Applied Neuropsychology-Adult最新文献

Cognitive difficulties are frequently mentioned by individuals reporting to perceive Low-Frequency Noise (LFN), i.e., noise around and below the average human hearing threshold between the frequencies of 20 Hz and 125/100 Hz. Yet, previous research on the effect of LFN on cognition has shown mixed results and does not provide clear evidence for impaired cognitive performance in relation to LFN. In this cross-sectional study, cognitive functions of individuals reporting LFN perceptions (LFN = 68) and individuals reporting no LFN perceptions (CG = 67) were compared using an extensive test battery measuring several aspects of (complex) attention, memory, and executive functions. In addition, cognitive performances were compared between individuals reporting LFN perceptions during testing (n = 35) and reporting no LFN perceptions during testing (n = 32). The LFN group showed significantly worse performance on the aggregated domain scores of attention and complex attention but not on memory or executive functions. However, these group differences were of small size. Further, no group differences were observed on the cognitive domain scores between individuals reporting LFN perceptions during testing and those reporting no LFN perceptions during testing. Concluding, cognitive difficulties do not seem to be overall strong or profound in individuals with reported LFN perceptions. Future research on factors distinguishing individuals with and without cognitive deficits, such as fatigue or sleep, are recommended.

This study investigated whether cognitive reserve, assessed through the Cognitive Reserve Index Questionnaire (CRIq), predicts performance in cold executive functions and hot socio-cognitive abilities in older adults. Ninety-four healthy older adults completed a set of cognitive and socio-cognitive tasks. Multiple regression analyses tested the predictive role of CRIq on reaction times, accuracy, and performance variability, while controlling for age and education. Higher CRIq scores significantly predicted faster reaction times across all executive function tasks, indicating more efficient processing. No significant associations emerged with accuracy or variability. Importantly, CRIq strongly predicted performance in both affective and cognitive theory of mind, independently of age and global cognitive functioning. Cognitive reserve plays a protective role in aging, supporting both processing speed and social-cognitive skills. These findings highlight the multifaceted influence of cognitive reserve, suggesting its relevance for maintaining executive and socio-cognitive functioning in older adults.

Neurocognitive training was associated with positive effects on global neurocognition in patients with Major Neurocognitive Disorders (ND). However, despite evidence linking sensory deficits to neurocognitive dysfunction in the older population, no prior intervention has targeted neurocognition, including the sensation domain. To explore the efficacy of neurocognitive training with a multisensory integration (MI) component, a sample of 110 older adults was recruited from both daycare centers and nursing homes. Of these, 46 were diagnosed with mild to moderate Major ND and completed a neuropsychological assessment protocol at pre-, post-intervention, and at a 4-month follow-up. Participants were randomly assigned to four groups: NeuroRi, a hands-on neurocognitive training programme; NeuroRi with a MI component; NeuronUP a technology-based programme; and passive control group. All but the passive group completed two sessions per week with neurocognitive tasks for four months. Although this is a pilot study, the preliminary results suggest that combining NeuroRi with MI may offer potential benefits across several neurocognitive domains, including sensory-perceptual functioning in mild to moderate Major ND. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution due to the small sample size and the complex design of the study. This work provides recommendations for the neurocognitive intervention, from planning to assessing meaningful changes, while recognizing the limitations of the study and the need for further research to confirm these preliminary results.

Reading is a multifaceted task that recruits executive function capacities (EFs)-neurocognitive processes that enable the management of complex tasks. EFs manifest in reading processes in specific ways. For example, graphophonological-semantic cognitive flexibility (GSF)-a reading-specific measure of executive function that indicates the ability to switch flexibly between graphophonological and semantic features of print-contributes to reading outcomes across the lifespan. However, individual, diagnostic GSF assessment is time-consuming and unwieldy in research and practice. This study compares the original GSF assessment to a computer-administered version in a sample of 170 adults, yielding a valid and reliable measure that expands opportunities for examination of reading-specific EFs in practice and research.

Objective: Sleep disturbances commonly co-occur with ADHD, yet their specific impact on ADHD symptoms and neurocognitive performance remains unclear. This study examines sleep problems in ADHD symptom reporting and neurocognitive functioning, independent of mood and anxiety.

Method: A cross-sectional sample of 238 adults referred for attention concerns completed a standardized battery of neurocognitive tests and self-report measures of sleep, depression, anxiety, and ADHD. Multiple linear regressions assessed associations between sleep problems and ADHD symptom reporting. ANOVAs examined differences in neurocognitive performance based on sleep status in the overall sample and individuals diagnosed with ADHD.

Results: Daytime sleepiness significantly predicted childhood and overall ADHD symptom endorsement, even after controlling for depression and anxiety. Notably, individuals reporting excessive daytime sleepiness exhibited poorer neurocognitive performance, whereas sleep quality did not.

Conclusion: These findings highlight the distinct roles of sleep quality and daytime sleepiness in ADHD-related concerns. Excessive daytime sleepiness, often overlooked in ADHD assessments, may contribute to symptom presentation beyond the influence of depression and anxiety symptoms. Given the high comorbidity of inattention across various conditions, comprehensive sleep assessments should be integrated into standard neuropsychological evaluations to improve diagnostic accuracy. Furthermore, this study underscores the need for targeted sleep-related interventions in ADHD treatment.

This is the first of five articles on state-of-the-art conceptualization and research on the use of performance validity tests (PVTs) in forensic neuropsychological assessment. PVTs are standardized psychometric tests especially aimed at determining the extent of examinee underperformance, to the point that their cognitive test performance can be deemed invalid, and not representative of their genuine abilities. The article reviews key terms in the field, which include: PVTs; symptom validity tests (SVTs); cut scores; neuropsychological assessment; malingering/feigning and related terms; (especially invalid response set and negative response bias (NRB); the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders' (DSM-5) approach to defining malingering; test standardization; classification accuracy statistics (specificity and sensitivity); the multidimensional Malingered Neurocognitive Dysfunction (MND) framework, and the Erdodi Index (EI) multivariate framework. We conclude that PVT data might indicate invalid response set but malingering is attributed only after careful analysis of the full examinee profile, and not just on the basis of examinee PVT scores. This present five-article series stands in contrast to criticisms of the use of PVTs in FDRA by the Leonhards, as reviewed in the fifth article in the series.

Objectives: Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) poses significant risks to cognitive, emotional, and neurological functioning. This review aimed to (a) identify effective neurophysiological assessment tools (b) evaluate standardized self report psychological inventories, and (c) highlight their strengths and limitations in diagnosing and managing CUD.

Methodology: A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted in line with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Peer-reviewed studies published between 2010 and 2022 were searched in PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Out of 797 identified records, 428 duplicates and 182 irrelevant studies were excluded. Following full-text screening, 58 studies met the inclusion criteria and were synthesized for analysis.

Results: Neurological assessments including fMRI, MRI, EEG, DTI, and TCD provided critical evidence of structural and functional brain alterations in individuals with CUD, particularly in regions governing memory, decision-making, and emotional regulation. Psychological tools such as the Cannabis Problems Questionnaire (CPQ), Cannabis Abuse Screening Test (CAST), Cannabis Use Disorders Identification Test-Revised (CUDIT-R), Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS), Cannabis Use Problems Identification Test (CUPIT), and Marijuana Problem Scale (MPS) demonstrated strong psychometric properties, making them effective for clinical and research applications.

Conclusion: Integrating neurological and psychological assessments provides a comprehensive diagnostic framework for CUD. Such multidimensional approaches support early detection, enhance treatment planning, and inform evidence-based interventions for improved clinical outcomes.

Cognitive Reserve (CR) is the brain's ability to preserve cognitive functioning despite aging or brain injury, based on life experience, such as education, occupation, and social activities. Commonly, CR is assessed using measures like the Cognitive Reserve Index questionnaire (CRIq), which is reliable across researchers and clinicians. To broaden its usage in the Indian context, the present study undertook the cultural adaptation of CRIq for the Malayalam-speaking population. The study was conducted in three phases: adaptation, translation, and validation of CRIq. Items identified as culturally not suitable during adaptation were removed. Systematic forward-backward translation was employed, and the linguistic accuracy was verified by experts. The final version was administered to 162 healthy Malayalam-speaking individuals across the young, middle, and older age groups. The data were subjected to suitable statistical tests. CRI-Total scores derived from CRIq differed substantially between age groups, with middle-aged adults scoring slightly better compared to young and older adults. In addition, a correlation between sub-sections of CRIq with total-CRI was noted. The Malayalam translation of the CRIq showed good test-retest reliability for assessing CR. The study signifies the importance of culturally adapted tools for the assessment of CR.

Objective: This study aimed to develop the first exploratory, descriptive data on teleneuropsychological test performance for Spanish-speaking Puerto Rican older adults, addressing a critical gap in culturally, linguistically, and technologically relevant research in this population.

Method: A total of 127 community-dwelling Puerto Rican adults aged 55 and older (M = 64.6, SD = 7.2) completed a videoconference-administered cognitive battery. Measures included the Mini-Mental State Examination, Modified Boston Naming Test, Logical Memory subtests, Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD) Word List Learning, Digit Span, and verbal fluency tasks. A novel, culturally appropriate phonemic fluency set ("P," "A," "N") tailored to Puerto Rican Spanish was also introduced. Sociodemographic variables (age, education, sex, bilingualism, and income) were examined as predictors of performance.

Results: Analyses indicated significant effects of age and education on test measures. Older age was associated with lower scores, and participants with higher education consistently outperformed peers with fewer years of schooling. No robust sex differences were found. Although bilingualism and income initially showed associations with performance, their effects were attenuated after adjusting for education. Performance on the novel letter fluency task followed predicted frequency patterns ("P" > "A" > "N") and was sensitive to both age and education.

Conclusions: The findings provide preliminary reference points that describe demographic influences on videoconference-based cognitive performance in a sample of Puerto Rican older adults. While not intended as clinical norms, these descriptive data contribute to the growing evidence base for teleneuropsychology in underrepresented populations and may inform future regression-based normative or comparison studies.

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is the most common type of localization-related epilepsy (LRE) and has been extensively studied in the field of neuropsychology due to its significant association with cognitive impairments. Cognitive decline has long been recognized as a consequence of this form of epilepsy, with previous studies primarily focusing on neurophysiological measures. In this study, both neurophysiological and neuropsychological factors were analyzed in TLE patients compared to healthy control subjects. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) tests were used to assess neuropsychological processes, while cognitive event-related potential (ERPs), particularly P300, were employed to analyze neurophysiological parameters. The study involved 21 TLE patients (mean age = 61.43) and 21 healthy control subjects. The results revealing that TLE patients scored significantly lower, indicating deficits in specific cognitive areas. The study also observed abnormalities in the ERPs, particularly in the assessment of P300 amplitude and latency, that may be indicative of underlying neural dysfunction related to attention and cognitive processing. In conclusion, the study provides compelling evidence of the association between TLE and a high incidence of cognitive deficits and decline. By considering both neurophysiological and neuropsychological factors, the study sheds light on the comprehensive impact of TLE on various cognitive domains and emphasizes the importance of early identification and management of cognitive impairments in TLE patients.