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Objective: Cognitive dysfunction is a core symptom of depression and contributes significantly to functional and psychosocial impairment. However, pharmacotherapy has shown limited efficacy in alleviating these cognitive deficits. This study aimed to systematically evaluate the efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in improving cognitive impairments in patients with depression., Methods: A literature search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Library databases up to June 19, 2024. Studies were included if they met the following criteria: (1) participants were exclusively patients with unipolar depression, (2) both active rTMS and sham stimulation were administered in parallel groups, (3) sufficient data were available, and (4) the study design was a randomized controlled trial (RCT)., Results: A total of 15 studies met the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis revealed no significant improvement in cognitive impairment with active rTMS compared to sham rTMS across multiple cognitive domains, including global cognitive function, attention, working memory, psychomotor speed, language, visuospatial ability, learning and memory, and executive function., Conclusion: Current evidence suggests that rTMS does not demonstrate substantial efficacy in alleviating cognitive dysfunction in patients with depression. Future research should focus on elucidating the underlying mechanisms of rTMS efficacy and optimizing stimulation protocols, including the precise targeting of stimulation sites, as well as refining frequency, intensity, and duration parameters to better address cognitive impairment., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background/objectives: Studies on executive functions in child sex offenders relate their findings to the presence of pedophilia, but they are not able to distinguish between paraphilia and abuse. It is therefore this lack of a distinction that leads us to complement the existing information. Thus, the purpose of this review is to find all available evidence on the neurocognitive and neuroanatomical differences in executive functions among pedophilic and non-pedophilic child sex offenders, and non-offender pedophiles., Methods: The present review, in accordance with the PRISMA statement, ran a systematic search of three databases (Web of Science, Scopus and ProQuest). This search identified 5697 potential articles, but only 16 studies met all the inclusion criteria. Most of the studies were conducted in Europe, using a cross-sectional design with a convenience sample., Results: The results showed alterations in frontal, temporal and parietal structures related to executive functions (e.g., response inhibition) in child sexual offenders, regardless of the presence of pedophilia., Conclusions: In summary, there are differences in brain structure underlying executive functions related to child sexual abuse, but not to pedophilia as such.

The present study aims to develop and present a proof-of-concept for a stop signal task with effector-specificity and higher complexity. Sixteen participants performed a stop signal task developed for lower extremities using Fitlight System™. The effect of four different delays and two sessions on response time, stop signal reaction time and accuracy was assessed using two-way repeated-measures ANOVA. The reliability of outcomes was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients. There was a significant main effect of delay on all outcomes and an interaction of delay and session on accuracy. The reliability of outcomes was substantial with dependency on delays. Our preliminary findings suggest the feasibility of stop signal principles within more complex movements and provide an example for the development of further tests in sports context.

Aim: Aim of this study is evaluating EF by performing neurocognitive tests, and to identify gender-related differences in EF between adolescents with and without GD. Methods: 8 Female-to-Male transgender adolescents (FtMs), and 14 Male-to-Female transsexual adolescents (MtFs) (Gender Dysphoria Group, GDG) and 29 boys, 21 girls (Control Group, CG), were tested in a cross-sectional study, using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT), and Stroop Color and Word Test (SCWT). The psychiatric diagnoses were established by using the KD-SADS. Results: Among GDG 72.7%, had at least one psychopathology. There weren't any significant differences in, estimated IQ scores, or WCST subtest scores between the 2 groups. COWAT total word count and SCWT-5 total duration test scores were better in the CG. Conclusion: CG had better performance on verbal fluency and response inhibition whereas no differences found on set shifting abilities. In consideration of the existence of EF-related impairment in adolescents with GD, appropriate support and interventions are expected to improve their adaptation skills and comorbid psychopathologies. These results should be interprete cautiously and additional larger scale studies are needed to obtain more comprehensive data related to gender differences in EF of adolescents with GD.

Objective: Cortical inhibition (CI) can be in-vivo measured using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and patients with schizophrenia had abnormal CI. However, whether the abnormal CI occur early in patients with clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR) or could predict their clinical outcomes remains less known., Methods: We measured short-interval cortical inhibition (SICI), cortical silent period (CSP), and intra-cortical facilitation (ICF) over the motor cortex and neurocognitive performances in 55 CHR, 35 first-episode schizophrenia (FES), and 35 healthy controls (HC). We divided CHR patients into CHR converters (CHR-C) and CHR non-converters (CHR-NC) according to their clinical outcomes within the two-year follow-up., Results: CSP was longer in CHR-C (P = 0.033) and FES (P = 0.047) than in HC, while CSP was comparable between CHR-NC and HC. In CHR, CSP was negatively related to their performances in symbol coding and maze tasks. There was no significant between-group difference for either SICI or ICF., Conclusions: Our findings suggested GABA B -mediated CSP was prolonged in CHR, who later converted into schizophrenia, and was associated with poor neurocognitive functions., Significance: CSP is prolonged before the onset of psychosis, particularly in CHR-C patients, suggesting that CSP could be a potential biomarker for predicting transition to schizophrenia., (Copyright © 2024 International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Successful transition to independent adulthood requires intact executive and adaptive function. These neurocognitive domains are frequently impaired in inherited metabolic disorders (IMD), despite optimal management. For many IMDs, the impact of executive and adaptive dysfunction on long-term outcomes remains undefined. Standardized assessments linking neurocognitive status with functional outcomes are needed to improve prognostication and tailor support for affected emerging adults. Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD), a relatively prevalent IMD, is primarily diagnosed in the first week of life through newborn screening. Despite early intervention, executive and adaptive dysfunction persist. We designed a remote, interactive battery of neurocognitive and functional assessments for adults (≥21 years) with MSUD to correlate neurocognition and long-term outcomes. Participants were selectively recruited for racial, ethnic, socio-economic, and geographic diversity. Assessments completed by 28 adults with MSUD (82% diagnosed after symptom onset, 25% from minority communities) show a wide range in educational attainment, employment, and residence. Executive and adaptive function were significantly impaired in adults with MSUD compared to controls. Executive and adaptive deficits correlated negatively with educational attainment, employment, and obtaining skills needed for adult-oriented healthcare or independent living. Clinical history did not predict functional outcomes, but neurocognitive assessments suggest the benefits of pre-symptomatic diagnosis. Independent adulthood is attainable for individuals with MSUD. Routine assessment of neurocognition and interventions targeting executive and adaptive function may improve long-term functional outcomes in IMD., (© 2024 SSIEM.)

Background: Metacognitive training for psychosis (MCT) offers benefits for addressing hallmark deficits/symptoms in schizophrenia spectrum disorders including reductions in cognitive biases and positive/negative symptoms as well as improvements in social cognition and functioning. However, differing results exist regarding the relationship between MCT and neurocognition. A comprehensive understanding of the nature of this relationship would significantly contribute to the existing literature and our understanding of the potential added value of MCT as a cognitive intervention for psychosis., Methods: Across eleven electronic databases, 1312 sources were identified, and 14 studies examining MCT and neurocognition in psychosis were included in this review. Measures of estimated effect sizes were calculated with Hedge's g, moderator analyses used Cochrane's Q statistic and significance tests to measure group differences according to control conditions., Results: Twelve studies, 11 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 1 non-RCT, were included in the main meta-analyses, consisting of 673 participants (n MCT  = 345, n control  = 328). When comparing MCT against control interventions, non-significant differences in estimated effect sizes were observed across all neurocognitive domains when evaluating pre-post changes (g ≤ 0.1, p > .05). Two additional studies corroborated these results in a narrative review., Conclusion: These findings suggest that when compared against control conditions, MCT does not pose a statistically meaningful benefit to neurocognitive performance. General practice/learning effects are likely the main contributor that explains improvement in neurocognitive performance, and not a difference of intervention allocation when considering MCT against the included control comparators. These findings help establish the specificity of the effects of MCT., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Steffen Moritz is the co-developer of metacognitive training. His role in this study was to consult with the co-authors to ensure the inclusion of all relevant studies. Dr. Moritz was not involved in any aspect of data analysis or synthesis. We also wish to disclose that the Comprehensive Research Into Schizophrenia and other Psychopathologies (CRISP) group (Dr. Lepage) is currently offering metacognitive training at the Douglas Research Centre. There are no other known conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The present study investigated differences in the quantity and quality of social engagement, and their associations with neurocognition among older Latino and non-Latino White persons with HIV (PWH). Participants were age 50 + community-dwelling PWH living in southern California (n = 116; 50% Latino [53% Spanish-speaking], 50% non-Latino White; Age: M = 58.03; Education: M = 13.29; 82% male; 58% AIDS; 95% on antiretroviral therapy). Neurocognition was assessed with a battery of 10 tests on which demographically-adjusted T-scores were derived. Social engagement was measured via self-report of frequency of participation in social activities over the past year (quantitative) and feelings and perceptions of loneliness (qualitative). There were few ethnic differences in degree of participation in social activities, but Latino PWH reported lower loneliness. Social activity and loneliness were significantly associated with processing speed in the overall sample, and with global neurocognition only in White PWH. Latino PWH reported better quality of social engagement than non-Latino White PWH despite small ethnic differences in quantity of social engagement. Social engagement was associated with better neurocognition primarily in older White PWH. Given documented HIV disparities in neurocognition, future studies should investigate HIV-related comorbidities and structural determinants of health as potential determinants of neurocognition among older Latino PWH., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing Interests: The authors report there are no competing interests to declare., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

As people live longer with HIV, reports of poor sleep and neurocognitive impairments are expected to increase. Poor sleep and neurocognitive impairments commonly occur in people living with HIV (PLWH) and some medications (e.g., anticholinergics) contribute to these problems. The association between sleep and neurocognition among PLWH taking such medications remains unclear. This study examined trend level associations between neurocognitive domains and subjective and objective sleep outcomes. Among 29 PLWH ( M age = 61 years old), the use of anticholinergics and/or antidepressants were examined as a moderator between neurocognition and sleep outcomes. For PLWH taking anticholinergics and/or antidepressants, the associations between insomnia and neurocognitive measures were counter-intuitive, and so were the associations between sleep time and neurocognitive measures. For these adults, objective longer sleep time was associated with poorer verbal learning (immediate, p = .005; delayed recall, p = .002) and visuospatial memory (delayed recall, p = .010). Greater sleep efficiency was associated with better visuospatial memory (immediate, p = .007; delayed recall p = .022). Despite sleep benefits, the use of anticholinergics and/or antidepressants may compromise neurocognitive function in older PLWH. Clinical implications include routine sleep and neurocognitive assessments along with medication monitoring to detect adverse neurocognitive effects of commonly prescribed medications.

The ability to adapt to changing circumstances has strong survival value. Individuals with substance use disorders tend to get "stuck" over-responding to drug-reward signals and pursuing drugs despite negative consequences. A lack of flexibility may be tied to impairments in neurocognition, including learning, memory, and executive function. However, results are often mixed, potentially due to heterogeneity in factors such as mental health, personality traits, or prior adversity. This study aimed to identify which factors influence neurocognitive variations within the opioid use disorder (OUD) population. Based on prior literature, we hypothesized that individuals with OUD would show deficits (vs. controls) in one or more neurocognitive domains, and that these cognitive difficulties might be greater in individuals with other known contributors to impaired cognition. This pilot project included 32 individuals receiving medication for OUD and 15 non-substance using controls (NSC). Questionnaires assessed addiction and relapse risk factors, such as impulsiveness, social function, depressive symptoms, and childhood adversity. Neurocognitive performance was measured via the Penn Computerized Neurocognitive Battery (P-CNB), including tasks that probe attention, working memory, episodic memory, cognitive flexibility, and complex cognition, and was compared between the OUD and NSC groups. OUD participants (vs. NSCs) exhibited significantly lower performance on the conditional exclusion task (CET) (Accuracy: 1.11 vs. 2.38, p < 0.001) and the n-Back task (NBT) (F1 Scores: 83% vs. 95%, p < 0.001). Impulsiveness, social function, and depressive symptoms were highly inter-related; however, only higher impulsiveness (r = -.48, p = 0.006) and more social impairment (r = -.47, p = 0.007) significantly correlated with decreased CET (but not n-Back) performance. This pilot study suggests that working memory and cognitive flexibility are impaired in people with OUD and that impulsiveness and social function are key factors in cognitive flexibility impairments in people with OUD. These results may offer insights for larger-scale investigations and potential interventions to reduce relapse risk., 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 Regier, Macedo de Arruda, Sinko, Teitelman and Childress.)

Purposeful heading, in which players may use their heads to advance the ball in play, is a unique part of soccer. Clinical outcome measures used to aid in the diagnosis of a concussion have long been a cornerstone of the contemporary measurements associated with the short- and long-term effects of monitoring repetitive head impacts (RHI) and soccer heading exposure. The effects of RHI in the youth population are still unknown, therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine if heading exposure is predictive of changes in self-reported symptoms, neurocognitive functioning, gait, and balance in female youth soccer players over the course of one soccer season. Small improvements in neurocognitive functioning and gait and slight deficits in balance were observed from pre- to post-season. All changes were not clinically relevant and likely due to a practice effect. The low heading exposure in our cohort of youth soccer players was likely not enough to elicit any changes in clinical measures. In general, our clinical outcomes did not change after a season of soccer play and change scores were not predicted by heading exposure.

Background: The clinical high-risk (CHR) state for psychosis demonstrates considerable clinical heterogeneity, presenting challenges for clinicians and researchers alike. Basic symptoms, to date, have largely been ignored in explorations of clinical profiles., Aims: We examined clinical profiles by using a broader spectrum of CHR symptoms, including not only (attenuated) psychotic, but also basic symptoms., Method: Patients ( N = 875) of specialised early intervention centres for psychosis in Germany and Switzerland were assessed with the Schizophrenia Proneness Instruments and the Structured Interview for Psychosis-Risk Syndromes. Latent class analysis was applied to CHR symptoms to identify clinical profiles. Additionally, demographics, other symptoms, current non-psychotic DSM-IV axis I disorders and neurocognitive variables were assessed to further describe and compare the profiles., Results: A three-class model was best fitting the data, whereby basic symptoms best differentiated between the profiles (η 2 = 0.08-0.52). Class 1 had a low probability of CHR symptoms, the highest functioning and lowest other psychopathology, neurocognitive deficits and transition-to-psychosis rate. Class 2 had the highest probability of basic and (attenuated) positive symptoms (excluding hallucinations), lowest functioning, highest symptom load, most neurocognitive deficits and highest transition rate (55.1%). Class 3 was mostly characterised by attenuated hallucination, and was otherwise intermediate between the other two classes. Comorbidity rates were comparable across classes, with some class differences in diagnostic categories., Conclusions: Our profiles based on basic and (attenuated) psychotic symptoms provide clinically useful entities by parsing out heterogeneity in clinical presentation. In future, they could guide class-specific intervention.

Background: Current evidence supports the idea that neurocognitive deficits (NCD) constitute a core dimension of schizophrenia. Studies on longitudinal changes in neurocognition among neuroleptic-naive first-episode schizophrenia (FES) from Africa are uncommon. We aimed to highlight the prevalence of, and changes in NCD among FES on naturalistic treatment follow-up for 8 weeks, and the relationship with psychopathological and psychosocial outcomes., Methods: Consecutive FES and Healthy Control (HC) were recruited. Diagnosis of schizophrenia was based on ICD-10 criteria. The HC (n = 86) consisted of nursing students in the same facility, recruited purposely to match the cases in age and gender. After the baseline assessment, 82 FES were followed up 4-weekly for changes in NCD, psychopathological and psychosocial ratings for a period of 8 weeks, using the 3 alternate forms of the Screen for Cognitive Impairment in Psychiatry (SCIP), the Wisconsin Card Test, the Mini Mental State Examination, as well as the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, the WHO Disability Assessment Scale, and the Global Assessment of Functioning scale. The control group was tested only once, and their scores were utilized for comparison with the patients' scores only at week 8. The prevalence of neurocognitive deficits in the two groups was described using percentages and 95% confidence interval. Predictors of cognitive function was determined using multivariate linear regression., Results: The prevalence of any NCD among FES at 8 weeks and HC was 62.9% (95% CI: 51.5%, 74.2%) and 1.2% (95% CI: 0.0%, 6.6%), respectively. With treatment, there was a significant improvement in cognitive function at each interval of follow-up. At week 8, the prevalence of any NCD among patients in remission was 55.1%. Total SCIP scores at week 8 had significant inverse moderate relationship with the dimensions of psychopathology. Conversely, total SCIP score was strongly positively correlated with functioning (rho s = 0.71, p < 0.001) at week 8. At week 8, the baseline predictors of total SCIP score were, duration of untreated psychosis (β = -0.33, p = 0.01, variance = 19.8%), negative symptoms (β = -0.35, p = 0.03, variance = 4.9%) and positive symptoms (β = -0.43, p = 0.01, variance = 4.8%)., Conclusion: The high prevalence of NCD when patients were in remission indicates that they are enduring and merit consideration as a domain of psychopathology., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics and Research Committees of the institution with approval number of REA/Vol. 11/317. International ethical norms and standards as stipulated in the Helsinki guideline were strictly adhered to; written informed consent was obtained from all the participants. Participants were free to withdraw from the study at any time, even after having consented initially, and this did not in any way affect the patient’s medical care or their academic endeavors. They were also informed that if in the process of the research, any previously undiagnosed clinical condition was found, the managing team would be appropriately informed. Information gathered in the course of the research was stored in an encrypted computer accessible only to the researcher. Consent to publish: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: We studied whether increased systolic blood pressure (SBP), as determined by auscultatory SBP, ambulatory SBP, and the number of cardiovascular health risk indicators, are associated with neurocognition in adolescents., Methods: This cross-sectional study included 365 adolescents (mean age, 15.5 years) from 6 academic medical centers in the United States. The sample was 59.5% male, 52.6% White, with 23.9% of the caregivers having less than or equal to a high school degree. Primary exposures included the following: auscultatory SBP, ambulatory SBP, and the number of cardiovascular risk factors. Neurocognitive outcomes comprised nonverbal IQ, attention, and parent ratings of executive functions., Results: After examining the models for the effects of targeted covariates (eg, maternal education), higher auscultatory SBP was associated with lower nonverbal IQ (β=-1.39; P <0.001) and verbal attention (β=-2.39; P <0.05); higher ambulatory 24 hours. SBP (β=-21.39; P <0.05) and wake SBP (β=-21.62; P <0.05) were related to verbal attention; and all 3 ambulatory blood pressure measures were related to sustained attention accounting for small to medium amounts of variance (adjusted R 2 =0.08-0.09). Higher ambulatory blood pressure sleep SBP also was significantly associated with parent ratings of behavior regulation (β=12.61; P <0.05). These associations remained stable after a sensitivity analysis removed cases with hypertension. Number of cardiovascular risk factors performed similarly, with more risk factors being associated with lower nonverbal IQ (β=-1.35; P <0.01), verbal attention (β=-1.23; P <0.01), and all parent ratings of executive functions., Conclusions: Elevated SBP, even below the hypertension range, and general cardiovascular health are associated with neurocognitive outcomes in adolescents. How these findings might guide clinical care is worthy of additional study., Competing Interests: None.

Purpose: Prospective associations between preadolescent neurocognitive structure and onset of substance use in adolescence have not been examined. This study investigated associations between cognitive structure among youth aged 9 - 10 years and the likelihood of experimentation with tobacco and alcohol by ages 13-14 years., Methods: A principal component (PC) analysis of nine neurocognitive assessments was used to identify the cognitive structure of unrelated adolescent brain cognitive development study participants (n = 9,655). We modeled associations between neurocognitive PCs and odds of tobacco or alcohol use by ages 13-14 years using generalized linear mixed models with a logit link and random intercept for recruitment sites. Demographics, family conflict, neighborhood safety, and externalizing and internalizing behavior were considered covariates., Results: Four neurocognitive PCs were identified and labeled general ability, executive function, learning and memory, and mental rotation. Mental rotation [odds ratio [OR] = 0.88, p-value = .013] was associated with lower odds of youth tobacco use; the association was stronger among female youth. General ability [OR = 1.20, p-value < .0001] among both males and females, and learning and memory [OR = 1.11, p-value = .024] among females, were associated with increased odds of youth alcohol use., Discussion: Among youth, higher neurocognitive performance was protective for tobacco use but increased the likelihood of alcohol use. Potential sex differences were identified. The role of cognition in processing the social contexts surrounding tobacco and alcohol use in the United States may contribute to the formation of disparate youth expectancies for tobacco and alcohol use., (Copyright © 2024 Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Abstract Background Ketamine has emerged as a rapid-acting antidepressant in treatment-resistant depression (TRD) increasingly used in non-research, clinical settings. Few studies, however, have examined neurocognitive effects of repeated racemic ketamine infusion treatments in patients with TRD. In an effort to identify potential effects after serial infusions, we conducted a retrospective chart review to identify statistically significant changes in cognition in patient undergoing serial intravenous infusions; concomitantly, we examined baseline cognition as potential predictor of anti-depressant potential. Methods Twenty-two patients with TRD were examined after they finished the induction phase of 8–10 repeated intravenous ketamine infusions and completed the assessments of their depressive symptoms (measured by the 16-item Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self Report Scale: QIDS-SR16) and cognitive function (measured by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment: MoCA) before the first and the last ketamine treatments. Results Repeated ketamine infusions administered through an escalating dose protocol with 8–10 infusion sessions produced a 47.2% reduction response in depression; there was no evidence of impairment as reflected in MoCA testing. There was a moderate association between baseline cognition and antidepressant response with a Pearson correlation of 0.453. Conclusion In this naturalistic sample of patients with TRD in our clinical service, repeated ketamine infusions significantly decreased depression symptoms without impairing cognitive performance. The baseline cognition may positively predict antidepressant responses of repeated ketamine treatment.

Abstract Background Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-transmitted flavivirus that affects many regions of the world. Infection, in utero, causes microcephaly and later developmental and neurologic impairments. The impact of ZIKV infection on neurocognition in adults has not been well described. The objective of the study was to assess the neurocognitive impact of ZIKV infection in adult rhesus macaques. Methods Neurocognitive assessments were performed using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) via a touch screen and modified Brinkman Board before and after subcutaneous ZIKV inoculation. Immune activation markers were measured in the blood and cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) by multiplex assay and flow cytometry. Results All animals (N = 8) had detectable ZIKV RNA in plasma at day 1 post-inoculation (PI) that peaked at day 2 PI (median 5.9, IQR 5.6–6.2 log10 genome equivalents/mL). In all eight animals, ZIKV RNA became undetectable in plasma by day 14 PI, but persisted in lymphoid tissues. ZIKV RNA was not detected in the CSF supernatant at days 4, 8, 14 and 28 PI but was detected in the brain of 2 animals at days 8 and 28 PI. Elevations in markers of immune activation in the blood and CSF were accompanied by a reduction in accuracy and reaction speed on the CANTAB in the majority of animals. Conclusions The co-occurrence of systemic and CSF immune perturbations and neurocognitive impairment establishes this model as useful for studying the impact of neuroinflammation on neurobehavior in rhesus macaques, as it pertains to ZIKV infection and potentially other pathogens.

Abstract Backgrounds Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are neurodevelopmental disorders that exhibit within-disorder heterogeneity and cross-disorder phenotypic overlap, thus suggesting that the current disease categories may not fully represent the etiologic essence of the disorders, especially for highly comorbid neurodevelopmental disorders. In this study, we explored the subtypes of a combined sample of ASD and ADHD by integrating measurements of behavior, cognition and brain imaging. Methods A total of 164 participants, including 65 with ASD, 47 with ADHD, and 52 controls, were recruited. Unsupervised machine learning with an agglomerative hierarchical clustering algorithm was used to identify transdiagnostic symptom clusters. Neurocognition and brain structural connectivity measurements were used to assess symptom clusters. Mediation analysis was used to explore the relationship between transdiagnostic symptoms, neurocognition and brain structural connectivity. Results We identified three symptom clusters that did not fall within the diagnostic boundaries of DSM. External measurements from neurocognition and neuroimaging domains supported distinct profiles, including fine motor function, verbal fluency, and structural connectivity in the corpus callosum between these symptom clusters, highlighting possible biomarkers for ASD and ADHD. Additionally, fine motor function was shown to mediate the relationship between the corpus callosum and perseveration symptoms. Conclusions In this transdiagnostic study on ASD and ADHD, we identified three subtypes showing meaningful associations between symptoms, neurocognition and brain white matter structural connectivity. The fine motor function and structural connectivity of corpus callosum might be used as biomarkers for neurodevelopmental disorders with social skill symptoms. The results of this study highlighted the importance of precise phenotyping and further supported the effects of fine motor intervention on ASD and ADHD.

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic led to widespread use of personal protection equipment (PPE), including filtering face piece (FFP) masks, throughout the world. PPE. Previous studies indicate that PPE impairs neurocognitive performance in healthcare workers. Concerns for personnel safety have led to special recommendations regarding basic life support (BLS) in patients with a potential SARS-CoV-2 infection, including the use of PPE. Established instruments are available to assess attention and dexterity in BLS settings, respectively. We aimed to evaluate the influence of PPE with different types of FFP masks on these two neuropsychological components of EMS personnel during BLS. Methods This was a randomized controlled non-inferiority triple-crossover study. Teams of paramedics completed three 12-min long BLS scenarios on a manikin after having climbed three flights of stairs with equipment, each in three experimental conditions: (a) without pandemic PPE, (b) with PPE including a FFP2 mask with an expiration valve and (c) with PPE including an FFP2 mask without an expiration valve. The teams and intervention sequences were randomized. We measured the shift in concentration performance using the d2 test and dexterity using the nine-hole peg test (NHPT). We compared results between the three conditions. For the primary outcome, the non-inferiority margin was set at 20 points. Results Forty-eight paramedics participated. Concentration performance was significantly better after each scenario, with no differences noted between groups: d2 shift control versus with valve − 8.3 (95% CI − 19.4 to 2.7) points; control versus without valve − 8.5 (− 19.7 to 2.7) points; with valve versus without valve 0.1 (− 11.1 to 11.3) points. Similar results were found for the NHPT: + 0.3 (− 0.7 to 1.4), − 0.4 (− 1.4 to 0.7), 0.7 (− 0.4 to 1.8) s respectively. Conclusion Attention increases when performing BLS. Attention and dexterity are not inferior when wearing PPE, including FFP2 masks. PPE should be used on a low-threshold basis.

Introduction: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) comprise impairment of multiple cognitive domains and cause significant morbidity. International HIV Dementia Scale (IHDS) is a quite sensitive and specific method for screening for HAND, and Modified Mini-Mental State Examination (3MS), though nonspecific, contains more parameters for screening for neurocognition. Hence, we compared 3MS and IHDS as screening tools for HAND with an aim to find out which was a better screening tool for HAND. Methods: Using 3MS and IHDS, we assessed the cognitive status of 200 HIV-positive patients (65% males) and 84 controls, presenting to the Department of Medicine, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, India from September 2015 to September 2019. Results: According to 3MS, 42 (21%) HIV-positive patients were neurocognitively impaired (mean 76.24 ± 1.51), and 158 (79%) patients were not (mean 87.02 ± 4.16). As per IHDS, 185 (92.5%) HIV patients were neurocognitively impaired (mean 8.45 ± 0.88), and 15 (7.5%) patients were not (mean 11.13 ± 0.35). The mean 3MS score of controls was 87.56 ± 4.26, and the IHDS score was 9.73 ± 1.00. According to Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), moderate depression occurred in only 3.5% of the patients, and the rest had only minimal or mild depression. In IHDS, psychomotor speed was the most affected parameter, whereas in 3MS, similarities were the most affected. Conclusion: IHDS may be over diagnosing neurocognitive impairment in HIV patients due to difficulty in understanding the test, especially psychomotor speed testing. 3MS may be more accurate for detecting neurocognitive impairment in HIV patients, and scale combining both these methods may be a still better choice.

High levels of oxidative stress have been implicated in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Our objectives were to review the association between oxidative stress markers and neurocognitive functioning in schizophrenia. Electronic search of MEDLINE, ProQuest, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases was carried out in September 2022 to identify relevant English language articles. Articles identified were grouped under the following themes: comparison of oxidative stress or antioxidant biomarkers between patients with schizophrenia and general population, association between biomarkers of oxidative stress and cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia, and clinical trials evaluating the effect of antioxidant compounds on cognitive functioning in schizophrenia. We reviewed 36 eligible papers: 30 observational studies and 6 intervention trials. Marked heterogeneity was noted in patient population, oxidative stress markers examined, and cognitive measures. Majority (83.3%) of the observational studies were cross-sectional in design; half of them (50%) were conducted on chronic, stable, medicated patients. Most of the observational studies showed increased levels of oxidative stress biomarkers and decreased antioxidant activity in schizophrenia compared to controls. A significant positive association was noted between markers of antioxidant activity and cognitive performance in this group. Treatment trials of antioxidant agents showed positive but inconsistent evidence for benefits on cognitive measures and clinical symptomatology in schizophrenia. Our findings are broadly consistent with the redox imbalance hypothesis in schizophrenia. The significant associations noted between antioxidant markers and cognitive functioning may have key neurobiological and therapeutic implications.

BackgroundCochlear implants (CIs) are considered an effective treatment for severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss. However, speech perception outcomes are highly variable among adult CI recipients. Top-down neurocognitive factors have been hypothesized to contribute to this variation that is currently only partly explained by biological and audiological factors. Studies investigating this, use varying methods and observe varying outcomes, and their relevance has yet to be evaluated in a review. Gathering and structuring this evidence in this scoping review provides a clear overview of where this research line currently stands, with the aim of guiding future research.ObjectiveTo understand to which extent different neurocognitive factors influence speech perception in adult CI users with a postlingual onset of hearing loss, by systematically reviewing the literature.MethodsA systematic scoping review was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. Studies investigating the influence of one or more neurocognitive factors on speech perception post-implantation were included. Word and sentence perception in quiet and noise were included as speech perception outcome metrics and six key neurocognitive domains, as defined by the DSM-5, were covered during the literature search (Protocol in open science registries: 10.17605/OSF.IO/Z3G7W of searches in June 2020, April 2022).ResultsFrom 5,668 retrieved articles, 54 articles were included and grouped into three categories using different measures to relate to speech perception outcomes: (1) Nineteen studies investigating brain activation, (2) Thirty-one investigating performance on cognitive tests, and (3) Eighteen investigating linguistic skills.ConclusionThe use of cognitive functions, recruiting the frontal cortex, the use of visual cues, recruiting the occipital cortex, and the temporal cortex still available for language processing, are beneficial for adult CI users. Cognitive assessments indicate that performance on non-verbal intelligence tasks positively correlated with speech perception outcomes. Performance on auditory or visual working memory, learning, memory and vocabulary tasks were unrelated to speech perception outcomes and performance on the Stroop task not to word perception in quiet. However, there are still many uncertainties regarding the explanation of inconsistent results between papers and more comprehensive studies are needed e.g., including different assessment times, or combining neuroimaging and behavioral measures.Systematic review registrationhttps://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/Z3G7W.

Summary: Background: The delirium-sparing effect of nighttime dexmedetomidine has not been studied after surgery. We hypothesised that a nighttime dose of dexmedetomidine would reduce the incidence of postoperative delirium as compared to placebo. Methods: This single-centre, parallel-arm, randomised, placebo-controlled superiority trial evaluated whether a short nighttime dose of intravenous dexmedetomidine (1 μg/kg over 40 min) would reduce the incidence of postoperative delirium in patients 60 years of age or older undergoing elective cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Patients were randomised to receive dexmedetomidine or placebo in a 1:1 ratio. The primary outcome was delirium on postoperative day one. Secondary outcomes included delirium within three days of surgery, 30-, 90-, and 180-day abbreviated Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores, Patient Reported Outcome Measures Information System quality of life scores, and all-cause mortality. The study was registered as NCT02856594 on ClinicalTrials.gov on August 5, 2016, before the enrolment of any participants. Findings: Of 469 patients that underwent randomisation to placebo (n = 235) or dexmedetomidine (n = 234), 75 met a prespecified drop criterion before the study intervention. Thus, 394 participants (188 dexmedetomidine; 206 placebo) were analysed in the modified intention-to-treat cohort (median age 69 [IQR 64, 74] years; 73.1% male [n = 288]; 26·9% female [n = 106]). Postoperative delirium status on day one was missing for 30 (7.6%) patients. Among those in whom it could be assessed, the primary outcome occurred in 5 of 175 patients (2.9%) in the dexmedetomidine group and 16 of 189 patients (8.5%) in the placebo group (OR 0.32, 95% CI: 0.10–0.83; P = 0.029). A non-significant but higher proportion of participants experienced delirium within three days postoperatively in the placebo group (25/177; 14.1%) compared to the dexmedetomidine group (14/160; 8.8%; OR 0.58; 95% CI, 0.28–1.15). No significant differences between groups were observed in secondary outcomes or safety. Interpretation: Our findings suggested that in elderly cardiac surgery patients with a low baseline risk of postoperative delirium and extubated within 12 h of ICU admission, a short nighttime dose of dexmedetomidine decreased the incidence of delirium on postoperative day one. Although non-statistically significant, our findings also suggested a clinical meaningful difference in the three-day incidence of postoperative delirium. Funding: National Institute on Aging (R01AG053582).

Summary: Background: High antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage and viral suppression among people with HIV (PWH) in Australia provide a unique context to study individual cognitive trajectories, cognitive aging and factors associated with longitudinal cognitive function during chronic and stable HIV disease. Methods: Participants from the Predictors of Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy study (n = 457, recruited between September 2013 and November 2015, median age = 52 years, and all with HIV RNA 0.5). Meaningful cognitive change was statistically defined (decline or improvement versus stability, i.e., 90% CI, that is p

The present study provides an in-depth review of the neurocognitive aspects of creativity and its association with academic achievement in children. The outcomes of this study indicate a considerable positive relationship between creativity and academic ability, namely in reading, comprehension, and written tasks. Neurocognitive processes, including associative thinking, divergent thinking, executive functions, and predictive representations, play a significant role in shaping the characteristics associated with creativity. Although creativity may lead to potential adverse outcomes, extensive study has firmly established its significance in academic accomplishment. This systematic review includes studies conducted between the years 2016 and 2022. The primary selection criteria employed for the inclusion of articles in the research encompassed the following aspects: articles written in the English language, articles directly relevant to the subject matter of the study, articles featuring a sample population comprising students, displaying regular and typical developmental patterns, articles adopting a descriptive, exploratory, or longitudinal study design. The research promotes the cultivation of creativity within educational settings, emphasizing the utilization of cultural resources, the alignment of teachers’ attitudes with the promotion of creativity, and the comprehension of neurocognitive factors influencing creative processes. There is a significant focus on the necessity for more investigation into the correlation between creativity and academic achievement. Further research is needed to gain a comprehensive understanding of how creativity is incorporated within educational settings to achieve academic performance.

Comorbidity of substance use disorders (SUD) and severe mental illness (SMI) is highly frequent in patients, the most common diagnoses being schizophrenia (SZ), bipolar disorder (BD) and major depressive disorder (MDD). Since comorbidity has its own clinical features, and neurocognitive functioning is not always similar to psychiatric symptoms the present study explores the cognitive performance of patients with dual disorders. A neuropsychological battery of tests was used to assess 120 under treatment male patients, 40 for each group considered (SZ + SUD, BD + SUD and MDD + SUD) who were mainly polyconsumers. Significant differences (with premorbid IQ as a covariate) were found among the groups, with SZ + SUD having a worse performance in attention, verbal learning, short term memory and recognition. The consideration of a global Z score for performance evidenced an impaired neurocognitive pattern for SZ + SUD compared with BD + SUD and MDD + SUD. According to norms, all patients showed difficulties in verbal learning, short-term memory and recognition. Our research indicated that the neurocognitive functioning of dual disorder patients was influenced by the comorbid SMI, with SZ + SUD presenting major difficulties. Future studies should thoroughly explore the role of such difficulties as indicators or endophenotypes for dual schizophrenia disorders, and their usefulness for prevention and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent observation demonstrated that prolonged anesthesia modifies brain synaptic architecture in all ages, including adult. Propofol is the most commonly utilized anesthetics at clinic. Whether repeated administration of propofol modulates cognitive impairment in adults and changes synaptic plasticity remains, however, to be explored. In this study, we first discovered that repeated and prolonged exposure to propofol-induced cognitive impairment in adult rodents. Then, we examined the property of hippocampal primary neurons and slices after propofol treatment in mice, including synaptic protein profile, dendritic spine density, as well as synaptic transmission. We found the distinctive change of the F-box only protein 22 (FBXO22), an F-box E3 ligase, during this process and further explored its role. Knockdown experiments showed the downregulation of FBXO22 restored the changes by propofol treatment on hippocampal primary neurons and attenuated propofol-induced hippocampal dependent cognitive dysfunction. Our results showed that FBXO22 is involved in the regulation of repeated propofol treatment induced changes of synaptic plasticity and cognitive dysfunction in adult mice. Repeated propofol treatment leads to cognitive dysfunction by regulating FBXO22 in adult rodents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Cognitive deficits are a core feature of schizophrenia, and comorbid substance use may be a contributory factor. Methamphetamine use has been associated with cognitive impairment in schizophrenia, while associations with cannabis use are less clear‐cut. This study aimed to investigate the associations of cannabis and methamphetamine use with cognitive performance in first‐episode schizophrenia spectrum disorders over the first 2 years of treatment. Methods: This was a longitudinal cohort study in 81 patients treated with flupenthixol decanoate according to a standardized protocol over 24 months. Cognitive performance was assessed with the Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia Cognitive Consensus Battery at four time points, and urine testing for cannabis and methamphetamine was conducted at six time points. We used linear mixed‐effect models for repeated measures to assess visit‐wise changes in composite cognitive scores in patients (n = 91) compared to matched controls without psychiatric or medical disorders (n = 100). Linear regression models were constructed to examine pre‐treatment and end‐point effects in patients. Results: Compared to controls, patients exhibited greater cognitive impairments at baseline, which improved with treatment, but remained significantly lower throughout. The number of positive methamphetamine, but not cannabis, tests predicted less cognitive improvement in patients. Conclusions: Our findings suggest a negative association between methamphetamine and cognition, but not cannabis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to determine predictors of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Parkinson's disease (PD) and to explore their predictive value before and after controlling overlapping items between HRQoL and clinical variables.Methods: One hundred and eight PD patients underwent motor, anxiety, depression, apathy, fatigue, and neurocognition assessment. HRQoL was assessed by the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39 (PDQ-39). In order to determine predictors of HRQoL in PD, stepwise multiple regression analyses were performed in two ways: before and after removing the emotional well-being dimension from PDQ-39 to control the overlap between depression and anxiety, and HRQoL.Results: HRQoL total index was predicted by anxiety, fatigue, motor symptoms, and depression, explaining 26.9%, 7.2%, 2.8%, and 1.9% of the variance. However, after removing overlapping items, HRQoL total index was predicted by fatigue (16.5%), anxiety (6.1%), motor symptoms (3.9%), and neurocognition (2.5%), but not depression. Regarding HRQoL dimensions, mobility and activities of daily living were predicted by fatigue (19.7% and 5%) and UPDRS-III (4% and 10.2%); emotional well-being by fatigue (7.9%); social support by anxiety (12.2%) and UPDRS-III (8.6%); communication by neurocognition (5.3%) and UPDRS-III (3.4%); cognition by anxiety (10.6%) and bodily discomfort by anxiety (23%) and fatigue (4.1%).Conclusion: These findings showed the importance of identifying and controlling overlapping items of HRQoL and clinical measures to perform an accurate interpretation. HRQoL dimensions showed different predictors before and after controlling the overlap. Based on these results fatigue, anxiety, motor symptoms, and neurocognition, but not depression are the main predictors of HRQoL in PD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neurocognitive deficits are noted in anxiety disorders (ADs), albeit with several inconsistencies. The relationship between neurocognition and metacognition may have potential implications for understanding cognitive dysfunction but is poorly understood in ADs. This study aimed to examine the relationship between neurocognition and metacognition in ADs, with a cross-sectional design. Methods: The sample included ADs (n = 25) and nonclinical (n = 25) groups matched on age, gender, and education. Neurocognition was assessed using tests for intelligence, attention, working memory, fluency, flexibility, set-shifting, inhibition, planning, and memory; and metacognition using Metacognition Questionnaire-30 (MCQ-30) and Metacognitive Awareness and Regulation Scale (MARS). Results: Compared to comparison/normative scores, the anxiety group showed significantly poorer performance on zoo map test (low demand trial; P = 0.007), rule shift cards 1 (P ≤ 0.001), rule shift cards 2 (P ≤ 0.001), and logical memory immediate recall (P ≤ 0.001) and delayed recall (P ≤ 0.001); greater negative beliefs about worry (P = 0.005), and poorer metacognitive awareness and regulation (P = 0.01). Greater cognitive self-consciousness was correlated with better planning (Spearman's rho = −0.509, P = 0.009). Conclusions: Individuals with ADs show neurocognitive difficulties in planning, set-shifting, and logical memory, dysfunctional metacognition, and reduced metacognitive awareness and regulation. Cognitive self-consciousness is linked to better planning. The interrelationships between neurocognition and metacognition may have potential implications for clarifying inconsistent findings and designing novel cognitive interventions in ADs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a type of hemoglobinopathy characterized by abnormal hemoglobin molecules, which includes numerous acute and chronic complications. Ischemic stroke, silent cerebral infarction, headache, and neurocognitive impairment are the most common neurological complications associated with SCD. Summary: Acute anemia because of SCD can cause cognitive impairments because of cerebral hypoxia. Cognitive abnormalities in SCD manifest in various aspects such as working memory, verbal learning, executive functions, and attention. These neurocognitive impairments have been associated with poor functional results, such as transitioning from juvenile to adult care, adherence to medications, and unemployment. Key message: In this review, we focus on neurocognitive aspects of SCD patients based on different imaging techniques, psychological batteries, associated neuromarkers, and interventions for managing of cognitive deficiencies.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diffuse low-grade glioma (LGG) is a rare cerebral cancer, mostly involving young adults with an active life at diagnosis. If left untreated, LGG widely invades the brain and becomes malignant, generating neurological worsening and ultimately death. Early and repeat treatments for this incurable tumor, including maximal connectome-based surgical resection(s) in awake patients, enable postponement of malignant transformation while preserving quality of life owing to constant neural network reconfiguration. Due to considerable interindividual variability in terms of LGG course and consecutive cerebral reorganization, a multistage longitudinal strategy should be tailored accordingly in each patient. It is crucial to predict how the glioma will progress (changes in growth rate and pattern of migration, genetic mutation, etc.) and how the brain will adapt (changes in patterns of spatiotemporal redistribution, possible functional consequences such as epilepsy or cognitive decline, etc.). The goal is to anticipate therapeutic management, remaining one step ahead in order to select the optimal (re-)treatment(s) (some of them possibly kept in reserve), at the appropriate time(s) in the evolution of this chronic disease, before malignization and clinical worsening. Here, predictive tumoral and non-tumoral factors, and their ever-changing interactions, are reviewed to guide individual decisions in advance based on patient-specific markers, for the treatment of LGG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This cross-sectional study investigates the independent and interactive effects of depression and socioeconomic status (SES) on neurocognition in a diverse sample of people with HIV (PWH). The sample of 119 PWH (71% Latinx, 27% female) completed comprehensive neurocognitive and psychosocial evaluations and were separated into two groups: those with a history of depression diagnosis (n = 47) and those without (n = 72). The results of regression analyses indicated that lifetime depression was not associated with lower SES nor with worse neurocognitive performance on any neurocognitive outcome. However, a significant main effect of SES was observed on the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test (total), indicating that higher SES was associated with better verbal learning performance (B=.11, SE =.05, p<.02). Lastly, the results revealed an interactive effect of lifetime depression and SES, such that individuals with depression and higher SES performed better on tests of attention/working memory (i.e., WAIS-III Letter-Number Sequencing, B=.08, SE =.04, p<.02; Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test, B=.39, SE =.16, p<.02). Depression and SES appear to play an important role in the neurocognitive performance of PWH. Specifically, higher SES appears to have a protective effect on attention/working memory among PWH only if they have co-morbid history of lifetime depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) used to be standard of care for patients suffering from melanoma brain metastases (MBM) and may still be applicable in selected cases. Deterioration of neurocognitive function (NCF) is commonly seen during and after WBRT. Knowledge on long-term effects in melanoma patients is limited due to short survival rates. With the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors, patients may experience ongoing disease control, emphasizing the need for paying more attention to potential long-term adverse effects. Methods: In this single-center study, we identified in a period of 11 years all long-term survivors of MBM who received WBRT at least 1 year prior to inclusion. NCF was assessed by Neuropsychological Assessment Battery (NAB) screening and detailed neurological exam; confounders were documented. Results: Eight patients (median age 55 years) could be identified with a median follow-up of 5.4 years after WBRT. Six patients reported no subjective neurological impairment. NAB screening revealed an average-range score in 5/8 patients. In 3/8 patients a NAB score below average was obtained, correlating with subjective memory deficits in 2 patients. In these patients, limited performance shown in modalities like memory function, attention, and spatial abilities may be considerably attributed to metastasis localization itself. Six out of 8 patients were able to return to their previous work. Conclusion: Five of 8 long-term survivors with MBM after WBRT experienced little to no restriction in everyday activities. In 3 out of 8 patients, cognitive decline was primarily explained by localization of the metastases in functionally relevant areas of the brain. The results of our small patient cohort do not support general avoidance of WBRT for treatment of brain metastases. However, long-term studies including pretreatment NCF tests are needed to fully analyze the long-term neurocognitive effects of WBRT [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High levels of oxidative stress have been implicated in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Our objectives were to review the association between oxidative stress markers and neurocognitive functioning in schizophrenia. Electronic search of MEDLINE, ProQuest, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases was carried out in September 2022 to identify relevant English language articles. Articles identified were grouped under the following themes: comparison of oxidative stress or antioxidant biomarkers between patients with schizophrenia and general population, association between biomarkers of oxidative stress and cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia, and clinical trials evaluating the effect of antioxidant compounds on cognitive functioning in schizophrenia. We reviewed 36 eligible papers: 30 observational studies and 6 intervention trials. Marked heterogeneity was noted in patient population, oxidative stress markers examined, and cognitive measures. Majority (83.3%) of the observational studies were cross-sectional in design; half of them (50%) were conducted on chronic, stable, medicated patients. Most of the observational studies showed increased levels of oxidative stress biomarkers and decreased antioxidant activity in schizophrenia compared to controls. A significant positive association was noted between markers of antioxidant activity and cognitive performance in this group. Treatment trials of antioxidant agents showed positive but inconsistent evidence for benefits on cognitive measures and clinical symptomatology in schizophrenia. Our findings are broadly consistent with the redox imbalance hypothesis in schizophrenia. The significant associations noted between antioxidant markers and cognitive functioning may have key neurobiological and therapeutic implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Research on the influence of neurocognitive factors on suicide risk, regardless of the diagnosis, is inconsistent. Recently, suicide risk studies propose applying a trans-diagnostic framework in line with the launch of the Research Domain Criteria Cognitive Systems model. In the present study, we highlight the extent of cognitive impairment using a standardized battery in a psychiatric sample stratified for different degrees of suicidal risk. We also differentiate in our sample various neurocognitive profiles associated with different levels of risk. Materials and methods: We divided a sample of 106 subjects into three groups stratified by suicide risk level: Suicide Attempt (SA), Suicidal Ideation (SI), Patient Controls (PC) and Healthy Controls (HC). We conducted a multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) for each cognitive domain measured through the standardized battery MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB). Results: We found that the group of patients performed worse than the group of healthy controls on most domains; social cognition was impaired in the suicide risk groups compared both to HC and PC. Patients in the SA group performed worse than those in the SI group. Conclusion: Social cognition impairment may play a crucial role in suicidality among individuals diagnosed with serious mental illness as it is involved in both SI and SA; noteworthy, it is more compromised in the SA group fitting as a marker of risk severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aims to identify the functional heterogeneity in fully or partially remitted patients with bipolar disorder and explore the correlations between psychosocial functioning and sociodemographic, clinical, neurocognitive and biochemical variables. Methods: One hundred and forty fully or partially remitted patients with bipolar disorder (BD) and seventy healthy controls were recruited. The patients were grouped into different profiles based on the Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST) domain scores by hierarchical cluster analysis. The characteristics of subgroups and the correlations between psychosocial functioning and sociodemographic, clinical, neurocognitive and biochemical variables in each cluster were then analyzed. Results: There were three subgroups in fully or partially remitted patients with BD: the lower functioning group (LF), performed global functioning impairments; the moderate functioning group (MF), presented selective impairments in functional domains; and the good functioning subgroup (GF), performed almost intact functioning. Among the three subgroups, there were differences in FAST domains, sociodemographic variables, clinical variables, some neurocognitive domains and several biochemical indexes. Conclusions: The study successfully identified three functional subgroups. The characteristics of discrete subgroups and the specific clinical factors, neurocognitive domains and biochemical indexes that are correlated with functional subgroups will allow for making tailored interventions to promote functional recovery and improve the quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the 90's, during the heyday of the global neoliberal system, technologies were developed that facilitated the recognition of the function of the consumer's brain, thus entering the field of marketing, one of them is related to consumption based on taking of purchase decisions. Therefore, the objective of this research is to contribute to business growth, strengthening management strategies on marketing actions leveraged in neuromarketing in order to better understand the motivations that precede the purchase. This is how in the business world it is not enough to analyze what customers say, nor to observe the way they behave, it is also necessary to investigate the neurocognition mechanisms involved, from there the premise starts, it is more important to discover «what the person thinks», to recognize «what he says he thinks fundamental principle of behavioral economics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We investigated the impact of culturally relevant social, educational, and language factors on cognitive test performance among Spanish speakers living near the US–Mexico border. Methods: Participants included 254 healthy native Spanish speakers from the Neuropsychological Norms for the US–Mexico Border Region in Spanish (NP-NUMBRS) project (Age: M = 37.3, SD = 10.4; Education: M = 10.7, SD = 4.3; 59% Female). A comprehensive neuropsychological battery was administered in Spanish. Individual test scaled scores and T-scores (based on region-specific norms adjusted for age, education, and sex) were averaged to create Global Mean Scaled and T-scores. Measures of culturally relevant factors included a self-reported indicator of educational quality/access (proportion of education in Spanish-speaking country, quality of school/classroom setting, stopped attending school to work), childhood socioeconomic environment (parental education, proportion of time living in Spanish-speaking country, childhood socioeconomic and health status, access to basic resources, work as a child), and Spanish/English language use and fluency. Results: Several culturally relevant variables were significantly associated with unadjusted Global Scaled Scores in univariable analyses. When using demographically adjusted T-scores, fewer culturally relevant characteristics were significant. In multivariable analyses, being bilingual (p =.04) and working as a child for one's own benefit compared to not working as a child (p =.006) were significantly associated with higher Global Mean T-score, accounting for 9% of variance. Conclusions: Demographically adjusted normative data provide a useful tool for the identification of brain dysfunction, as these account for much of the variance of sociocultural factors on cognitive test performance. Yet, certain culturally relevant variables still contributed to cognitive test performance above and beyond basic demographics, warranting further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resilience has been increasingly recognized as a relevant area of research and clinical intervention in mental health. Although resilience is considered a putative protective factor against psychopathology development, its role in psychosis continuum disorders has been less frequently recognized. To examine neurocognitive and personality underpinnings of resilience in individuals prone to psychosis. 92 young adults were assessed with the battery of cognitive tests, TCI, CES-D, CAARMS, PQ-16, and CD-RISC-10. Linear regression was conducted to check, if resilience predicted the level of psychopathology. Correlational analysis was conducted to verify the relationships of resilience with neurocognitive and personality measures. A hierarchical multiple regression model was built to explain the predictors of resilience. Lower resilience predicted higher severity of the total CAARMS score, but was not related to positive symptoms. Cognition, personality, and depressive symptoms affected resilience. The strongest predictor of resilience was the severity of depressive symptoms. Interventions buffering resilience for psychosis-prone individuals should include therapeutic work on ego-strength and tasks mastering cognitive flexibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Schizophrenia and related disorders are highly disabling and create substantial burdens for families, communities, and health care systems. Although pharmacological treatments can often lessen the psychotic symptoms that are a hallmark of schizophrenia, they do not lessen the social and cognitive deficits that create the greatest impediments to community engagement and functional recovery. This study builds on prior research on psychosocial rehabilitation by comparing the effectiveness of two treatments demonstrated as efficacious in improving social and community functioning, Cognitive Enhancement Therapy (CET) and a version of Social Skills Training (HOPES/SST). Methods: The study uses a randomized cluster design in which a pair of clinicians at community- and hospital-based mental service centers deliver either CET or HOPES to at least one group of 6-8 eligible clients for 12 months. Clinicians are trained and then supervised weekly, with ongoing process measurement of treatment fidelity, attendance, satisfaction, and retention, and use of other services. Measures administered at baseline and at 6 and 12 months while in treatment, and then at 18 and 24 months after treatment include social adjustment, quality of life, social skills, positive and negative symptoms, and neuro- and social cognition. We hypothesize that CET will be associated with greater improvements than SST in both the primary outcome of community functioning and the secondary outcomes of neuro- and social cognition and social skills. Secondarily, we hypothesize that more cognitive impairment at baseline and younger age will predict more benefit from CET compared to HOPES. Discussion: Resource shortages endemic in mental health services and exacerbated by the pandemic highlight the importance of identifying the most effective approach to improving social and community functioning. We aim to improve understanding of the impact of two efficacious psychosocial treatments and to improve clinicians' ability to refer to both treatments the individuals who are most likely to benefit from them. We expect the result to be programmatic improvements that improve the magnitude and durability of gains in community functioning. Trial registration: ClinicalTrial.gov NCT04321759, registered March 25, 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aimed to identify and map the available evidence surrounding cochlear implantation (CI) in older adults. Five outcomes were evaluated: speech perception scores, perioperative complications, neurocognitive outcomes, quality of life outcomes and vestibular dysfunction and fall rates after surgery. A scoping review was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis extension for Scoping Reviews and included patients over the age of 60. Ninety-seven studies met inclusion criteria, encompassing 7,182 patients. Mean (SD) speech perception scores in quiet and in noise pre-and postoperatively were 7.9% (6.7) and 52.8% (14.3) and 8.0% (68.1) and 68.1% (15.9) respectively. Postoperative cardiac arrhythmias, urinary retention, and delirium occurred slightly more frequently in older adults. In terms of cognition, most studies noted stability or improvement one year after implantation. A majority of studies indicated better quality of life post-CI. Rates of fall after surgery were rarely reported, and there was a general paucity of data surrounding vestibular function changes after CI. This scoping review identifies many positive outcomes linked to CI in older adults. No findings suggest a single patient characteristic that would warrant refusal to consider evaluation for cochlear implantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Addiction is a worldwide problem with major health complications. Despite intensive treatment, relapse rates remain high. The prevalence of cognitive impairment is high in patients with substance use disorders (SUDs) and is associated with treatment dropout and relapse. Evidence indicates that cognitive function training in persons with SUDs may support treatment. Therefore, the use of web-based tools to test and train cognitive functions is of increasing interest. Objective: The goal of this study was to determine the feasibility and acceptability of a serious gaming smartphone app to test and train cognitive functions in addition to the treatment of SUDs. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted with 229 patients seeking addiction treatment. The patients were offered 2 smartphone apps in addition to regular care: MyCognition Quotient (MyCQ) assessed cognitive functions and AquaSnap trained these functions. The feasibility was determined based on acceptance rates. The acceptability of the smartphone apps was qualitatively analyzed based on the answers to a questionnaire. Patient characteristics were compared between patients who played and did not play smartphone games. Explorative correlation analyses were performed between the playing time and cognitive assessment scores. Results: Of the 229 patients who were offered the apps, 110 completed the MyCQ assessment, and 59 started playing AquaSnap, yielding acceptance rates of 48.0% and 25.8%, respectively. The group that completed the MyCQ assessment was significantly more educated than the group that did not download the apps (χ 2 2=7.3; P=.03). The education level did not differ significantly between the group that played AquaSnap and the group that did not (P=.06). There were relatively more women in the AquaSnap playing group than in the nonplaying group (χ 2 1=6.5; P=.01). The groups did not differ in terms of age, substance use, treatment setting, mood, or quality of life. With respect to acceptability, 83% (38/46) of the patients who filled out the questionnaire enjoyed taking the MyCQ measurement, whereas 41% (14/34) enjoyed playing the AquaSnap game. Furthermore, 76% (35/46) and 68% (23/34) rated the apps MyCQ and AquaSnap, respectively, as easy. More playing minutes was associated with decreased working memory reaction time and executive functioning accuracy. Conclusions: Our study showed that the use of a smartphone app for cognitive assessment in patients with SUDs who are interested and highly educated is feasible and acceptable for the subgroup that was asked to fill out a perception questionnaire. However, the use of a smartphone app for cognitive training was less feasible for this group of patients. Improvement of the training application and enhancement of the motivation of clients are needed. Despite these limitations, the present results provide support for future research investigating the use of smartphone apps for cognitive assessment and training in relation to the treatment of SUDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) comprise impairment of multiple cognitive domains and cause significant morbidity. International HIV Dementia Scale (IHDS) is a quite sensitive and specific method for screening for HAND, and Modified Mini-Mental State Examination (3MS), though nonspecific, contains more parameters for screening for neurocognition. Hence, we compared 3MS and IHDS as screening tools for HAND with an aim to find out which was a better screening tool for HAND. Methods: Using 3MS and IHDS, we assessed the cognitive status of 200 HIV-positive patients (65% males) and 84 controls, presenting to the Department of Medicine, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, India from September 2015 to September 2019. Results: According to 3MS, 42 (21%) HIV-positive patients were neurocognitively impaired (mean 76.24 ± 1.51), and 158 (79%) patients were not (mean 87.02 ± 4.16). As per IHDS, 185 (92.5%) HIV patients were neurocognitively impaired (mean 8.45 ± 0.88), and 15 (7.5%) patients were not (mean 11.13 ± 0.35). The mean 3MS score of controls was 87.56 ± 4.26, and the IHDS score was 9.73 ± 1.00. According to Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), moderate depression occurred in only 3.5% of the patients, and the rest had only minimal or mild depression. In IHDS, psychomotor speed was the most affected parameter, whereas in 3MS, similarities were the most affected. Conclusion: IHDS may be over diagnosing neurocognitive impairment in HIV patients due to difficulty in understanding the test, especially psychomotor speed testing. 3MS may be more accurate for detecting neurocognitive impairment in HIV patients, and scale combining both these methods may be a still better choice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is a prevalent disease in children characterized by snoring and narrowing of the upper airway leading to gas exchange abnormalities during sleep as well as sleep fragmentation. SDB has been consistently associated with problematic behaviors and adverse neurocognitive consequences in children but causality and determinants of susceptibility remain incompletely defined. Since the 1990s several studies have enlightened these associations and consistently reported poorer academic performance, lower scores on neurocognitive tests, and behavioral abnormalities in children suffering from SDB. However, not all children with SDB develop such consequences, and severity of SDB based on standard diagnostic indices has often failed to discriminate among those children with or without neurocognitive risk. Accordingly, a search for discovery of markers and clinically useful tools that can detect those children at risk for developing cognitive and behavioral deficits has been ongoing. Here, we review the advances in this field and the search for possible detection approaches and unique phenotypes of children with SDB who are at greater risk of developing neurocognitive consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Panamerican Journal of Neuropsychology / Cuadernos de Neuropsicología is the property of Cuadernos de Neuropsicologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)