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Liampas I, Dimitriou N, Siokas V, Messinis L, Nasios G, Dardiotis E. Cognitive trajectories preluding the onset of different dementia entities: a descriptive longitudinal study using the NACC database. Aging Clin Exp Res 2024; 36:119. [PMID: 38780681 PMCID: PMC11116253 DOI: 10.1007/s40520-024-02769-9] [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: 02/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe the 10-year preclinical cognitive trajectories of older, non-demented individuals towards the onset of the four most prevalent types of dementia, i.e., Alzheimer's disease(AD), Lewy body(LBD), vascular(VD) and frontotemporal dementia(FTD). METHODS Our analysis focused on data from older (≥ 60years) NACC (National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center) participants. Four distinct presymptomatic dementia groups (AD-LBD-VD-FTD) and a comparison group of cognitively unimpaired(CU) participants were formed. Comprehensive cognitive assessments involving verbal episodic memory, semantic verbal fluency, confrontation naming, mental processing speed - attention and executive function - cognitive flexibility were conducted at baseline and on an approximately yearly basis. Descriptive analyses (adjusted general linear models) were performed to determine and compare the yearly cognitive scores of each group throughout the follow-up. Exploratory analyses were conducted to estimate the rates of cognitive decline. RESULTS There were 3343 participants who developed AD, 247 LBD, 108 FTD, 155 VD and 3398 composed the CU group. Participants with AD performed worse on episodic memory than those with VD and LBD for about 3 to 4 years prior to dementia onset (the FTD group documented an intermediate course). Presymptomatic verbal fluency and confrontation naming trajectories differentiated quite well between the FTD group and the remaining dementia entities. Participants with incident LBD and VD performed worse than those with AD on executive functions and mental processing speed-attention since about 5 years prior to the onset of dementia, and worse than those with FTD more proximally to the diagnosis of the disorder. CONCLUSIONS Heterogeneous cognitive trajectories characterize the presymptomatic courses of the most prevalent dementia entities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Liampas
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University Hospital of Larissa, University of Thessaly, Mezourlo Hill, Larissa, 41100, Greece.
| | - Nefeli Dimitriou
- Department of Speech and Language Therapy, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, 45500, Greece
| | - Vasileios Siokas
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University Hospital of Larissa, University of Thessaly, Mezourlo Hill, Larissa, 41100, Greece
| | - Lambros Messinis
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 54124, Greece
| | - Grigorios Nasios
- Department of Speech and Language Therapy, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, 45500, Greece
| | - Efthimios Dardiotis
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University Hospital of Larissa, University of Thessaly, Mezourlo Hill, Larissa, 41100, Greece
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Yucebas D, Fox-Fuller JT, Cabrera AB, Baena A, McDowell CP, Aduen P, Vila-Castelar C, Bocanegra Y, Tirado V, Sanchez JS, Cronin-Golomb A, Lopera F, Quiroz YT. Associations of category fluency clustering performance with in vivo brain pathology in autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2024; 30:77-83. [PMID: 37185154 PMCID: PMC10600324 DOI: 10.1017/s1355617723000243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Alzheimer's disease (AD) is known to impact semantic access, which is frequently evaluated using the Category Fluency (Animals) test. Recent studies have suggested that in addition to overall category fluency scores (total number of words produced over time), poor clustering could signal AD-related cognitive difficulties. In this study, we examined the association between category fluency clustering performance (i.e., stating words sequentially that are all contained within a subcategory, such as domestic animals) and brain pathology in individuals with autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease (ADAD). METHODS A total of 29 non-demented carriers of the Presenilin1 E280A ADAD mutation and 32 noncarrier family members completed the category fluency test (Animals) and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). The participants also underwent positron emission tomography (PET) scans to evaluate in vivo amyloid-beta in the neocortex and tau in medial temporal lobe regions. Differences between carriers and noncarriers on cognitive tests were assessed with Mann-Whitney tests; associations between cognitive test performance and brain pathology were assessed with Spearman correlations. RESULTS Animal fluency scores did not differ between carriers and noncarriers. Carriers, however, showed a stronger association between animal fluency clustering and in vivo AD brain pathology (neocortical amyloid and entorhinal tau) relative to noncarriers. CONCLUSION This study indicates that using category fluency clustering, but not total score, is related to AD pathophysiology in the preclinical and early stages of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Defne Yucebas
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Joshua T. Fox-Fuller
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02155, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alex Badillo Cabrera
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ana Baena
- Grupo de Neurociencias de Antioquia, University of Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia
| | - Celina Pluim McDowell
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02155, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Paula Aduen
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Clara Vila-Castelar
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yamile Bocanegra
- Grupo de Neurociencias de Antioquia, University of Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia
- Hospital Pablo Tobon Uribe, Medellin, Colombia
| | - Victoria Tirado
- Grupo de Neurociencias de Antioquia, University of Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia
- Hospital Pablo Tobon Uribe, Medellin, Colombia
| | - Justin S. Sanchez
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alice Cronin-Golomb
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Francisco Lopera
- Grupo de Neurociencias de Antioquia, University of Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia
| | - Yakeel T. Quiroz
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Grupo de Neurociencias de Antioquia, University of Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Liampas I, Siokas V, Lyketsos CG, Dardiotis E. Cognitive Performance and Incident Alzheimer's Dementia in Men Versus Women. J Prev Alzheimers Dis 2024; 11:162-170. [PMID: 38230729 PMCID: PMC10794850 DOI: 10.14283/jpad.2023.90] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The utility of neuropsychological measurements as forerunners of Alzheimer's Disease Dementia (AD) in individuals with normal cognition or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is undeniable. OBJECTIVES To assess the differential prognostic value of cognitive performance in older men versus women. DESIGN Longitudinal analysis of data acquired from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center Uniform Data Set. SETTINGS Data on older adults (≥60 years) were derived from 43 National Institute on Aging - funded Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers. PARTICIPANTS 10,073 cognitively unimpaired (CU) older adults followed for 5.5±3.8 years and 3,925 participants with amnestic MCI monitored for 3.5±2.8 years. MEASUREMENTS The domains of episodic memory, verbal fluency, naming, attention, processing speed and executive function were assessed. Cox proportional hazards models examined associations between individual cognitive domains and AD incidence separately for each participant set. CU and MCI. These predictive models featured individual neuropsychological measures, sex, neuropsychological measure by sex interactions, as well as a number of crucial covariates. RESULTS Episodic memory and verbal fluency were differentially related to future AD among CU individuals, explaining a larger proportion of risk variance in women compared to men. On the other hand, naming, attention and executive function were differentially related to future AD among participants with MCI, accounting for a greater fraction of risk variance in men than women. CONCLUSION Cognitive performance is differentially related to risk of progressing to AD in men versus women without dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Liampas
- Dr Ioannis Liampas, Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Larissa, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Mezourlo Hill, Larissa 41100, Greece; E-mail addresses: , ; Phone number: +30 6983253808; ORCID ID: 0000-0002-2958-5220
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Bairami S, Folia V, Liampas I, Ntanasi E, Patrikelis P, Siokas V, Yannakoulia M, Sakka P, Hadjigeorgiou G, Scarmeas N, Dardiotis E, Kosmidis MH. Exploring Verbal Fluency Strategies among Individuals with Normal Cognition, Amnestic and Non-Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Alzheimer's Disease. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2023; 59:1860. [PMID: 37893577 PMCID: PMC10608566 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59101860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The present study explored the utilization of verbal fluency (VF) cognitive strategies, including clustering, switching, intrusions, and perseverations, within both semantic (SVF) and phonemic (PVF) conditions, across a continuum of neurocognitive decline, spanning from normal cognitive ageing (NC) to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and its subtypes, amnestic (aMCI) and non-amnestic (naMCI), as well as AD. Materials and Methods: The study sample was derived from the Hellenic Longitudinal Investigation of Aging and Diet (HELIAD) cohort. The sample included 1607 NC individuals, 146 with aMCI (46 single-domain and 100 multi-domain), 92 with naMCI (41 single-domain and 51 multi-domain), and 79 with AD. Statistical analyses, adjusting for sex, age, and education, employed multivariate general linear models to probe differences among these groups. Results: Results showed that AD patients exhibited poorer performance in switching in both VF tasks and SVF clustering compared to NC. Similarly, the aMCI group performed worse than the NC in switching and clustering in both tasks, with aMCI performing similarly to AD, except for SVF switching. In contrast, the naMCI subgroup performed similarly to those with NC across most strategies, surpassing AD patients. Notably, the aMCI subgroup's poor performance in SVF switching was mainly due to the subpar performance of the multi-domain aMCI subgroup. This subgroup was outperformed in switching in both VF tasks by the single-domain naMCI, who also performed better than the multi-domain naMCI in SVF switching. No significant differences emerged in terms of perseverations and intrusions. Conclusions: Overall, these findings suggest a continuum of declining switching ability in the SVF task, with NC surpassing both aMCI and AD, and aMCI outperforming those with AD. The challenges in SVF switching suggest executive function impairment associated with multi-domain MCI, particularly driven by the multi-domain aMCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Styliani Bairami
- Lab of Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Campus, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Vasiliki Folia
- Lab of Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Campus, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Ioannis Liampas
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Larissa, School of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Mezourlo Hill, 41110 Larissa, Greece
| | - Eva Ntanasi
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, 70 El. Venizelou, 17671 Athens, Greece
- 1st Department of Neurology, Aiginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Vassilissis Sofias Ave 72, 11528 Athens, Greece
| | - Panayiotis Patrikelis
- Lab of Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Campus, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Vasileios Siokas
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Larissa, School of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Mezourlo Hill, 41110 Larissa, Greece
| | - Mary Yannakoulia
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, 70 El. Venizelou, 17671 Athens, Greece
| | - Paraskevi Sakka
- Athens Alzheimer’s Association, 89 M. Mousourou & 33 Stilponos St, 11636 Athens, Greece
| | - Georgios Hadjigeorgiou
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Larissa, School of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Mezourlo Hill, 41110 Larissa, Greece
- School of Medicine, University of Cyprus, 93 Agiou Nikolaou St, Engomi, Nicosia 2408, Cyprus
| | - Nikolaos Scarmeas
- 1st Department of Neurology, Aiginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Vassilissis Sofias Ave 72, 11528 Athens, Greece
- Taub Institute for Research in Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, The Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Department of Neurology, Columbia University, 710 West 168th St, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Efthimios Dardiotis
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Larissa, School of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Mezourlo Hill, 41110 Larissa, Greece
| | - Mary H. Kosmidis
- Lab of Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Campus, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
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Wright LM, De Marco M, Venneri A. Current Understanding of Verbal Fluency in Alzheimer's Disease: Evidence to Date. Psychol Res Behav Manag 2023; 16:1691-1705. [PMID: 37179686 PMCID: PMC10167999 DOI: 10.2147/prbm.s284645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Since their development, verbal fluency tests (VFTs) have been used extensively throughout research and in clinical settings to assess a variety of cognitive functions in diverse populations. In Alzheimer's disease (AD), these tasks have proven particularly valuable in identifying the earliest forms of cognitive decline in semantic processing and have been shown to relate specifically to brain regions associated with the initial stages of pathological change. In recent years, researchers have developed more nuanced techniques to evaluate verbal fluency performance, extracting a wide range of cognitive metrics from these simple neuropsychological tests. Such novel techniques allow for a more detailed exploration of the cognitive processes underlying successful task performance beyond the raw test score. The versatility of VFTs and the richness of data they may provide, in light of their low cost and speed of administration, therefore, highlight their potential value both in future research as outcome measures for clinical trials and in a clinical setting as a screening measure for early detection of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M Wright
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - Matteo De Marco
- Department of Life Sciences, Brunel University London, London, UK
| | - Annalena Venneri
- Department of Life Sciences, Brunel University London, London, UK
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
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Liampas I, Siokas V, Lyketsos CG, Dardiotis E. Associations between neuropsychiatric symptoms and incident Alzheimer's dementia in men versus women. J Neurol 2023; 270:2069-2083. [PMID: 36572715 PMCID: PMC10025238 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-022-11541-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine whether associations between individual neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) and incident Alzheimer's dementia (AD) differ in men versus women. METHODS Data were acquired from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC) Uniform Data Set. Two sets of older (≥ 60 years) participants were formed: one of cognitively unimpaired (CU) individuals, and one of participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). NPS were assessed using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire. Cox proportional hazards models examined associations between individual NPS and AD incidence separately for each participant set. These models featured individual NPS, sex, NPS by sex interactions as well as a number of covariates. RESULTS The analysis involved 9,854 CU individuals followed for 5.5 ± 3.8 years and 6,369 participants with MCI followed for 3.8 ± 3.0 years. NPS were comparably associated with future AD in men and women with MCI. Regarding CU participants, the following significant sex by NPS interactions were noted: female sex moderated the risk conferred by moderate/severe apathy (HR = 7.36, 3.25-16.64) by 74%, mitigated the risk conferred by moderate/severe depression (HR = 3.61, 2.08-6.28) by 52%, and augmented the risks conferred by mild depression (HR = 1.00, 0.60-1.68) and agitation (HR = 0.81, 0.40-1.64) by 83% and 243%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Apathy, depression and agitation were differentially associated with incident AD in CU men and women. No individual NPS was associated with different risks of future AD in men versus women with MCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Liampas
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, University Hospital of Larissa, University of Thessaly, Mezourlo Hill, 41100, Larissa, Greece.
| | - Vasileios Siokas
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, University Hospital of Larissa, University of Thessaly, Mezourlo Hill, 41100, Larissa, Greece
| | - Constantine G Lyketsos
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Efthimios Dardiotis
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, University Hospital of Larissa, University of Thessaly, Mezourlo Hill, 41100, Larissa, Greece
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
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