Automated neuropsychological assessment metrics (v4) military expanded battery: Normative data for special operations forces.

Objective: The Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics (ANAM) has long been used to assess cognition in military samples before deployment and following injury. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of various demographic factors on the ANAM4 Military Expanded (ANAM4 ME) performance of Special Operations Forces (SOF) and to provide regression-based normative data for clinicians working with SOF personnel. Method: The sample was a large active duty military sample of SOF and support personnel (n = 24,072) who were tested under a new baseline policy. Results: Performance differences based on demographic variables were generally small. In general, increasing age was associated with significantly worse performance, except on mathematical processing. Higher education level was associated with better performance on most subtests, as expected, but was associated with worse performance on spatial processing. Conclusion: This paper provides regression formulas for calculating adjusted scores based on the most relevant demographic variables, as well as base rates of obtaining one or more clearly above or below average scores across the entire ANAM4 ME battery.

Mental health, physical health, and health-related behaviors of U.S. Army Special Forces.

OBJECTIVES: To prospectively examine the health and health-related behaviors of Army Special Forces personnel in comparison with two distinct, but functionally similar Army groups. METHODS: Special Forces, Ranger Qualified, and General Purposes Forces enrolled in the Millennium Cohort Study were identified using data from the Defense Manpower Data Center. Using prospective survey data (2001-2014), we estimated the association of Army specialization with mental health, social support, physical health, and health-related behaviors with multivariable regression models. RESULTS: Among the 5,392 eligible participants (84.4% General Purposes Forces, 10.0% Special Forces, 5.6% Ranger Qualified), Special Forces personnel reported the lowest prevalence of mental disorders, physical health problems, and unhealthy behaviors. In the multivariable models, Special Forces personnel were less likely to report mental health problems, multiple somatic symptoms, and unhealthy behaviors compared with General Purpose Forces infantrymen (odds ratios [OR]: 0.20-0.54, p-values < .01). Overall, Special Forces personnel were similar in terms of mental and physical health compared with Ranger Qualified infantrymen, but were less likely to sleep < 5 hours/night (OR: 0.60, 95% confidence intervals: 0.40, 0.92) and have 5 or more multiple somatic symptoms (OR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.49, 0.98). Both Special Forces personnel and Ranger Qualified infantrymen engaged in more healthy behaviors compared with General Purpose Forces infantrymen (OR: 2.57-6.22, p-values<0.05). Engagement in more healthy behaviors reduced the odds of subsequent adverse health outcomes, regardless of specialization. CONCLUSIONS: Army Special Forces personnel were found to be mentally and physically healthier than General Purpose Forces infantrymen, which may in part be due to their tendency to engage in healthy behaviors. Findings indicate that engagement in a greater number of healthy behaviors may reduce odds for subsequent adverse outcomes.

Old dogs, new tricks: training the perceptual skills of senior tennis players.

The purpose of the study was to determine whether multidimensional perceptual-cognitive skills training, including situational awareness, anticipation, and decision making, improves on-court performance in older adults when compared with a physical training program, including stroke and footwork development. Senior tennis players (N = 27) were randomly assigned to one of three groups: perceptual-cognitive skills training, technique-footwork training, or no training. Results indicated that participants receiving perceptual-cognitive skills training had significantly faster response speeds, higher percentage of accurate responses, and higher percentage of performance decision making in posttest match situations. Findings provide clear evidence that perceptual-cognitive skills can be trained in aged individuals. Implications and suggestions for future research are offered.