Geographic variability in limited English proficiency: A cross-cultural study of cognitive profiles.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to evaluate the effect of limited English proficiency (LEP) on neurocognitive profiles. METHOD: Romanian (LEP-RO; n = 59) and Arabic (LEP-AR; n = 30) native speakers were compared to Canadian native speakers of English (NSE; n = 24) on a strategically selected battery of neuropsychological tests. RESULTS: As predicted, participants with LEP demonstrated significantly lower performance on tests with high verbal mediation relative to US norms and the NSE sample (large effects). In contrast, several tests with low verbal mediation were robust to LEP. However, clinically relevant deviations from this general pattern were observed. The level of English proficiency varied significantly within the LEP-RO and was associated with a predictable performance pattern on tests with high verbal mediation. CONCLUSIONS: The heterogeneity in cognitive profiles among individuals with LEP challenges the notion that LEP status is a unitary construct. The level of verbal mediation is an imperfect predictor of the performance of LEP examinees during neuropsychological testing. Several commonly used measures were identified that are robust to the deleterious effects of LEP. Administering tests in the examinee's native language may not be the optimal solution to contain the confounding effect of LEP in cognitive evaluations.

Immediate verbal recall and familial dementia risk: population-based study of over 4000 twins.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of familial risk for dementia on verbal learning by comparing cognitively healthy twins who had demented co-twins with cognitively healthy twins who had cognitively healthy co-twins. METHODS: 4367 twins aged ≥65 years including 1375 twin pairs (533 monozygotic (MZ), 823 dizygotic (DZ) and 19 unknown zygosity pairs) from a population-based Finnish Twin Cohort participated in a cross-sectional telephone assessment for dementia and in a single free recall trial of a 10-item word list. RESULTS: Cognitively healthy twins with demented co-twins (n=101 pairs) recalled less words than cognitively healthy twins with cognitively healthy co-twins (n=770 pairs) after adjusting for age, sex and education, B=- 0.44, 95% CI (-0.73 to -0.14), p=0.003. The effect size was similar in MZ (n=31) twins (3.88 vs 4.29 words, B=-0.41, 95% CI (-0.96 to 0.13)) and DZ (n=66) twins (3.70 vs 4.17 words, B=-0.47, 95% CI (-0.84 to -0.10)). The heritability estimate of immediate recall (IR) was 0.37, 95% CI (0.21 to 0.43). CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate that familial risk for dementia is reflected in the IR performance of cognitively healthy older persons. The finding of poorer IR performance in non-affected siblings compared with the general population, together with substantial heritability of IR, supports IR as a useful endophenotype for molecular genetic studies of dementia.

New Intrusion Analyses on the CVLT-3: Utility in Distinguishing the Memory Disorders of Alzheimer's versus Huntington's Disease.

OBJECTIVES: Research has shown that analyzing intrusion errors generated on verbal learning and memory measures is helpful for distinguishing between the memory disorders associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurological disorders, including Huntington's disease (HD). Moreover, preliminary evidence suggests that certain clinical populations may be prone to exhibit different types of intrusion errors. METHODS: We examined the prevalence of two new California Verbal Learning Test-3 (CVLT-3) intrusion subtypes - across-trial novel intrusions and across/within trial repeated intrusions - in individuals with AD or HD. We hypothesized that the encoding/storage impairment associated with medial-temporal involvement in AD would result in a greater number of novel intrusions on the delayed recall trials of the CVLT-3, whereas the executive dysfunction associated with subcortical-frontal involvement in HD would result in a greater number of repeated intrusions across trials. RESULTS: The AD group generated significantly more across-trial novel intrusions than across/within trial repeated intrusions on the delayed cued-recall trials, whereas the HD group showed the opposite pattern on the delayed free-recall trials. CONCLUSIONS: These new intrusion subtypes, combined with traditional memory analyses (e.g., recall versus recognition performance), promise to enhance our ability to distinguish between the memory disorders associated with primarily medial-temporal versus subcortical-frontal involvement.

Prevalence and correlates of dementia and mild cognitive impairment classified with different versions of the modified Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS-m).

OBJECTIVES: The modified Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS-m) is an efficient and cost-effective screening instrument of dementia, but there is less support for its utility in the detection of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). We undertook a comprehensive evaluation of the utility of different TICS-m versions with or without an education-adjusted scoring method to classify dementia and MCI in a large population-based sample. METHODS: Cross-sectional assessment of cognition (TICS-m), depressive symptoms (CES-D), and apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 status was performed on 1772 older adults (aged 71-78 y, education 5-16 y, 50% female) from the population-based older Finnish Twin Cohort. TICS-m classification methods with and without education adjustment were used to classify individuals with normal cognition, MCI, or dementia. RESULTS: The prevalence of dementia and MCI varied between education-adjusted (dementia = 3.7%, MCI = 9.3%) and unadjusted classifications (dementia = 8.5%-11%, MCI = 22.3%-41.3%). APOE ε4 status was associated with dementia irrespective of education adjustment, but with MCI only when education adjustment was used. Regardless of the version, poorer continuous TICS-m scores were associated with higher age, lower education, more depressive symptoms, male sex, and being an APOE ε4 carrier. CONCLUSIONS: We showed that demographic factors, APOE ε4 status, and depressive symptoms were similarly related to continuous TICS-m scores and dementia classifications with different versions. However, education-adjusted classification resulted in a lower prevalence of dementia and MCI and in a higher proportion of APOE ε4 allele carriers among those identified as having MCI. Our results support the use of education-adjusted classification especially in the context of MCI.

New Yes/No Recognition Memory Analysis on the California Verbal Learning Test-3: Clinical Utility in Alzheimer's and Huntington's Disease.

OBJECTIVES: The third edition of the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT-3) includes a new index termed List A versus Novel/Unrelated recognition discriminability (RD) on the Yes/No Recognition trial. Whereas the Total RD index incorporates false positive (FP) errors associated with all distractors (including List B and semantically related items), the new List A versus Novel/Unrelated RD index incorporates only FP errors associated with novel, semantically unrelated distractors. Thus, in minimizing levels of source and semantic interference, the List A versus Novel/Unrelated RD index may yield purer assessments of yes/no recognition memory independent of vulnerability to source memory difficulties or semantic confusion, both of which are often seen in individuals with primarily frontal-system dysfunction (e.g., early Huntington's disease [HD]). METHODS: We compared the performance of individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and HD in mild and moderate stages of dementia on CVLT-3 indices of Total RD and List A versus Novel/Unrelated RD. RESULTS: Although AD and HD subgroups exhibited deficits on both RD indices relative to healthy comparison groups, those with HD generally outperformed those with AD, and group differences were more robust on List A versus Novel/Unrelated RD than on Total RD. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the clinical utility of the new CVLT-3 List A versus Novel/Unrelated RD index, which (a) maximally assesses yes/no recognition memory independent of source and semantic interference; and (b) provides a greater differentiation between individuals whose memory disorder is primarily at the encoding/storage level (e.g., as in AD) versus at the retrieval level (e.g., as in early HD). (JINS, 2018, 24, 833-841).

Evaluating Mild Cognitive Impairment in Essential Tremor: How Many and Which Neuropsychological Tests?

OBJECTIVES: Essential tremor (ET) confers an increased risk for developing both amnestic and non-amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Yet, the optimal measures for detecting mild cognitive changes in individuals with this movement disorder have not been established. We sought to identify the cognitive domains and specific motor-free neuropsychological tests that are most sensitive to mild deficits in cognition as defined by a Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) of 0.5, which is generally associated with a clinical diagnosis of MCI. METHODS: A total of 196 ET subjects enrolled in a prospective, longitudinal, clinical-pathological study underwent an extensive motor-free neuropsychological test battery and were assigned a CDR score. Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the neuropsychological tests which best identified individuals with CDR of 0.5 (mild deficits in cognition) versus 0 (normal cognition). RESULTS: In regression models, we identified five tests in the domains of Memory and Executive Function which best discriminated subjects with CDR of 0.5 versus 0 (86.9% model classification accuracy). These tests were the California Verbal Learning Test II Total Recall, Logical Memory II, Verbal-Paired Associates I, Category Switching Fluency, and Color-Word Inhibition. CONCLUSIONS: Mild cognitive difficulty among ET subjects is best predicted by combined performance on five measures of memory and executive function. These results inform the nature of cognitive dysfunction in ET and the creation of a brief cognitive battery to assess patients with ET for cognitively driven dysfunction in life that could indicate the presence of MCI. (JINS, 2018, 24, 1084-1098).

WHO-UCLA auditory verbal learning test: Normative data for Spanish-speaking adults in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Hispanics are a significant demographic in the U.S., with diverse cultures and languages. Assessing cognition in this group is complex as cultural and linguistic factors have been found to affect test performance. OBJECTIVE: To generate normative data on the World Health Organization-University of California Los Angeles Auditory Verbal Learning Test (WHO-UCLA AVLT) in a sample of Spanish-speaking Hispanics residing in the U.S. METHODS: The sample included 245 Spanish-speaking individuals aged 18-80 across the U.S. (California, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, New Jersey, Oregon, Virginia, and Wisconsin). Participants were administered the WHO-UCLA AVLT as part of a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. A Bayesian regression approach was used to estimate normative data, including covariates found to be important for predicting performances on measures of learning and memory. RESULTS: Bayesian models showed a logarithmic link between education and all WHO-UCLA AVLT trials, except recognition. For delayed recall, increased Spanish proficiency benefited women's performance exclusively. Time in the U.S. was a significant predictor for total recall, indicating worse performance with longer residency. CONCLUSION: Recognizing cultural factors like language proficiency and duration of U.S. residence is essential for accurately evaluating cognitive function among Spanish-speaking Hispanics. This research emphasizes the importance of accounting for cultural nuances in developing norms for neuropsychological assessments, thereby improving their relevance and effectiveness in diverse communities.

Electroacupuncture inhibits hippocampal oxidative stress and autophagy in sleep-deprived rats through the protein kinase B and mechanistic target of rapamycin signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of acupuncture on learning and memory impairment, oxidative stress and autophagy induced by sleep depriv ation in rats, and to analyze the related mechanism. METHODS: Thirty Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal group, sleep deprivation group and acupuncture group. The rat model of sleep deprivation was established by a modified multiplatform sleep deprivation method. The Baihui (GV20), Shenmen (HT7) and Sanyinjiao (SP6) acupoints of rats were located to give electroacupuncture (density wave, frequency 20 Hz, intensity 1 mA) to maintain the needle feeling, and to keep the needle for 15 min and continuous acupuncture for 7 d. The spatial learning and memory abilities of the rats were detected by the water maze test. The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) in the brain were detected by an assay kit, and the autophagy related proteins light chain 3 alpha (LC3A), light chain 3 beta (LC3B) and Beclin 1 and the activation of the protein kinase B (PKB/AKT) and mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway in the rat's brain were detected by Western blotting. RESULTS: Compared with the normal group, the time spent in the target quadrant (P < 0.05) and the number of times entering the target quadrant (P < 0.05) in the rats of sleep deprivation group were significantly reduced, and the content of MDA was significantly increased (P < 0.01), while the activities of SOD and GPX (P < 0.01) in the brain were significantly decreased, and LC3A Ⅱ/Ⅰ, LC3B Ⅱ/Ⅰ and Beclin 1 increased significantly (P < 0.01), while p-AKT (ser473)/AKT, p-mTOR (ser2448)/mTOR and p-p70s6K (thr389)/p70S6 decreased significantly (P < 0.01). Compared with the sleep deprivation group, the time spent in the target quadrant and the times of entering the target quadrant (P < 0.05) in the rats of acupuncture group after 7 d of treatment were significantly increased, Additionally, the content of MDA was significantly decreased (P < 0.05), while the activities of SOD and GPX (P < 0.05) in the brain were significantly increased. Moreover, the levels of LC3A Ⅱ/Ⅰ, LC3BⅡ/Ⅰ and Beclin 1 decreased significantly (P < 0.05), and that of p-AKT (ser473)/AKT, p-mTOR (ser2448)/mTOR and p-p70s6K (thr389)/p70s6k increased significantly (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture can significantly improve the learning and memory damage caused by sleep deprivation and inhibit oxidative stress and autophagy, and its effect is related to the activation of AKT/mTOR signaling.

Assessment of verbal memory in Parkinson's disease utilizing a virtual reality-based Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test.

The Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) is a commonly used tool for evaluating verbal learning and memory in neuropsychological assessments. In recent years, we developed a Virtual Reality (VR) adaptation of the RAVLT (VR-RVLT), aiming for increased ecological validity compared to the traditional pen and paper gold standard (GS-RAVLT). Following validation in healthy cohorts, the VR-RAVLT was validated with thirty individuals with Parkinson's Disease (PD) that completed both the GS-RAVLT and the VR- RAVLT. Validity of the VR-RAVLT was evaluated by assessing its construct and discriminant validity, and test-retest reliability, in comparison to the GS-RAVLT. Results of the PD participants were compared to those of 46 previously recruited healthy participants with comparable age and level of education. Main outcome measures derived from the remembered items on the test lists, exhibited significant and comparable correlations between VR-RAVLT and GS-RAVLT, both among healthy participants and PD participants. Likewise, serial position effects were similar for both formats amog the PD participants. Additionally, both formats showed similar discriminatory ability between healthy controls and PD participants, as well as comparable test-retest reliability measures. Taken together, the results suggest that the VR-based RAVLT is equally effective in measuring verbal memory capabilities in individuals with PD as compared to the GS-RAVLT. Certain results indicate that the virtual reality version has the capability to encompass additional factors that might impact memory performance, thereby suggesting an enhanced ecological validity.

[Cognition in medical residents with and without anxiety in a specialist training hospital]. / Cognición en médicos residentes con y sin ansiedad en un hospital formador de especialistas.

Background: The resident doctor plays an important role in people's health care. Objective: To compare the cognition of medical residents with/without anxiety in a specialist training hospital. Material and methods: Comparative, prospective, cross-sectional study. Medical residents of any grade and specialty were included, who signed informed consent. Those with a diagnosis of cognitive impairment were excluded, and who did not complete the tests were eliminated. AMAS-A test was applied to assess anxiety and NEUROPSI: Attention and memory test for cognitive characteristics. Mann-Whitney's U and Spearman's rho were used, p≤0.05 was considered significant. Results: 155 residents were evaluated, 55.5% men, mean age 32.4 years. Internal Medicine was the predominant specialty (25.2%). AMAS-A identified 94.19% residents with anxiety. NEUROPSI reported Attention and memory domain (38.7%) in normal classification, Memory (34.2%) in high normal, and Attention and executive functions (32.3%) in severe alteration as predominant assessments. Only Memory showed a significant difference between residents with and without anxiety (p=0.015). Attention and executive functions-Physiological anxiety (r=-0.21, p=0.009) and Attention and memory-Social concern (r=-0.268, p=0.001) correlations were significant. Conclusions: The percentage of anxiety and cognitive alterations in residents physicians is high. Anxiety decisively affects memory capacity in these medical doctors.

Introducción: el médico residente desempeña un papel importante en la atención a la salud de los pacientes. Objetivo: comparar la cognición de médicos residentes con y sin ansiedad en un hospital formador de especialistas. Material y métodos: estudio comparativo, prospectivo, transversal, en médicos residentes de cualquier grado y especialidad, que firmaron consentimiento informado. Se excluyeron aquellos con diagnóstico de alteración cognitiva y se eliminaron los que no completaron las pruebas realizadas. Se aplicaron AMAS-A para evaluar ansiedad y NEUROPSI: Atención y memoria para características cognitivas. Se utilizaron U de Mann-Whitney, y rho de Spearman. Se consideró significativa una p ≤ 0.05. Resultados: se evaluaron 155 residentes, 55.5% hombres, edad media 32.4 años. Medicina Interna fue la especialidad predominante (25.2%). Se identificó ansiedad en el 94.19% de los residentes. Predominaron los dominios Atención y memoria en clasificación normal (38.7%), Memoria en normal-alto (34.2%) y Atención y funciones ejecutivas en alteración severa (32.3%). Memoria mostró diferencia significativa entre residentes con y sin ansiedad (p = 0.015). Las correlaciones de Atención y funciones ejecutivas-Ansiedad fisiológica (r = -0.21, p = 0.009) y Atención y memoria-Preocupación social (r = -0.268, p = 0.001) resultaron significativas. Conclusiones: el porcentaje de ansiedad y alteraciones cognitivas en residentes es alto. La ansiedad afecta decisivamente la capacidad de memoria en estos médicos.

Process models of verbal memory in cancer survivors: Bayesian process modeling approach to variation in test scores.

INTRODUCTION: Verbal memory is a complex and fundamental aspect of human cognition. However, traditional sum-score analyses of verbal learning tests oversimplify underlying verbal memory processes. We propose using process models to subdivide memory into multiple processes, which helps in localizing the most affected processes in impaired verbal memory. Additionally, the model can be used to address score and process variability. This study aims to investigate the effects of cancer and its treatment on verbal memory, as well as provide a demonstration of how process models can be used to investigate the uncertainty in neuropsychological test scores. METHOD: We present an investigation of memory process scores in non-CNS cancer survivors (n = 184) and no-cancer controls (n = 204). The participants completed the Amsterdam Cognition Scan (ACS), in which classical neuropsychological tests are digitally recreated for online at-home administration. We analyzed data from the ACS equivalent of a Verbal Learning Test using both traditional sum scores and a Bayesian process model. RESULTS: Analysis of the sum score indicated that patients scored lower than controls on immediate recall but found no difference for delayed recall. The process model analysis indicated a small difference between patients and controls in immediate retrieval from both the partially learned and learned states, with no differences in learning or delayed retrieval processes. Individual-level analysis shows considerable uncertainty for sum scores. Sum scores were more certain than single trials. Retrieval parameters also showed less uncertainty than learning parameters. CONCLUSION: The Bayesian process model increased the informativity of Verbal Learning test data, by showing uncertainty of the traditional sum score measurements as well as how the underlying processes differed between populations. Additionally, the model grants insight into underlying memory processes for individuals and how these processes vary within and between them.

Enhancement of motor skill acquisition by intermittent theta burst stimulation: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to analyze the effects of intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) on motor skill acquisition of healthy subjects when applied on alternate days to ensure high adherence to treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten healthy participants (40-54 years) were included in the study. The control group (CG) (60% female) only received motor training (i.e., finger tapping task-FTTa), whereas the experimental group (EG) (100% female) received iTBS in addition to the motor training (every other day for 5 sessions). Cortical excitability measurements were taken with TMS. The correct sequences of the finger tapping test (FTTe) were recorded for behavioral analysis. RESULTS: While SICI was increased by 0.03 in EG, ICF was increased by 0.18 between pre-and post-treatment. On the other hand, CG had a lower ICF difference (MD: 0.05) and a higher SICI difference (MD: 0.21). There was no difference between EG and CG in FTTe at the end of the intervention (p > 0.05 for all variables), except for the increased number of correct sequences within the EG (p = 0.018). There was a significant difference in FTTa between EG and CG, in favor of EG (p = 0.042). The effect size was 0.62. CONCLUSION: Although no difference was found in terms of cortical excitability and FTTe between the EG and CG at the end of the alternate-day treatment, it seemed like iTBS increased cortical facilitation further than CG. Furthermore, the number of correct sequences in FTTe and FTTa was significantly increased in EG, showing that intermittent iTBS might improve motor learning and performance.

Utility of a Spanish version of Three Words-Three Shapes Test to detect memory impairment in primary progressive aphasia.

INTRODUCTION: Three Words-Three Shapes (3W3S) is a bedside test that assesses verbal and non-verbal memory and has proven useful in staging memory decline in amnestic disorders and primary progressive aphasia. Given its simple structure, the 3W3S can be easily adapted to other languages maintaining the original shapes and only modifying the words. We aim to validate a Spanish version of the 3W3S test and establish whether memory loss patterns present in amnesic disorders associated with Alzheimer's etiology and PPA were correctly characterized. METHOD: The translation and adaptation of the 3W3S were performed according to standardized guidelines and applied to a cohort of patients with Dementia of Alzheimer's type (DAT = 20), mild cognitive impairment (aMCI= 20), primary progressive aphasia (PPA = 20), and healthy controls (HC = 20). RESULTS: In verbal memory performance, PPA patients' score was lower than that of MCI and HC and similar to DAT's in the effortless encoding (p < 0.001), delayed recall (p < 0.001), and recognition (p < 0.012). For non-verbal performance, PPA patients performed better than DAT and similar to HC and MCI subjects (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Results show good applicability of 3W3S to determine memory function in PPA patients, independently from language ability. Visual and verbal components of memory are dissociated in PPA.

The Roles of Long-Term Hyperhomocysteinemia and Micronutrient Supplementation in the AppNL-G-F Model of Alzheimer's Disease.

A causal contribution of hyperhomocysteinemia to cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease (AD), as well as potential prevention or mitigation of the pathology by dietary intervention, have frequently been subjects of controversy. In the present in vivo study, we attempted to further elucidate the impact of elevated homocysteine (HCys) and homocysteic acid (HCA) levels, induced by dietary B-vitamin deficiency, and micronutrient supplementation on AD-like pathology, which was simulated using the amyloid-based AppNL-G-F knock-in mouse model. For this purpose, cognitive assessment was complemented by analyses of ex vivo parameters in whole blood, serum, CSF, and brain tissues from the mice. Furthermore, neurotoxicity of HCys and HCA was assessed in a separate in vitro assay. In confirmation of our previous study, older AppNL-G-F mice also exhibited subtle phenotypic impairment and extensive cerebral amyloidosis, whereas dietary manipulations did not result in significant effects. As revealed by proximity extension assay-based proteome analysis, the AppNL-G-F genotype led to an upregulation of AD-characteristic neuronal markers. Hyperhomocysteinemia, in contrast, indicated mainly vascular effects. Overall, since there was an absence of a distinct phenotype despite both a significant amyloid-ß burden and serum HCys elevation, the results in this study did not corroborate the pathological role of amyloid-ß according to the "amyloid hypothesis," nor of hyperhomocysteinemia on cognitive performance. Nevertheless, this study aided in further characterizing the AppNL-G-F model and in elucidating the role of HCys in diverse biological processes. The idea of AD prevention with the investigated micronutrients, however, was not supported, at least in this mouse model of the disease.

Development and validation of virtual reality-based Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test.

Objective: Translations and adaptations of traditional neuropsychological tests to virtual reality (VR) technology bear the potential to increase their ecological validity since the technology enables simulating everyday life conditions in a controlled manner. The current paper describes our translation of a commonly used neuropsychological test to VR, the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT). For this aim, we developed a VR adaptation of the RAVLT (VR-RAVLT) Which is based on a conversation with a secretary in a virtual office using a fully immersive VR system. To validate the VR-RAVLT, we tested its construct validity, its age-related discriminant validity and its test-retest validity in reference to the original gold standard RAVLT (GS-RAVLT). Method: Seventy-eight participants from different age groups performed the GS-RAVLT and the VR-RAVLT tests in a counterbalanced order in addition to other neuropsychological tests. Construct validity was validated using Pearson's correlations coefficients and serial position effects; discriminant validity was validated using receiver operating characteristic area under the curve values and test-retest reliability was validated using intraclass correlation coefficients. Results: Comparing both RAVLTs' format results indicates that the VR-RAVLT has comparable construct, discriminant and test-retest validities. Conclusion: the novel VR-RAVLT and the GS-RAVLT share similar psychometric properties suggesting that the two tests measure the same cognitive construct. This is an indication of the feasibility of adapting the RAVLT to the VR environment. Future developments will employ this approach for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Preliminary Validation of the Triana Test: A New Story Recall Test Based on Emotional Material.

OBJECTIVE: To first validate the diagnostic accuracy of the "Triana Test," a new story recall test based on emotional material. METHOD: A phase I study of validation. We included 55 patients with amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment and 69 healthy controls, diagnosed according to the "Memory Associative Test of the district of Seine-Saint-Denis" (TMA-93), and matched by age, gender, and educational level. The Triana Test's diagnostic accuracy was calculated by ROC curve analysis and Spearman correlations estimated its convergent validity with a hippocampal memory test, the Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test with Immediate Recall (FCSRT+IR). RESULTS: The "Triana Test" immediate and delayed recalls showed adequate diagnostic accuracy (AUC ≥ 0,74). The delayed free recall showed the highest diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 0.86). Correlations with the FCSRT+IR were moderate to strong. CONCLUSIONS: The "Triana Test" demonstrated accuracy for discriminating amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment patients from healthy controls and convergent validity with the FCSRT+IR.

Worse associative memory recall in healthy older adults compared to young ones, a face-name study in Spain and Mexico.

INTRODUCTION: The Face Name Associative Memory Exam (FNAME) is sensitive to associative memory changes early in the Alzheimer's disease spectrum, but little is known about how healthy aging affects FNAME performance. We aimed to assess aging effects on an extended version of the test, which captures further associative memory abilities beyond the recall and recognition domains measured in the original version. METHOD: We adapted FNAME versions in Spain and Mexico, adding new subtests (Spontaneous Name Recall, Face-Name Matching). We compared the performance of 21 young adults (YA) and 27 older adults (OA) in Spain, and 34 YA and 36 OA in Mexico. Recall was analyzed using a mixed-model ANOVA including subtest scores as dependent variables, age group as a fixed-factor independent variable, and recall subtest as a three-level repeated-measure independent variable. The rest of the associative memory domains were analyzed through t-tests comparing the performance of YA and OA. RESULTS: In Spain, we found significant effects for age group and recall subtest, with large effect sizes. The recognition subtests (Face Recognition, Name Recognition) displayed ceiling effects in both groups. The new subtests displayed medium-to-large effect sizes when comparing age groups. In Mexico, these results were replicated, additionally controlling for education. In both studies, recall performance improved after repeated exposures and it was sustained after 30 minutes in YA and OA. CONCLUSIONS: We document, in two different countries, a clear aging pattern on the extended FNAME: regardless of education, OA remember fewer stimuli than YA through recall subtests. The new subtests provide evidence on associative memory changes in aging beyond recall.

A systematic review of cognitive assessment in physical activity research involving children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVES: To summarise the reporting, administrative requirements and psychometric properties of cognitive measures used in experimental physical activity research conducted with school-aged youth. DESIGN: Systematic review. METHODS: Five databases (CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, Medline, Embase, and Psychinfo) were searched from inception to October, 2018. Studies meeting the following criteria were eligible for inclusion: experimental study design; apparently healthy youth aged 5-18 years; use of physical activity; and use of a performance-based cognitive test. Reporting, administration requirements, reliability, and validity of the included cognitive measures was extracted. RESULTS: Included studies (n=109) used 60 unique cognitive tests. Across the 109 included studies, a total of 181 tests were reported on. Test format (e.g. pen and paper, computer) was specified for 166 (91.7%); administration type (individual or group) for 108 (59.7%); and administration time for 49 (27.1%) of the tests. Of the 181 tests reported on, 72 (39.8%) provided information on either test-retest reliability or internal consistency, and 82 (45.3%) provided at least one form of test validation. CONCLUSIONS: A lack of reporting of test administration time, as well as information on the reliability and validity of included cognitive tasks are notable limitations of studies included in this review. Agreement on a smaller number of tests should be sought to improve the interpretability of future research. The summary provided by this systematic review can be used to inform the selection of performance-based cognitive measures in future physical activity research.

Impact of Hyperhomocysteinemia and Different Dietary Interventions on Cognitive Performance in a Knock-in Mouse Model for Alzheimer's Disease.

BACKGROUND: Hyperhomocysteinemia is considered a possible contributor to the complex pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). For years, researchers in this field have discussed the apparent detrimental effects of the endogenous amino acid homocysteine in the brain. In this study, the roles of hyperhomocysteinemia driven by vitamin B deficiency, as well as potentially beneficial dietary interventions, were investigated in the novel AppNL-G-F knock-in mouse model for AD, simulating an early stage of the disease. METHODS: Urine and serum samples were analyzed using a validated LC-MS/MS method and the impact of different experimental diets on cognitive performance was studied in a comprehensive behavioral test battery. Finally, we analyzed brain samples immunohistochemically in order to assess amyloid-ß (Aß) plaque deposition. RESULTS: Behavioral testing data indicated subtle cognitive deficits in AppNL-G-F compared to C57BL/6J wild type mice. Elevation of homocysteine and homocysteic acid, as well as counteracting dietary interventions, mostly did not result in significant effects on learning and memory performance, nor in a modified Aß plaque deposition in 35-week-old AppNL-G-F mice. CONCLUSION: Despite prominent Aß plaque deposition, the AppNL-G-F model merely displays a very mild AD-like phenotype at the investigated age. Older AppNL-G-F mice should be tested in order to further investigate potential effects of hyperhomocysteinemia and dietary interventions.

Differential Effects of Pentoxifylline on Learning and Memory Impairment Induced by Hypoxic-ischemic Brain Injury in Rats.

OBJECTIVE: Hypoxic-ischemic (HI) brain injury in the human perinatal period often leads to significant long-term neurobehavioral dysfunction in the cognitive and sensory-motor domains. Using a neonatal HI injury model (unilateral carotid ligation followed by hypoxia) in postnatal day seven rats, the present study investigated the long-term effects of HI and potential behavioral protective effect of pentoxifylline. METHODS: Seven-day-old rats underwent right carotid ligation, followed by hypoxia (FiO2 = 0.08). Rats received pentoxifylline immediately after and again 2 hours after hypoxia (two doses, 60‒100 mg/kg/dose), or serum physiologic. Another set of seven-day-old rats was included to sham group exposed to surgical stress but not ligated. These rats were tested for spatial learning and memory on the simple place task in the Morris water maze from postnatal days 77 to 85. RESULTS: HI rats displayed significant tissue loss in the right hippocampus, as well as severe spatial memory deficits. Low-dose treatment with pentoxifylline resulted in significant protection against both HI-induced hippocampus tissue losses and spatial memory impairments. Beneficial effects are, however, negated if pentoxifylline is administered at high dose. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that unilateral HI brain injury in a neonatal rodent model is associated with cognitive deficits, and that low dose pentoxifylline treatment is protective against spatial memory impairment.