ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Neurocognitive deficits are among the most debilitating and pervasive symptoms of schizophrenia, and are present also in unaffected first-degree relatives. Also, multiple reports reveal parkisonian motor deficits in untreated subjects with schizophrenia and in first-degree relatives of affected subjects. Yet, the relation between motor and cognitive impairment and its value as a classifier of endophenotypes has not been studied. AIMS: To test the efficacy of midbrain hyperechogenicity (MHE) and parkinsonian motor impairment (PKM) as predictors of neurocognitive impairment in subjects with or at risk for schizophrenia, that could be used to segregate them from first-degree relatives and healthy controls. METHOD: Seventy-six subjects with chronic schizophrenia never exposed to antipsychotic medication, 106 unaffected first-degree relatives, and 62 healthy controls were blindly assessed for cognitive and motor function, and transcranial ultrasound. RESULTS: Executive function, fluid intelligence, motor planning, and hand coordination showed group differences. PKM and MHE were significantly higher in untreated schizophrenia and unaffected relatives. Unaffected relatives showed milder impairment, but were different from controls. CONCLUSIONS: PKM and MHE predict cognitive impairment in neuroleptic-naive patients with schizophrenia and their unaffected first-degree relatives and may be used to segregate them from first-degree relatives and healthy controls.
Subject(s)
Cognitive Dysfunction/physiopathology , Endophenotypes , Executive Function/physiology , Intelligence/physiology , Motor Skills/physiology , Parkinsonian Disorders/physiopathology , Schizophrenia/physiopathology , Adult , Cognitive Dysfunction/diagnostic imaging , Cognitive Dysfunction/etiology , Female , Humans , Male , Parents , Parkinsonian Disorders/diagnostic imaging , Population Groups , Prognosis , Schizophrenia/complications , Schizophrenia/diagnostic imaging , Siblings , UltrasonographySubject(s)
Dementia/diagnosis , Executive Function , Geriatric Assessment/methods , Neuropsychological Tests , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Patient Education as TopicABSTRACT
Verbal material used to assess the cognitive abilities of Spanish-speakers in the the United States is frequently of linguistically unacceptable quality. The use of these materials in research settings is thought to pose a serious threat to test validity and hence to the validity of claimed results or conclusions. The authors explain how and why incorrect language finds its way into cognitive tests used in research and other settings and suggest solutions to this serious problem.
