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Objective: The relevance of the episodic memory in the prediction of brain aging is well known. The Face Name Associative Memory Exam (FNAME) is a valued associative memory measure related to Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers, such as amyloid-β deposition preclinical AD individuals. Previous validation of the Spanish version of the FNAME test (S-FNAME) provided normative data and psychometric characteristics. The study was limited to subjects attending a memory clinic and included a reduced sample with gender inequality distribution. The purpose of this study was to assess S-FNAME psychometric properties and provide normative data in a larger independent sample of cognitively healthy individuals. Method: S-FNAME was administered to 511 cognitively healthy volunteers (242 women, aged 41–65 years) participating in the Barcelona Brain Health Initiative cohort study. Results: Factor analysis supported construct validity revealing two underlying components: face-name and face-occupation and explaining 95.34% of the total variance, with satisfactory goodness of fit. Correlations between S-FNAME and Rey Auditory-Verbal Learning Test were statistically significant and confirmed its convergent validity. We also found weak correlations with non-memory tests supporting divergent validity. Women showed better scores, and S-FNAME was positively correlated with education and negatively with age. Finally, we generated normative data. Conclusions: The S-FNAME test exhibits good psychometric properties, consistent with previous findings, resulting in a valid and reliable tool to assess episodic memory in cognitively healthy middle-aged adults. It is a promising test for the early detection of subtle memory dysfunction associated with abnormal brain aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the relationship between mechanisms involved in language control within dual- and single-language contexts by examining whether they are similarly impaired in bilingual PD patients. To do so, we explored the performance of bilingual individuals affected by PD and healthy controls on two linguistic tasks: between-language and within-language switching tasks. We focused on switch and mixing costs as measures of linguistic control. The results indicate that, whereas larger switch costs were observed in PD patients, compared to controls, solely during the between-language task, larger mixing costs appeared during both the between-language task and the within-language task. These results are discussed within the framework of the dual mechanism hypothesis, which suggests that switch and mixing costs are measures of two types of control: specifically reactive and proactive control. Therefore, we conclude that reactive control for switching between languages is domain-specific while proactive control mechanisms are more domain-general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cognitive dispersion index (CDI), a measure of intraindividual variability across neuropsychological tests, is considered a sensitive marker of prodromic stages of Alzheimer's Disease (Halliday et al. J. Intell 2018;6(1):12). CDI has been negatively associated with cognitive reserve (CR), another factor that influences the risk of dementia (Stern et al. Alzh&Dement 2020;16(9):1305‐1311). Nevertheless, how these two elements interact with each other and are linked with cognition and brain state (e.g., functional connectivity), remains unclear. Our aim was to investigate whether CDI has a differential influence on cognitive performance (CP) and on resting‐state functional connectivity (rsFC) as a function of CR level, in a healthy middle‐aged sample. Method: Five hundred forty‐four healthy volunteers (aged 53.11±7.10 years; 269 female) from the Barcelona Brain Health Initiative cohort (BBHI, https://bbhi.cat/en), were stratified by CR (median = 14) into High CR (HCR, N = 230) and Low CR (LCR, N = 314) using the cognitive reserve questionnaire (CRQ; Rami et al. Rev Neurol 2011;52(4):195‐201). CDI was extracted by intraindividual standard deviation method (Costa et al. Clinic Neuropsychol 2019;33(2):369‐389) and CP was calculated as a global cognition composite score including episodic memory, speed of processing and executive function tests. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was acquired, and measures of rsFC within networks were computed through Shirer atlas (Shirer et al. Cerebral Cortex 2012;22(1):158‐165). Statistical analyses were based on univariate ANCOVA GLMs, and partial correlations adjusted by age and gender. Result: Though no significant group interaction was found, a negative correlation between CDI and CP was identified for the HCR group (r = ‐0.170,p = 0.010; Fig.1A). On fMRI there was a significant group difference (HCR vs. LCR) in the association between CDI and rsFC in anterior salience network (aSN: F = 5.005,p = 0.026), where only HCR participants showed a significant negative association between CDI and aSN rsFC values (r = ‐0.187,p = 0.010; Fig.1B&C). Conclusion: Our findings suggested that CDI has a clearly measurable effect on HCR participants, both in terms of its effect on CP and on rsFC. These results highlight the value of considering CDI measurements when performing neuropsychological assessments in middle‐aged individuals, particularly in those with high CR estimates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Repetitive Negative Thinking (RNT) includes negative thoughts about the future (worry) and past (rumination), and has been associated with AD physiopathology (Marchant et al. Alzh&Dement 2020;16:1054). Prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortices play a major role in RNT (Demnitz‐King et al., Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging. 2021;316:111353). Nonetheless, RNT involves several brain regions within large‐scale networks (Makovac et al., Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging. 2020;295:111020), the efficiency of which depends on their ability to remain segregated (Tononi et al., PNAS, 1994;91:11). We investigated associations between RNT and system segregation (SyS) of the Anterior Salience Network (ASN), Default Mode Network (DMN) and Executive Control Network (ECN) in middle‐aged adults. Method: 248 healthy controls (mean age: 59.17 (SD 4.79), 50.61% women) from the Barcelona Brain Health Initiative (Cattaneo et al. Front Aging Neurosci. 2018;10:321) underwent resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging to compute SyS using a node‐based approach with the Shirer atlas (Shirer et al., Cereb Cortex. 2012;22:1). RNT was estimated from questionnaires as previously (Schlosser et al., BMC Psychiatry, 2020;20:1), and a global RNT score was computed. Regression analyses investigated associations between RNT and SyS of ASN, DMN and ECN, including age, depression and stress ratings, emotional stability and cognitive complaints. Result: RNT was positively predicted by cognitive complaints (t = 3.18, p = 0.002) and depression (t = 6.55, p<0.0001), and negatively by emotional stability (t = ‐4.77, p<0.0001). Likewise, RNT was negatively associated with SyS_ASN (t = ‐2.57, p = 0.011; Fig1). Post‐hoc analyses revealed increased connectivity between ASN and ventral DMN (vDMN, t = 2.57, p = 0.01) and the reverse for ASN‐dorsal DMN (dDMN, t = ‐2.03, p = 0.04; Fig2). Conclusion: Higher levels of RNT amongst middle‐aged subjects were related to less segregation of the ASN. Results are of importance considering that declining brain segregation predicts dementia severity (Chan et al. Nat Aging 2021;1:1053). Specifically, the ASN presented higher coupling with the vDMN (medial temporal lobe and precuneus), linked to self‐processing and autobiographical processes (Bayley et al., J Neurosci. 2006;26:51), and lower coupling with the dDMN (medial prefrontal regions) associated with cognitive control (Piguet et al., Biol Psychol. 2014;103:195). This dissociative connectivity may partially explain poorer cognitive control and increased self‐referential processes characteristic of RNT (Piguet et al., Biol Psychol. 2014;103:195). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aging has been associated with changes in the mechanisms of brain plasticity, specifically with the reduction of motor cortex excitability and decreased effectiveness of mechanisms of cortical inhibition (Pascual‐Leone et al., 2011; Lissemore et al., 2018). Emerging evidence suggests that regular practice of physical activity, which can increase cardiorespiratory fitness (Sobol et al., 2016), may prevent age‐related decline in the mechanisms of brain plasticity (Gomes‐Osman et al., 2017). We therefore hypothesized that those who engage in more physical activity would have greater corticospinal excitability and more efficient cortical inhibition. Methods: Seventy‐eight healthy adults (39 women), between 41 and 65 years old were included in the study. The amount of physical activity was assessed using a self‐reported 5‐point Likert scale where 1 equalled sedentary and 5 equalled engagement in aerobic physical activity >3 hours/week. The peak respiratory oxygen uptake (VO2 peak), aerobic threshold (VT1) and anaerobic threshold (VT2) were measured by cardiopulmonary exercise test with ventilatory gas analyses. Transcranial magnetic stimulation was used to assess resting motor threshold, motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitude and long‐interval intracortical inhibition (LICI), a measure of cortical inhibition. Results: Spearman's rank correlation revealed that greater engagement in regular physical activity was associated with higher VO2 peak (ρ=.470, p =.001), VT1 (ρ=.371, p =.001) and VT2 (ρ=.414, p =.001), and higher amplitude of resting MEP (ρ=.287, p =.018). Mann‐Whitney U tests revealed higher MEP amplitude (p =.003) and more efficient LICI (p =.018) in the group who exercised >3 hours/week compared to the sedentary group. Conclusions: Regular physical activity in middle‐aged adults is related with better cardiorespiratory fitness, greater corticospinal excitability and more efficient cortical inhibitory mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Thanks to technological advances the administration of cognitive assessments via computers, tablets or smartphones continues to increase, both in research and clinical practice. Several systems are commercially available and have been validated. However, there are limited tools that provide a baseline assessment and guide a personalized training program with the seamless integration of follow‐up evaluations. The "Guttmann Cognitest"® app has been specifically designed as a smartphone or tablet app to be eventually integrated as an assessment module of the "Guttmann, NeuroPersonalTrainer"® (Solana et al., 2014), a tele‐cognitive rehabilitation platform. Method: In the context of the Barcelona Brain Health Initiative (BBHI, Cattaneo et al., 2018) 57 healthy subjects (28 women, mean age= 56.1±7, age range 42‐65, years of education= 16.1±3.6) underwent an extensive paper‐and‐pencil classical neuropsychological assessment and a cognitive assessment via the mobile app. The two cognitive assessments were completed on different days and their order was counterbalanced across subjects. The "Guttmann Cognitest"® app includes 6 tests designed to assess main cognitive functions and be completed in about 17 minutes (range 9‐30). Results: Factorial analysis confirmed that the app measured the intended 6 different cognitive domains. Internal consistency was good (α=0.71) and convergent validity analysis demonstrated that performance in each of the 6 tests in the app correlated with the a priori defined correspondent gold standard paper and pencil test. We found no gender effects, and an expected correlation with age in 5 out of 7 tests. Conclusions: Cognitive assessment with a mobile phone is feasible and useful. Preliminary results reveal that the "Guttmann Cognitest"® app has good psychometric properties and is suitable to test cognitive performance in large samples. Once integrated within the "Guttmann NeuroPersonalTrainer"® platform, it will enable automatically screening and effectively monitoring patient's cognitive capacities over time while undergoing personalized cognitive training and allowing automatic adjustment of treatments in intensity and difficulty according to performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brain health refers to the preservation of brain integrity and function optimized for an individual's biological age. Several studies have demonstrated that our lifestyles habits impact our brain health and our cognitive and mental wellbeing. Monitoring such lifestyles is thus critical and mobile technologies are essential to enable such a goal. Three databases were selected to carry out the search. Then, a PRISMA and PICOTS based criteria for a more detailed review on the basis of monitoring lifestyle aspects were used to filter the publications. We identified 133 publications after removing duplicates. Fifteen were finally selected from our criteria. Many studies still use questionnaires as the only tool for monitoring and do not apply advanced analytic or AI approaches to fine-tune results. We anticipate a transformative boom in the near future developing and implementing solutions that are able to integrate, in a flexible and adaptable way, data from technologies and devices that users might already use. This will enable continuous monitoring of objective data to guide the personalized definition of lifestyle goals and data-driven coaching to offer the necessary support to ensure adherence and satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Digital solutions for cognitive assessment are currently not only widely used in experimental contexts but can also be useful in clinical practice for efficient screening and longitudinal follow-up. The "Guttmann Cognitest" ® , which includes seven computerized tasks designed to assess main cognitive functions, revealed in a previous validation study to be a potential useful tool to assess cognitive functioning in healthy middle-aged adults., Method: Here, we present results from a validation in two different populations: one consisting of older adults, and the other comprising young and middle-aged individuals, some of them affected by acquired brain injury. To perform a convergent validity test, older adults were also administered with the MOCA, while young and middle-aged individuals were administered with a short neuropsychological assessment including gold-standard neuropsychological tests. We also conducted sensitivity and specificity analysis to establish the utility of this instrument in identifying potential cognitive dysfunctions in the two groups., Results: Results demonstrated strong convergent validity as well as good specificity and sensitivity characteristics., Discussion: This tool is a valid and useful instrument to assess cognitive functioning and detecting potential cases of cognitive dysfunctions in older adults and clinical populations., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Cattaneo, Roca-Ventura, Heras, Anglada, Missé, Ulloa, Fankhauser, Opisso, García-Molina and Solana-Sánchez.)

Thanks to technological advances, the administration of cognitive assessments via digital solutions continues to increase, both in research and clinical practice. "Guttmann Cognitest" °ledR is a digital solution for cognitive assessment which includes seven computerized tasks designed to assess main cognitive functions requiring approximately 20 min to be completed. The purpose of the present study was to validate it against standard and more extensive in-person neuropsychological assessments in the context of the Barcelona Brain Health Initiative (BBHI) cohort study. We studied 274 participants of the BBHI (126 women, mean age = 56.14, age range 44-69), who underwent an extensive in-person assessment, including a classical paper-and-pencil neuropsychological assessment and a cognitive assessment via the "Guttmann Cognitest" °ledR . Principal component analysis indicated that "Guttmann Cognitest" °ledR measures four main cognitive domains and convergent validity analysis demonstrated that cognitive performance was associated with gold standard paper and pencil tests. Results also showed an expected negative correlation with age, a relation with educational level as well as a gender effect. Regression-based norming equations for the sample tested are also reported. Performing a cognitive assessment with this digital solution is feasible and potentially useful to gather information about cognitive functioning in large samples and experimental settings., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Cattaneo, Pachón-García, Roca, Alviarez-Schulze, Opisso, García-Molina, Bartrés-Faz, Pascual-Leone, Tormos-Muñoz and Solana-Sánchez.)