analysis of literature by reviewing studies that examined the effects of DBS on speech, voice and language in PD and ET. METHODS A total of 675 publications were retrieved from PubMed, Embase, CINHAL, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and Scopus databases. Based on our selection criteria, 90 papers were included in our analysis. The selected publications were categorized into four subcategories: Fluency, Word production, Articulation and phonology and Voice quality. RESULTS The results suggested a long-term decline in verbal fluency, with more studies reporting deficits in phonemic fluency than semantic fluency following DBS. Additionally, high frequency stimulation, left-sided and bilateral DBS were associated with worse verbal fluency outcomes. Naming improved in the short-term following DBS-ON compared to DBS-OFF, with no long-term differences between the two conditions. Bilateral and low-frequency DBS demonstrated a relative improvement for phonation and articulation. Nonetheless, long-term DBS exacerbated phonation and articulation deficits. The effect of DBS on voice was highly variable, with both improvements and deterioration in different measures of voice. CONCLUSION This was the first study that aimed to combine the outcome of speech, voice, and language following DBS in a single systematic review. The findings revealed a heterogeneous pattern of results for speech, voice, and language across DBS studies, and provided directions for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Tabari
- Human Neurophysiology and Neuromodulation Laboratory, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States of America
| | - Joel I. Berger
- Human Brain Research Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, United States of America
| | - Oliver Flouty
- Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States of America
| | - Brian Copeland
- Department of Neurology, LSU Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States of America
| | - Jeremy D. Greenlee
- Human Brain Research Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, United States of America
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, Iowa City, IA, United States of America
| | - Karim Johari
- Human Neurophysiology and Neuromodulation Laboratory, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States of America
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Xing J, Wei R, Wang H, Hua Z, Tang X, Yi L, Li X, Liu J. Symptoms of ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder Interactively Predict Children's Verbal Fluency. J Atten Disord 2024; 28:1092-1104. [PMID: 38353406 DOI: 10.1177/10870547241232081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Verbal fluency, the capacity to generate words from a designated category, predicts myriad cognitive and life outcomes. The study investigated verbal fluency in children with ADHD, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and comorbid ADHD and ASD, to understand how ADHD- and ASD-related symptoms individually and jointly predict verbal fluency, and the underlying linguistic and cognitive substrates. METHOD Thirty-three school-aged children with ADHD, 27 with ASD, 25 with comorbid ADHD and ASD, and 39 with typical development, were assessed for ADHD and ASD symptoms and completed a semantic verbal fluency task. RESULTS Findings indicated that ADHD and ASD symptoms, especially ADHD hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms and language-related ASD symptoms, interactively predicted verbal fluency across diagnostic groups. CONCLUSION The study implicated the potential cognitive and linguistic mechanisms underlying verbal fluency differences in ADHD and/or ASD, and clinical practices on enhancing verbal fluency in these clinical groups.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ran Wei
- Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Hui Wang
- National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China
| | | | - Xinzhou Tang
- National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China
| | - Li Yi
- Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xue Li
- National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China
| | - Jing Liu
- National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China
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Ruffini C, Osmani F, Bigozzi L, Pecini C. Semantic fluency in 3-6 years old preschoolers: which executive functions? Child Neuropsychol 2024; 30:563-581. [PMID: 37401450 DOI: 10.1080/09297049.2023.2230637] [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: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
Semantic Fluency (SF) increases with age, along with the lexicon and the strategies to access it. Among the cognitive processes involved in controlling lexical access, Executive Functions (EF) play an essential role. Nevertheless, which EF, namely inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility, are specifically tapped by SF during preschool years, when these basic EF components are developing and differentiating, is still unknown. The study had a two-fold aim: 1. to analyze in preschoolers the role of EF basic components on SF; 2. to investigate if EF mediated the effect of age on SF. A total of 296 typically developing preschoolers (M age = 57.86; SD = 9.91; month range = 33-74) were assessed with an SF task and EF tasks measuring the main EF basic components. Results showed that during preschool, response inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility were significant predictors of SF, explaining 27% of its variance. Moreover, the effect of age on the SF task performance correlated with the improvement of these EF components. This study supports the importance of considering cognitive control processes in 3-6 year-old preschoolers as they underline important competencies for the child's development, such as the ability to quickly access vocabulary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Costanza Ruffini
- Department of Education, Languages, Intercultures, Literature and Psychology (FORLILPSI), University of Florence, Firenze, Italy
| | - Fatbardha Osmani
- Department of Education, Languages, Intercultures, Literature and Psychology (FORLILPSI), University of Florence, Firenze, Italy
| | - Lucia Bigozzi
- Department of Education, Languages, Intercultures, Literature and Psychology (FORLILPSI), University of Florence, Firenze, Italy
| | - Chiara Pecini
- Department of Education, Languages, Intercultures, Literature and Psychology (FORLILPSI), University of Florence, Firenze, Italy
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Camilleri JA, Volkening J, Heim S, Mochalski LN, Neufeld H, Schlothauer N, Kuhles G, Eickhoff SB, Weis S. SpEx: a German-language dataset of speech and executive function performance. Sci Rep 2024; 14:9431. [PMID: 38658576 PMCID: PMC11043440 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58617-3] [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: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
This work presents data from 148 German native speakers (20-55 years of age), who completed several speaking tasks, ranging from formal tests such as word production tests to more ecologically valid spontaneous tasks that were designed to mimic natural speech. This speech data is supplemented by performance measures on several standardised, computer-based executive functioning (EF) tests covering domains of working-memory, cognitive flexibility, inhibition, and attention. The speech and EF data are further complemented by a rich collection of demographic data that documents education level, family status, and physical and psychological well-being. Additionally, the dataset includes information of the participants' hormone levels (cortisol, progesterone, oestradiol, and testosterone) at the time of testing. This dataset is thus a carefully curated, expansive collection of data that spans over different EF domains and includes both formal speaking tests as well as spontaneous speaking tasks, supplemented by valuable phenotypical information. This will thus provide the unique opportunity to perform a variety of analyses in the context of speech, EF, and inter-individual differences, and to our knowledge is the first of its kind in the German language. We refer to this dataset as SpEx since it combines speech and executive functioning data. Researchers interested in conducting exploratory or hypothesis-driven analyses in the field of individual differences in language and executive functioning, are encouraged to request access to this resource. Applicants will then be provided with an encrypted version of the data which can be downloaded.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia A Camilleri
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7 Brain and Behaviour), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Wilhelm-Johnen-Str., 52428, Jülich, Germany.
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Heinrich-Heine University, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - Julia Volkening
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7 Brain and Behaviour), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Wilhelm-Johnen-Str., 52428, Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Heinrich-Heine University, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
- PeakProfiling GmbH, Eschenallee 36, 14050, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefan Heim
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1 Structural and Functional Organisation of the Brain), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Wilhelm-Johnen-Str., 52428, Jülich, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Lisa N Mochalski
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7 Brain and Behaviour), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Wilhelm-Johnen-Str., 52428, Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Heinrich-Heine University, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Hannah Neufeld
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7 Brain and Behaviour), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Wilhelm-Johnen-Str., 52428, Jülich, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Natalie Schlothauer
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7 Brain and Behaviour), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Wilhelm-Johnen-Str., 52428, Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Heinrich-Heine University, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Gianna Kuhles
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7 Brain and Behaviour), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Wilhelm-Johnen-Str., 52428, Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Heinrich-Heine University, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Simon B Eickhoff
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7 Brain and Behaviour), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Wilhelm-Johnen-Str., 52428, Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Heinrich-Heine University, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Susanne Weis
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7 Brain and Behaviour), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Wilhelm-Johnen-Str., 52428, Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Heinrich-Heine University, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
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Kobayashi-Cuya KE, Sakurai R, Sakuma N, Suzuki H, Ogawa S, Takebayashi T, Fujiwara Y. Bidirectional associations of high-level cognitive domains with hand motor function and gait speed in high-functioning older adults: A 7-year study. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2024; 117:105232. [PMID: 37956584 DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2023.105232] [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: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Whether age-related decline in the musculoskeletal system may contribute to a decline in cognitive performance or vice versa is unclear. Understanding the direction of their associations and the extent to which upper and lower extremities similarly predict subtle changes in high-level cognitive performance will help elucidate their mechanisms, especially that of the hand dexterity. METHODS We evaluated the bidirectional associations of motor performance and high-level cognitive domains in 165 highly cognitively and physically healthy older adults. Motor performance tests consisted of handgrip strength, hand dexterity, assessed with the Purdue Pegboard Test (PPT), and usual and maximum gait speeds. High-level cognitive measures included executive function and information processing speed. The Trail Making Test (TMT)B and the letter and category fluency tests (LFT and CFT) evaluated executive function, while the TMTA and Digit Symbol assessed processing speed. Measurements were taken at baseline and at 2-, 5- and 7-year follow-up. RESULTS Generalized linear mixed-effect models showed that baseline hand dexterity and its trajectory predicted changes in TMTB, CFT, TMTA, and Digit Symbol over time, and vice versa. Baseline maximum gait speed was associated with LFT over time and vice versa. No associations were found for handgrip and usual gait speed. CONCLUSION The positive bidirectional association observed both in hand dexterity and maximum gait speed with executive function performance and that of hand dexterity with processing speed over time highlights a reciprocal relationship where each factor affects the other and both factors are dependent on each other, suggesting commonality in their neural basis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimi Estela Kobayashi-Cuya
- Research Team for Social Participation and Healthy Aging, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, Keio University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryota Sakurai
- Research Team for Social Participation and Healthy Aging, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Naoko Sakuma
- Research Team for Promoting Independence and Mental Health, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Suzuki
- Research Team for Social Participation and Healthy Aging, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Susumu Ogawa
- Research Team for Social Participation and Healthy Aging, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toru Takebayashi
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, Keio University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshinori Fujiwara
- Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan
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Konstantinopoulou E, Irini V, Ioanna F, Valentina P, Electra H, Nikolaos G, Eleni A, Ioannidis P. Screening for Executive Impairment in Patients with Frontotemporal Dementia: Evidence from the Greek Version of the Frontier Executive Screen. Arch Clin Neuropsychol 2024:acad101. [PMID: 38214191 DOI: 10.1093/arclin/acad101] [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: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of the present study was to adjust the frontier executive screen (FES) for the Greek population, to develop normative data, and to investigate its ability to discriminate patients diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia from healthy individuals. METHODS The FES was administered to 142 community-dwelling healthy adults (age: M = 65.9, SD = 8.5; education: M = 10.8, SD = 4.3; sex: 59% female) and 32 patients diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (age: M = 69.3, SD = 8.6; education: M = 11.7, SD = 4.8; sex: 31% female). Correlation and regression analyses were performed to determine the association between the FES scores, demographic, and clinical characteristics. Cronbach's α coefficient was used to determine internal consistency. Group differences on the FES were examined with independent samples t-test and Mann-Whitney test. Discriminant and ROC analyses were used to determine diagnostic accuracy and to identify the optimal cutoff score for the discrimination between groups. RESULTS Regression analyses indicated associations between demographic characteristics and FES scores (age: R2 = .08; education: R2 = .33). Internal consistency was marginally acceptable (α = .69). Patients scored lower than healthy participants on the total FES score (d = 1.91) and its three subscores (verbal fluency: η2 = .60; inhibition: η2 = .52; working memory: d = 0.90). The results indicated high diagnostic accuracy (94%) and the optimal cutoff score was 7 (91% sensitivity, 78% specificity). CONCLUSIONS The Greek version of the FES is a useful tool for the brief evaluation of executive functions in patients diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vilou Irini
- 2nd Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Falega Ioanna
- School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | | | | | - Grigoriadis Nikolaos
- 2nd Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Aretouli Eleni
- Psychology Department, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Ioannidis
- 2nd Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
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Possemis N, ter Huurne D, Banning L, Gruters A, Van Asbroeck S, König A, Linz N, Tröger J, Langel K, Blokland A, Prickaerts J, de Vugt M, Verhey F, Ramakers I. The Reliability and Clinical Validation of Automatically-Derived Verbal Memory Features of the Verbal Learning Test in Early Diagnostics of Cognitive Impairment. J Alzheimers Dis 2024; 97:179-191. [PMID: 38108348 PMCID: PMC10789344 DOI: 10.3233/jad-230608] [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] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous research has shown that verbal memory accurately measures cognitive decline in the early phases of neurocognitive impairment. Automatic speech recognition from the verbal learning task (VLT) can potentially be used to differentiate between people with and without cognitive impairment. OBJECTIVE Investigate whether automatic speech recognition (ASR) of the VLT is reliable and able to differentiate between subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). METHODS The VLT was recorded and processed via a mobile application. Following, verbal memory features were automatically extracted. The diagnostic performance of the automatically derived features was investigated by training machine learning classifiers to distinguish between participants with SCD versus MCI/dementia. RESULTS The ICC for inter-rater reliability between the clinical and automatically derived features was 0.87 for the total immediate recall and 0.94 for the delayed recall. The full model including the total immediate recall, delayed recall, recognition count, and the novel verbal memory features had an AUC of 0.79 for distinguishing between participants with SCD versus MCI/dementia. The ten best differentiating VLT features correlated low to moderate with other cognitive tests such as logical memory tasks, semantic verbal fluency, and executive functioning. CONCLUSIONS The VLT with automatically derived verbal memory features showed in general high agreement with the clinical scoring and distinguished well between SCD and MCI/dementia participants. This might be of added value in screening for cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Possemis
- Alzheimer Centre Limburg, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Daphne ter Huurne
- Alzheimer Centre Limburg, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Leonie Banning
- Maastricht University Medical Centre+ (MUMC+), Department of Psychiatry & Psychology, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Stephanie Van Asbroeck
- Alzheimer Centre Limburg, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Alexandra König
- National Institute for Research in Computer Science and Automation (INRIA), Valbonne, Sophia Antipolis, France
- ki:elements, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | | | | | - Kai Langel
- Janssen Clinical Innovation, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Arjan Blokland
- Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Neuropsychology & Psychopharmacology, EURON, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Jos Prickaerts
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Marjolein de Vugt
- Alzheimer Centre Limburg, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Maastricht University Medical Centre+ (MUMC+), Department of Psychiatry & Psychology, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Frans Verhey
- Alzheimer Centre Limburg, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Maastricht University Medical Centre+ (MUMC+), Department of Psychiatry & Psychology, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Inez Ramakers
- Alzheimer Centre Limburg, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Maastricht University Medical Centre+ (MUMC+), Department of Psychiatry & Psychology, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Karousou A, Economacou D, Makris N. Clustering and Switching in Semantic Verbal Fluency: Their Development and Relationship with Word Productivity in Typically Developing Greek-Speaking Children and Adolescents. J Intell 2023; 11:209. [PMID: 37998708 PMCID: PMC10671952 DOI: 10.3390/jintelligence11110209] [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: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Performance in semantic verbal fluency (SVF) tasks, mainly measured by the number of words of a particular semantic category produced within a limited time, is a widely accepted measure of cognitive functioning used in the neuropsychological assessment of children and adults. Two strategic processes, Clustering and Switching (C&S) have been proposed to underlie fluency processes and affect performance in the task. However, few studies have reported on the development of those cognitive strategies and their relationship with word productivity in typically developing children. Even fewer studies have covered a broad developmental period from preschool to adolescence or measured the effect of contextual factors in this relationship. Based on a sample of 472 typically developing Greek-speaking children aged 4;0 to 16;11 years, we investigated the development of SVF performance and reported on the degree to which it is affected by C&S strategies, children's sex, and level of parental education. Results revealed a large effect of age on word productivity and on the use of C&S strategies. Two switching factors (number of clusters and number of switches) and two clustering factors (mean cluster size and a novel measure, maximum cluster size), appeared to be significantly associated with word productivity, with the largest effect being attributed to the two switching factors. C&S factors, together with children's age and parental education, predicted 91.7% of the variance in the SVF score. Children's sex was not found to have a significant effect on either word productivity or C&S strategies. Results are discussed for their theoretical implications on the strategic processes underlying word production in typically developing children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Karousou
- Department of Education Sciences in Early Childhood, Democritus University of Thrace, 681 00 Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Dimitra Economacou
- Department of Primary Education, Democritus University of Thrace, 671 32 Xanthi, Greece; (D.E.); (N.M.)
| | - Nikos Makris
- Department of Primary Education, Democritus University of Thrace, 671 32 Xanthi, Greece; (D.E.); (N.M.)
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Gonzalez-Recober C, Nevler N, Shellikeri S, Cousins KAQ, Rhodes E, Liberman M, Grossman M, Irwin D, Cho S. Comparison of category and letter fluency tasks through automated analysis. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1212793. [PMID: 37901072 PMCID: PMC10600440 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1212793] [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: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Category and letter fluency tasks are commonly used neuropsychological tasks to evaluate lexical retrieval. Methods This study used validated automated methods, which allow for more expansive investigation, to analyze speech production of both category ("Animal") and letter ("F") fluency tasks produced by healthy participants (n = 36) on an online platform. Recordings were transcribed and analyzed through automated pipelines, which utilized natural language processing and automatic acoustic processing tools. Automated pipelines calculated overall performance scores, mean inter-word response time, and word start time; errors were excluded from analysis. Each word was rated for age of acquisition (AoA), ambiguity, concreteness, frequency, familiarity, word length, word duration, and phonetic and semantic distance from its previous word. Results Participants produced significantly more words on the category fluency task relative to the letter fluency task (p < 0.001), which is in line with previous studies. Wilcoxon tests also showed tasks differed on several mean speech measures of words, and category fluency was associated with lower mean AoA (p<0.001), lower frequency (p < 0.001), lower semantic ambiguity (p < 0.001), lower semantic distance (p < 0.001), lower mean inter-word RT (p = 0.03), higher concreteness (p < 0.001), and higher familiarity (p = 0.02), compared to letter fluency. ANOVAs significant interactions for fluency task on total score and lexical measures showed that lower category fluency scores were significantly related to lower AoA and higher prevalence, and this was not observed for letter fluency scores. Finally, word-characteristics changed over time and significant interactions were noted between the tasks, including word familiarity (p = 0.019), semantic ambiguity (p = 0.002), semantic distance (p=0.001), and word duration (p<0.001). Discussion These findings showed that certain lexical measures such as AoA, word familiarity, and semantic ambiguity were important for understanding how these tasks differ. Additionally, it found that acoustic measures such as inter-word RT and word duration are also imperative to analyze when comparing the two tasks. By implementing these automated techniques, which are reproducible and scalable, to analyze fluency tasks we were able to quickly detect these differences. In future clinical settings, we expect these methods to expand our knowledge on speech feature differences that impact not only total scores, but many other speech measures among clinical populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Gonzalez-Recober
- Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Naomi Nevler
- Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Sanjana Shellikeri
- Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Katheryn A. Q. Cousins
- Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Emma Rhodes
- Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Mark Liberman
- Linguistic Data Consortium, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Murray Grossman
- Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - David Irwin
- Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Sunghye Cho
- Linguistic Data Consortium, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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11
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Rofes A, Beran M, Jonkers R, Geerlings MI, Vonk JMJ. What Drives Task Performance in Animal Fluency in Individuals Without Dementia? The SMART-MR Study. JOURNAL OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING RESEARCH : JSLHR 2023; 66:3473-3485. [PMID: 37494924 PMCID: PMC10558141 DOI: 10.1044/2023_jslhr-22-00445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE In this study, we aim to understand whether and how performance in animal fluency (i.e., total correct word count) relates to linguistic levels and/or executive functions by looking at sequence information and item-level metrics (i.e., clusters, switches, and word properties). METHOD Seven hundred thirty-one Dutch-speaking individuals without dementia from the Second Manifestations of ARTerial disease-Magnetic Resonance study responded to an animal fluency task (120 s). We obtained cluster size and number of switches for the task, and eight different word properties for each correct word produced. We detected variables that determine total word count with random forests, and used conditional inference trees to assess points along the scales of such variables, at which total word count changes significantly. RESULTS Number of switches, average cluster size, lexical decision response times, word frequency, and concreteness determined total correct word count in animal fluency. People who produced more correct words produced more switches and bigger clusters. People who produced fewer words produced fewer switches and more frequent words. CONCLUSIONS Concurrent with existing literature, individuals without dementia rely on language and executive functioning to produce words in animal fluency. The novelty of our work is that such results were shown based on a data-driven approach using sequence information and item-level metrics. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.23713269.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrià Rofes
- Center for Language and Cognition Groningen (CLCG), University of Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Magdalena Beran
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht and Utrecht University, the Netherlands
| | - Roel Jonkers
- Center for Language and Cognition Groningen (CLCG), University of Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Mirjam I. Geerlings
- Department of General Practice, Amsterdam UMC, Location University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Aging & Later life, and Personalized Medicine, Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam UMC, the Netherlands
- Neurodegeneration, and Mood, Anxiety, Psychosis, Stress, and Sleep, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, the Netherlands
| | - Jet M. J. Vonk
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht and Utrecht University, the Netherlands
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco
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12
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Golenia A, Olejnik P, Żołek N, Wojtaszek E, Małyszko J. Cognitive Impairment and Anxiety Are Prevalent in Kidney Transplant Recipients. Kidney Blood Press Res 2023; 48:587-595. [PMID: 37619550 PMCID: PMC10614445 DOI: 10.1159/000533755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cognitive impairment (CI) is common in end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), including kidney transplant recipients. Patients with cognitive problems may find it difficult to comply with medical recommendations after kidney transplantation (KT), which can be the cause of many complications, poorer prognosis, and increased hospitalization rates after transplantation. Additionally, some patients after KT may experience depression and anxiety, which are prevalent comorbidities in patients with ESKD. METHODS In this single-center, cross-sectional study, we included 56 consecutive adult patients after KT. Cognitive function was assessed using the Addenbrooke Cognitive Test III (ACE III). In addition, all patients were screened for depression and anxiety using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The impact of immunosuppressive therapy and other disease-related variables on cognitive function was also assessed. RESULTS A total of 56 KT patients, with a mean age of 50.3 ± 11.7 years, transplanted ≤35 months ago were included in the study. The prevalence of CI was 30%. Compared with cognitively unimpaired patients, patients with CI scored significantly lower in all cognitive domains. Furthermore, better cognitive functioning after KT was significantly associated with more years of schooling. We found no significant correlation between CI and age at assessment, duration of dialysis before KT, creatinine levels, creatinine clearance, uric acid levels, hemoglobin levels, comorbid cardiovascular diseases, and immunosuppressive therapy. In addition, the prevalence of depression and anxiety in screening tests was 12.5% and 27%, respectively, and patients receiving higher daily dose of prednisone had higher HADS scores on both the depression and anxiety subscales (not statistically significant). DISCUSSION Cognitive disorders are a relevant issue in kidney transplant recipients. There might be many factors, both before and after KT, that have a negative impact on cognition. Therefore, further research is needed to increase knowledge about the course and profile of cognitive function after KT.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Norbert Żołek
- Institute of Fundamental Technological Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ewa Wojtaszek
- Department of Nephrology, Dialysis and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jolanta Małyszko
- Department of Nephrology, Dialysis and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
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13
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De Marco M, Bocchetta M, Venneri A. Item-Level Scores on the Boston Naming Test as an Independent Predictor of Perirhinal Volume in Individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13050806. [PMID: 37239278 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13050806] [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: 04/08/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
We explored the methodological value of an item-level scoring procedure applied to the Boston Naming Test (BNT), and the extent to which this scoring approach predicts grey matter (GM) variability in regions that sustain semantic memory. Twenty-seven BNT items administered as part of the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative were scored according to their "sensorimotor interaction" (SMI) value. Quantitative scores (i.e., the count of correctly named items) and qualitative scores (i.e., the average of SMI scores for correctly named items) were used as independent predictors of neuroanatomical GM maps in two sub-cohorts of 197 healthy adults and 350 mild cognitive impairment (MCI) participants. Quantitative scores predicted clusters of temporal and mediotemporal GM in both sub-cohorts. After accounting for quantitative scores, the qualitative scores predicted mediotemporal GM clusters in the MCI sub-cohort; clusters extended to the anterior parahippocampal gyrus and encompassed the perirhinal cortex. This was confirmed by a significant yet modest association between qualitative scores and region-of-interest-informed perirhinal volumes extracted post hoc. Item-level scoring of BNT performance provides complementary information to standard quantitative scores. The concurrent use of quantitative and qualitative scores may help profile lexical-semantic access more precisely, and might help detect changes in semantic memory that are typical of early-stage Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo De Marco
- Centre for Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Psychology, Department of Life Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, London UB8 3PH, UK
| | - Martina Bocchetta
- Centre for Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Psychology, Department of Life Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, London UB8 3PH, UK
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Annalena Venneri
- Centre for Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Psychology, Department of Life Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, London UB8 3PH, UK
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43125 Parma, Italy
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14
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Bauermeister SD, Ben Yehuda M, Reid G, Howgego G, Ritchie K, Watermeyer T, Gregory S, Terrera GM, Koychev I. Insulin resistance, age and depression's impact on cognition in middle-aged adults from the PREVENT cohort. BMJ MENTAL HEALTH 2023; 26:e300665. [PMID: 37236657 PMCID: PMC10231438 DOI: 10.1136/bmjment-2023-300665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD), type 2 diabetes mellitus (characterised by insulin resistance) and depression are significant challenges facing public health. Research has demonstrated common comorbidities among these three conditions, typically focusing on two of them at a time. OBJECTIVE The goal of this study, however, was to assess the inter-relationships between the three conditions, focusing on mid-life (defined as age 40-59) risk before the emergence of dementia caused by AD. METHODS In the current study, we used cross-sectional data from 665 participants from the cohort study, PREVENT. FINDINGS Using structural equation modelling, we showed that (1) insulin resistance predicts executive dysfunction in older but not younger adults in mid-life, that (2) insulin resistance predicts self-reported depression in both older and younger middle-aged adults and that (3) depression predicts deficits in visuospatial memory in older but not younger adults in mid-life. CONCLUSIONS Together, we demonstrate the inter-relations between three common non-communicable diseases in middle-aged adults. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS We emphasise the need for combined interventions and the use of resources to help adults in mid-life to modify risk factors for cognitive impairment, such as depression and diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah D Bauermeister
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Michael Ben Yehuda
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Graham Reid
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Gregory Howgego
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Karen Ritchie
- INSERM, Institut des Neurosciences de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Tam Watermeyer
- Edinburgh Dementia Prevention, The University of Edinburgh Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Sarah Gregory
- Edinburgh Dementia Prevention, The University of Edinburgh Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Graciela Muniz Terrera
- Edinburgh Dementia Prevention, The University of Edinburgh Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ivan Koychev
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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15
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Nobre JNP, Morais RLDS, Prat BV, Fernandes AC, Viegas ÂA, Figueiredo PHS, Peixoto MF, De Oliveira Ferreira F, de Freitas PM, Mendonça VA, Lacerda ACR. Environmental opportunities facilitating cognitive development in preschoolers: development of a multicriteria index. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2023; 130:65-76. [PMID: 36401748 PMCID: PMC9676873 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-022-02568-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Access to environmental opportunities can favor children's learning and cognitive development. The objectives is to construct an index that synthesizes environmental learning opportunities for preschoolers considering the home environment and verify whether the index can predict preschoolers' cognitive development. A quantitative, cross-sectional, exploratory study was conducted with 51 preschoolers using a multi-attribute utility theory (MAUT). The criteria used for drawing up the index were supported by the literature and subdivided in Group A "Resources from the house" extracted from HOME Inventory including: (1) to have three or more puzzles; (2) have at least ten children's books; (3) be encouraged to learn the alphabet; (4) take the family out at least every 2 weeks. Group B "Screens" (5) caution with using television; (6) total screen time in day/minutes. Group C "Parental Schooling" (7) maternal and paternal education. Pearson correlation analyses and univariate linear regression were performed to verify the relationship between the established index with cognitive test results. The index correlated with the total score of the mini-mental state exam (MMC) and verbal fluency test (VF) in the category of total word production and word production without errors. Multicriteria index explained 18% of the VF (total word production), 19% of the VF (total production of words without errors) and 17% of the MMC. The present multicriteria index has potential application as it synthesizes the preschooler's environmental learning opportunities and predicts domains of child cognitive development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Nogueira Pontes Nobre
- Centro Integrado de Pós-Graduação e Pesquisa em Saúde (CIPq-Saúde), Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
| | - Rosane Luzia de Souza Morais
- Faculdade de Fisioterapia, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Bernat Viñola Prat
- Instituto de Ciência e Tecnologia (ICT - UFVJM) e SaSA, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Amanda Cristina Fernandes
- Centro Integrado de Pós-Graduação e Pesquisa em Saúde (CIPq-Saúde), Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ângela Alves Viegas
- Centro Integrado de Pós-Graduação e Pesquisa em Saúde (CIPq-Saúde), Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Marco Fabrício Peixoto
- Centro Integrado de Pós-Graduação e Pesquisa em Saúde (CIPq-Saúde), Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Patrícia Martins de Freitas
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicologia da Saúde (PPGPSI), Instituto Multidisciplinar em Saúde da Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA), Vitória da Conquista, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Amaral Mendonça
- Faculdade de Fisioterapia, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ana Cristina Rodrigues Lacerda
- Faculdade de Fisioterapia, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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16
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Soltani A, Schworer EK, Esbensen AJ. Executive functioning and verbal fluency performance in youth with Down syndrome. RESEARCH IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2022; 131:104358. [PMID: 36209524 PMCID: PMC9701181 DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2022.104358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Executive functioning (EF) is an area of challenge for individuals with Down syndrome (DS) associated with a variety of downstream difficulties. Verbal fluency performance is one potential downstream effect that is commonly assessed in individuals with DS due to the measure's utility as a predictor of dementia. Verbal fluency requires individuals to inhibit irrelevant responses, shift between groupings of related words, and monitor to prevent repetition, all skills related to EF. AIMS This study aimed to determine the association between semantic verbal fluency performance and three EF subdomains (inhibition, shifting, and working memory) in youth with DS after taking into account vocabulary and cognitive ability. METHODS AND PROCEDURES Neuropsychological assessments (verbal and visuospatial), and parent reports of EF, were completed at one time point by 69 youth with DS 6-17 years old and their caregivers. Expressive and receptive vocabulary skills and cognitive ability were also assessed. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS The results revealed that verbal fluency performance was significantly associated with neuropsychological assessments of EF and parent report of inhibition even after controlling for the effects of vocabulary and cognitive ability. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS The findings highlight the underlying importance of EF in verbal fluency tasks in youth with DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanallah Soltani
- Department of Educational Psychology, Kerman Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kerman, Iran
| | - Emily K Schworer
- Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Anna J Esbensen
- Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
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17
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Fernandes AC, Viegas ÂA, Lacerda ACR, Nobre JNP, Morais RLDS, Figueiredo PHS, Costa HS, Camargos ACR, Ferreira FDO, de Freitas PM, Santos T, da Silva Júnior FA, Bernardo-Filho M, Taiar R, Sartorio A, Mendonça VA. Association between executive functions and gross motor skills in overweight/obese and eutrophic preschoolers: cross-sectional study. BMC Pediatr 2022; 22:498. [PMID: 35999515 PMCID: PMC9400322 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-022-03553-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Preschool age (3–5 years old) is a crucial period for children to acquire gross motor skills and develop executive functions (EFs). However, the association between the qualitative gross motor skills and EFs remains unknown in preschoolers, especially among overweight and obese children. Methods This was a cross-sectional, exploratory, and quantitative study carried out on 49 preschool children, divided into two subgroups according to their body mass index (overweight/obese: 24; eutrophic [normal weight]: 25). The mean age was 4.59 years. More than half of the sample were boys (55%) and most of the mothers had completed high school (67%) and were class C socioeconomic level (63%). Gross motor skills were assessed using the Test of Gross Motor Development-2, while EFs were evaluated using Semantic verbal fluency (SVF), Tower of Hanoi (TH), Day/Night Stroop, and Delayed Gratification tests. Multiple linear regression models adjusted for sex, age, maternal education, socioeconomic status, quality of the home environment, and quality of the school environment using the stepwise method were executed, considering the cognitive tasks as independent variables and gross motor skills as dependent variable. Results The overweight/obese preschoolers showed worse locomotor skills than their eutrophic peers and below average gross motor quotient (GMQ). Overweight/obese girls performed worse in OC skills than boys with excess weight. SVF (number of errors) and TH (rule breaks) explained 57.8% of the variance in object control (OC) skills and 40.5% of the variance in GMQ (p < .05) in the overweight/obese children. Surprisingly, there was no significant association between any of the EF tasks and gross motor skills in the eutrophic children. Conclusion A relationship between EF tasks (number of errors in SVF and rule breaks in TH) and gross motor skills (OC and GMQ) was demonstrated in the overweight/obese preschoolers, indicating that worse cognitive flexibility, working memory, planning, and problem solving are associated with worse gross motor skills in this population when compared to eutrophic children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Cristina Fernandes
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Reabilitação e Desempenho Funcional (PPGReab), Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Campus JK - Rodovia MGT - 367 - Km 583, N°. 5000 - Alto da Jacuba / ZIP, Diamantina, Minas Gerais, 39100-000, Brazil
| | - Ângela Alves Viegas
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Multicêntrico em Ciências Fisiológicas (PPGMCF), Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil.,Centro Integrado de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação em Saúde (CIPq saúde), Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ana Cristina Rodrigues Lacerda
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Reabilitação e Desempenho Funcional (PPGReab), Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Campus JK - Rodovia MGT - 367 - Km 583, N°. 5000 - Alto da Jacuba / ZIP, Diamantina, Minas Gerais, 39100-000, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-Graduação Multicêntrico em Ciências Fisiológicas (PPGMCF), Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil.,Centro Integrado de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação em Saúde (CIPq saúde), Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Juliana Nogueira Pontes Nobre
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Multicêntrico em Ciências Fisiológicas (PPGMCF), Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil.,Centro Integrado de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação em Saúde (CIPq saúde), Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Rosane Luzia De Souza Morais
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Saúde, Sociedade e Ambiente (PPGSaSA), Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Pedro Henrique Scheidt Figueiredo
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Reabilitação e Desempenho Funcional (PPGReab), Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Campus JK - Rodovia MGT - 367 - Km 583, N°. 5000 - Alto da Jacuba / ZIP, Diamantina, Minas Gerais, 39100-000, Brazil.,Centro Integrado de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação em Saúde (CIPq saúde), Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Henrique Silveira Costa
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Reabilitação e Desempenho Funcional (PPGReab), Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Campus JK - Rodovia MGT - 367 - Km 583, N°. 5000 - Alto da Jacuba / ZIP, Diamantina, Minas Gerais, 39100-000, Brazil.,Centro Integrado de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação em Saúde (CIPq saúde), Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ana Cristina Resende Camargos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Reabilitação, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Patrícia Martins de Freitas
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicologia da Saúde (PPGPSI), Instituto Multidisciplinar em Saúde da Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA), Vitória da Conquista, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Thiago Santos
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Fidelis Antônio da Silva Júnior
- Centro Integrado de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação em Saúde (CIPq saúde), Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Mário Bernardo-Filho
- Laboratório de Vibrações Mecânicas e Práticas Integrativas - LAVIMPI, Departamento de Biofísica e Biometria, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcântara Gomes and Policlínica Piquet Carneiro, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Redha Taiar
- Université de Reims Champagne Ardenne, MATIM, 51100, Reims, France
| | - Alessandro Sartorio
- Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, Division of Auxology and Metabolic Diseases & Experimental Laboratory for Auxo-endocrinological Research, Piancavallo-Verbania, Italy
| | - Vanessa Amaral Mendonça
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Reabilitação e Desempenho Funcional (PPGReab), Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Campus JK - Rodovia MGT - 367 - Km 583, N°. 5000 - Alto da Jacuba / ZIP, Diamantina, Minas Gerais, 39100-000, Brazil. .,Programa de Pós-Graduação Multicêntrico em Ciências Fisiológicas (PPGMCF), Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil. .,Centro Integrado de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação em Saúde (CIPq saúde), Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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Metarugcheep S, Punyabukkana P, Wanvarie D, Hemrungrojn S, Chunharas C, Pratanwanich PN. Selecting the Most Important Features for Predicting Mild Cognitive Impairment from Thai Verbal Fluency Assessments. SENSORS 2022; 22:s22155813. [PMID: 35957370 PMCID: PMC9370961 DOI: 10.3390/s22155813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is an early stage of cognitive decline or memory loss, commonly found among the elderly. A phonemic verbal fluency (PVF) task is a standard cognitive test that participants are asked to produce words starting with given letters, such as “F” in English and “ก” /k/ in Thai. With state-of-the-art machine learning techniques, features extracted from the PVF data have been widely used to detect MCI. The PVF features, including acoustic features, semantic features, and word grouping, have been studied in many languages but not Thai. However, applying the same PVF feature extraction methods used in English to Thai yields unpleasant results due to different language characteristics. This study performs analytical feature extraction on Thai PVF data to classify MCI patients. In particular, we propose novel approaches to extract features based on phonemic clustering (ability to cluster words by phonemes) and switching (ability to shift between clusters) for the Thai PVF data. The comparison results of the three classifiers revealed that the support vector machine performed the best with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.733 (N = 100). Furthermore, our implemented guidelines extracted efficient features, which support the machine learning models regarding MCI detection on Thai PVF data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suppat Metarugcheep
- Department of Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand;
| | - Proadpran Punyabukkana
- Department of Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand;
- Correspondence:
| | - Dittaya Wanvarie
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; (D.W.); (P.N.P.)
| | - Solaphat Hemrungrojn
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand;
- Cognitive Fitness and Biopsychological Technology Research Unit, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Chaipat Chunharas
- Cognitive Clinical & Computational Neuroscience Research Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand;
- Chula Neuroscience Center, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Ploy N. Pratanwanich
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; (D.W.); (P.N.P.)
- Chula Intelligent and Complex Systems Research Unit, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
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19
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De Marco M, Venneri A. Serial Recall Order of Category Fluency Words: Exploring Its Neural Underpinnings. Front Psychol 2022; 12:777838. [PMID: 35069359 PMCID: PMC8773965 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.777838] [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: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Although performance on the category fluency test (CFT) is influenced by many cognitive functions (i.e., including language, executive functioning and speed of processing), item-level scoring methods of CFT performance might be a promising way to capture aspects of semantic memory that are less influenced by intervenient abilities. One such approach is based on the calculation of correlation coefficients that quantify the association between item-level features and the serial order with which words are recalled (SRO). Methods: We explored the neural underpinnings of 10 of these correlational indices in a sample of 40 healthy adults who completed a classic 1-min CFT and an MRI protocol inclusive of T1-weighted (analysed with voxel-based morphometry) and resting-state fMRI sequences for the evaluation of the default-mode network (DMN). Two sets of linear models were defined to test the association between neural maps and each correlational index: a first set in which major demographic and clinical descriptors were controlled for and a second set in which, additionally, all other 9 correlational indices were regressed out. Results: In the analysis of the DMN, ‘SRO-frequency’, ‘SRO-dominance’ and ‘SRO-body-object interaction’ correlational indices were all negatively associated with the anterior portion of the right temporoparietal junction. The ‘SRO-frequency’ correlational index was also negatively associated with the right dorsal anterior cingulate and the ‘SRO-dominance’ correlational index with the right lateral prefrontal cortex. From the second set of models, the ‘SRO-typicality’ correlational index was positively associated with the left entorhinal cortex. No association was found in relation to grey matter maps. Conclusion: The ability to retrieve more difficult words during CFT performance as measured by the correlational indices between SRO and item-level descriptors is associated with DMN expression in regions deputed to attentional reorienting and processing of salience of infrequent stimuli and dominance status. Of all item-level features, typicality appears to be that most closely linked with entorhinal functioning and may thus play a relevant role in assessing its value in testing procedures for early detection of subtle cognitive difficulties in people with suspected Alzheimer’s degeneration. Although exploratory, these findings warrant further investigations in larger cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo De Marco
- Department of Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, United Kingdom
| | - Annalena Venneri
- Department of Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, United Kingdom
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Jiang D, Liu Z, Sun G. The Effect of Yoga Meditation Practice on Young Adults' Inhibitory Control: An fNIRS Study. Front Hum Neurosci 2021; 15:725233. [PMID: 34588968 PMCID: PMC8475714 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.725233] [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: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: The present study aimed to test the effect of yoga meditation (YoMed) practice on inhibitory control of young adults. Methods: A total of 50 participants (23 male, 21–28 years old) from a university in Jinan, Shandong Province were enrolled in this study. Participants were randomly assigned to a YoMed group or a Control group. Participants’ basic information, physical activity, and inhibitory control were measured. A multi-channel continuous-wave near-infrared spectrometer was used to monitor the brain’s hemodynamic responses. Results: After the intervention, we found significant differences in Flanker tasks between the YoMed group and Control group. The accuracy in the YoMed group was higher than those in the Control group (p < 0.05). Analysis of fNIRS data showed that oxyhemoglobin (oxy-Hb) levels in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) increased in the YoMed group during the Flanker tasks after the YoMed intervention. Conclusion: YoMed has a temporarily promoting effect on the brain activation of young adults. It is an effective and appropriate exercise to improve the inhibitory control of young adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongdong Jiang
- School of Physical Education, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Zongyu Liu
- School of Physical Education, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Guoxiao Sun
- School of Physical Education, Shandong University, Jinan, China
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