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J Neurol Sci 2019 Feb 7;399:36-43. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Department of General Radiology, Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, Radiology, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 213, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland.

The study was performed to evaluate cerebral volume changes in HCV-infected subjects before and after interferon-free therapy with direct-acting antiviral agents (DAA). We aimed also to estimate the impact of successful DAA therapy on the neuropsychological state of patients. Eleven HCV genotype 1 (GT1) patients treated with ombitasvir/paritaprevir (boosted with ritonavir) and dasabuvir, with or without ribavirin underwent brain magnetic resonance (MR) before and 24 weeks after completion of therapy. Read More

Am J Med Genet C Semin Med Genet 2019 Feb 14. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Department of Pediatrics, eXtraOrdinary Kids Turner Syndrome Clinic, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado.

Individuals with Turner syndrome (TS) are at risk for a constellation of neurocognitive and psychosocial differences, although there is significant individual variability in these features. TS is associated with an increased risk for difficulties with visual-spatial reasoning, visual-spatial memory, attention, executive functioning, motor, and math skills. Additionally, increased rates of social difficulties, anxiety, and depression are observed. Read More

Alzheimers Res Ther 2019 Feb 12;11(1):18. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

Institut de la Mémoire et de la Maladie d'Alzheimer (IM2A), Centre des Maladies Cognitives et Comportementales, Hôpital La Salpêtrière, Paris, France.

Background: There are currently no approved treatments for the prodromal stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Approved symptomatic treatments for mild-to-moderate AD include acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and memantine, but more efficacious treatments are needed. BI 409306 is a potent and selective phosphodiesterase 9 inhibitor assessed for the symptomatic treatment of AD. Read More

Indian J Psychiatry 2019 Jan-Feb;61(1):45-52

Department of Psychiatry, Erenkoy Mental Health and Neurological Disease Trainig and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.

Background: Patients with schizophrenia were found to be less successful at emotion recognition tasks (ERTs) than healthy individuals. There is a debate surrounding whether this deficit is permanent or temporary. The current study aims to assess how emotion recognition skills are affected by treatment processes and during the course of the disease and also to determine the relation of this change with clinical assessment scales, other cognitive functions, and quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG). Read More

Zhonghua Liu Xing Bing Xue Za Zhi 2019 Feb;40(2):180-185

Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.

To study the dose-response relationship between maternal thyroid hormone levels in the first twenty weeks of pregnancy and the infant physical and neuropsychological development. In this prospective cohort study, a total of 945 women and their children were included. Maternal serum samples during first half of the pregnancy were collected and analyzed for levels of thyroid hormones by using the electro-chemiluminescence immunoassay. Read More

Appl Neuropsychol Adult 2019 Feb 8:1-7. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

a Mental Health 116C , VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System , Ann Arbor , Michigan , USA.

The Grooved Pegboard Test (GPT) is used primarily as a measure of motor functioning, but some research indicates that performance on this test my also reflect cognitive factors, particularly attention and executive functioning. The aim of this study was to examine rule violations as a possible quantifiable measure of executive functioning, particularly inhibitory control. In a sample of 82 veterans undergoing neuropsychological evaluation at a Virginia (VA) outpatient clinic, we recorded instances of two types of rule violations: using the incorrect hand during insertion and placing pegs out of sequence. Read More

Front Psychol 2019 24;10:49. Epub 2019 Jan 24.

Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Department of Neurosciences DNS, Padova, Italy.

The Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Test (BRB-NT) does not explore the executive functions. We combined BRB-NT and Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System Sorting Test (D-KEFS ST) to obtain a more comprehensive evaluation of cognitive impairment in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients. 137 Relapsing Remitting MS (RRMS) patients underwent a detailed neuropsychological assessment including BRB-NT, D-KEFS ST and self-administrated questionnaires, namely the Multiple Sclerosis Neuropsychological Questionnaire (MSNQ), the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and the Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition (BDI-II). Read More

Sci Rep 2019 Feb 7;9(1):1562. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Grup de Recerca Infancia i Entorn (GRIE), Institut d'investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.

Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is the most deleterious health effect derived from alcohol consumption during pregnancy and is placed at the end of the Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). Few studies have proposed potential molecular biomarkers of physical and neurological damage associated with prenatal alcohol exposure. We prospectively recruited 55 children from 8 to 12 years old, with a prenatal assessment for ethanol exposure using meconium analysis of fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE). Read More

Schizophr Res 2019 Feb 4. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, United States of America.

Cognitive impairment in schizophrenia is often severe, enduring, and contributes significantly to chronic disability. A standardized platform for identifying cognitive impairments and measuring treatment effects in cognition is a critical aspect of comprehensive evaluation and treatment for individuals with schizophrenia. In this project, we developed and tested a suite of ten web-based, neuroscience-informed cognitive assessments that are designed to enable the interpretation of specific deficits that could signal that an individual is experiencing cognitive difficulties. Read More

Mult Scler 2019 Feb 7:1352458519828296. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Department of Psychology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli," Caserta, Italy.

Background:: Behavioral symptoms, such as apathy and depression, are common in multiple sclerosis (MS) but their relationship with cognitive and clinical characteristics often remains underinvestigated and not monitored over time.

Objective:: The aim of this study was to assess the evolution of cognitive profile of patients affected by MS in relation to apathy and depression using a 2-year follow-up study.

Methods:: Two years after the first assessment, 100 of 125 MS patients were re-evaluated on a comprehensive neuropsychological battery, and on specific scales for assessment of apathy (Apathy Evaluation Scale-Self-reported) and depression (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale). Read More

J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2019 Feb 7:1-7. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

1American University of Beirut,Department of Psychiatry,Beirut,Lebanon.

This study, reports for the first time, the neuropsychological profile of a child with Hamamy syndrome-a rare genetic disorder with only five published cases (Buget, Canbolat, Akgul, & Kucukay, 2015). The patient was seen for a neuropsychological evaluation at ages 6 and 7, at the American University of Beirut Medical Center. Procedures included an extended clinical interview with the parent, behavioral observations, formal tests, and a series of parental rating scales. Read More

J Popul Ther Clin Pharmacol 2018 Jul 11;25(2):e1-e11. Epub 2018 Jul 11.

Dept of Neurology, Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad 500 082 India.

Objectives To study the clinical profile and outcome in patients with epilepsy who developed psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) associated with levetiracetam (LEV) use.   Methods In this prospective observational study, conducted over 1 year, 13 patients with epilepsy and PNES, documented by video electroencephalogram (VEEG) while on LEV, were included. Those with past history of psychiatric illnesses were excluded. Read More

Geroscience 2019 Feb 6. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 921 NE 13th Street, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA.

As data on prevalence and etiology of dementia in American Indians are limited, we sought to determine rates and patterns of memory loss among American Indian veterans with vascular risk factors. Sixty consecutive outpatient American Indian veterans with a mean age of 64 years (range 50-86), without prior dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and with ≥ 2 vascular risk factors were enrolled. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the Beck Depression Inventory-II were used to screen for cognitive impairment and depression. Read More

J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol 2019 Feb 6. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

1 Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Children's Sciences, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.

Objectives: Whether PANS (pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome) and PANDAS (pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infection) represent true clinical entities is debated and data for a characteristic phenotype are still controversial. In this study, we aim to characterize clinical, neuropsychological, and biochemical aspects in a sample of PANS and PANDAS patients.

Methods: Patients fulfilling a clinical diagnosis of PANS or PANDAS from 2014 to 2017 were enrolled. Read More

Epilepsy Res 2019 Jan 29;151:17-23. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Division of Neurology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.

Background: Language mapping with high-gamma modulation (HGM) has compared well with electrical cortical stimulation mapping (ESM). However, there is limited prospective data about its functional validity. We compared changes in neuropsychological evaluation (NPE) performed before and 1-year after epilepsy surgery, between patients with/without resection of cortical sites showing HGM during a visual naming task. Read More

BMC Infect Dis 2019 Feb 4;19(1):105. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Clinic of Infectious Diseases - Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara, Pescara, Italy.

Background: The correlation among high levels of total homocysteine, low levels of Bvitamin, and neurocognitive impairment in HIV negative patients has been the main research topic in some of the latest reviews. The aim of this study was to examine if the alteration of homocysteine, B vitamin, and D vitamins plasma levels was present in HIV-positive, and their relationship with cognitive function.

Methods: 57 HIV infected were enrolled and underwent the serum measurement of homocysteine, B, and D vitamins. Read More

Arch Clin Neuropsychol 2019 Feb 1. Epub 2019 Feb 1.

Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.

Objective: To investigate whether the General Educational Development (GED) certificate should be considered equivalent to a standard 12-year high school education when performing demographic corrections on neuropsychological performance levels. If the GED certificate and high school diploma reflect comparable levels of educational achievement, then performance on the Test of Premorbid Function (TOPF) and selected WAIS-IV indices should not differ between groups.

Method: Archival neuropsychology data were reviewed to identify patients who either (1) did not complete high school and did not subsequently obtain a GED, (2) did not complete high school but subsequently obtained a GED, or (3) completed high school and did not obtain any further formal education. Read More

J Alzheimers Dis 2019 Jan 28. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

Cognitive Impairment Center, Local Health Autority n.2 Marca Trevigiana, Treviso, Italy.

We report the case of a woman firstly referred to our Memory Clinic at the age of 61, following the development of cognitive complaints and difficulties in sustained attention. The investigation that was performed showed: predominant executive dysfunctions at the neuropsychological evaluation, with mild, partial and stable involvement of the memory domain; cortical and subcortical atrophy with well-preserved hippocampal structures at MRI; marked fronto-temporal and moderate parietal hypometabolism from 18F-FDG PET study with a sparing of the posterior cingulate and precuneus; positivity of amyloid-β at 18F-Flutemetamol PET; an hexanucleotide intermediate repeats expansion of C9ORF72 gene (12//38 repeats) and ApoE genotype ɛ4/ɛ4. The patient was diagnosed with probable early onset frontal variant of Alzheimer's disease (AD), presenting with a major executive function impairment. Read More

Int Psychogeriatr 2019 Feb 4:1-8. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Alzheimer's Disease Research and Clinical Center, Gérontopôle,Toulouse University Hospital,Toulouse,France.

ABSTRACTObjectives:To study potentially modifiable factors associated with the severity of agitation or aggression (A/A) symptoms among Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients.

Design: Data from the Impact of Cholinergic Treatment Use (ICTUS) study, European longitudinal prospective observational study.

Setting: Community dwelling outpatients included in 29 European memory clinics. Read More

Maturitas 2019 Mar 7;121:48-56. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Universidade da Coruña, Gerontology Research Group, Instituto de Investigación biomédica de A Coruña (INIBIC), Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de A Coruña (CHUAC), SERGAS, A Coruña, Spain.

Objective: To analyze the definition of "cognitive frailty" and to study the conceptual and operational definitions used and their implications for empirical research. The relationships between this concept and cognitive reserve, the role of neuropathology and brain reserve, motor signs of aging and the reversibility of cognitive frailty are also discussed.

Study Design: Systematic review of empirical studies identified from Medline Advanced 1966, CINAHL, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Scopus until August 2017. Read More

Mult Scler Relat Disord 2019 Jan 23;29:100-107. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, - MRI Research Center SUN-FISM, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", P.zza Miraglia 2, Naples 80138, Italy.

Background: People with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (pwRR-MS), may be affected by subclinical gait impairment. The Expanded Disability Status Scale, the most used scale to assess MS related disability, may be insensitive to subclinical gait disability. Minor gait abnormalities may be detected by three Dimensional-Gait Analysis (3D-GA). Read More

Ann Phys Rehabil Med 2019 Jan 29. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Rhône-Alpes MS network, GHE, hôpital Neurologique, 69500 Bron, France; Neurological rehabilitation, hôpital Henry-Gabrielle, CHU de Lyon, 69230 Saint-Genis-Laval, France; Lyon 1 university, 69100 Villeurbanne, France; Centre de recherche en neuroscience de Lyon (CRNL), IMPACT Team, Inserm, U1028, CNRS, UMR5292, 69675 Bron, France. Electronic address:

Background: Cognitive dysfunction is common in multiple sclerosis (MS). Deficits can affect attention, concentration, planning, and memory. They can have severe functional consequences in many domains. Read More

Childs Nerv Syst 2019 Jan 30. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Department of Neurological Sciences, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.

Objective: To determine whether preoperative non-lateralizing scalp electroencephalography (EEG) influences seizure outcome following peri-insular hemispherotomy (PIH) in pediatric hemispheric epilepsy.

Methods: Retrospective data was collected on all 45 pediatric patients who underwent PIH between 2005 and 2016. All underwent a basic pre-surgical evaluation consisting of detailed history and examination, neuropsychological assessment, MRI, and EEG. Read More

Clin Neuropsychol 2019 Jan 30:1-15. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

a Psychology Section, Department of Pediatrics , Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children's Hospital , Houston , TX, USA.

Objective: Complete prenatal cerebellar infarction is rare and few reports exist documenting developmental outcomes. We report outcome data on a child who sustained a stroke to the bilateral cerebellar hemispheres at 25 weeks gestation, and was subsequently seen for follow-up neuropsychological evaluations at ages 5 years, 5 months and 7 years, 9 months.

Method: Retrospective chart review. Read More

J Am Osteopath Assoc 2019 Feb;119(2):96-101

Background: Neuropsychological deficits, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and problems with instrumental activities of daily living are common in participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Objectives: To assess how subtle to mildly impaired instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) might be related to neuropsychological abilities (including executive control and episodic memory) and neuropsychiatric symptoms (including apathy and depression) among participants with a diagnosis of MCI.

Methods: Participants were evaluated for MCI and possible dementia at an outpatient memory clinic on the basis of a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation, a geriatric psychiatry evaluation, a magnetic resonance image of the brain, and serum studies to evaluate for a possible reversible cause of cognitive decline. Read More

Child Neuropsychol 2019 Jan 24:1-11. Epub 2019 Jan 24.

g Copeman Healthcare Centre.

Despite its popularity in the neuropsychological evaluation of children, the utility of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - Fifth Edition (WISC-V) has not yet been investigated in children with epilepsy. Eighty clinically referred children and adolescents with epilepsy were administered the WISC-V as part of a comprehensive assessment and scores were compared to matched controls from the WISC-V standardization sample. T tests compared WISC-V indices and subtests between patients and controls and Chi-square analyses compared the rates of low scores. Read More

Alzheimers Res Ther 2019 Jan 22;11(1):10. Epub 2019 Jan 22.

Department of Neurology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 50 Ilwon-dong, Kangnam-ku, Seoul, 135-710, Republic of Korea.

Background: Although amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) is generally considered to be a prodromal stage of Alzheimer's disease, patients with aMCI show heterogeneous patterns of progression. Moreover, there are few studies investigating data-driven cognitive trajectory in aMCI. We therefore classified patients with aMCI based on their cognitive trajectory, measured by clinical dementia rating sum of boxes (CDR-SOB). Read More

Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab 2018 Dec 18;32(6):805-820. Epub 2018 Jun 18.

Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA.

Several studies suggested that the condition of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) may be associated not only with the classical bone, kidney and gastrointestinal consequences, but also with cardiovascular, neuromuscular and articular complications, impaired quality of life and increased cancer risk. However, the only cardiovascular complications associated with PHPT, which seems to improve after parathyroidectomy, is left ventricular hypertrophy, while, data regarding the reversibility of hypertension, valve calcifications and increased vascular stiffness are inconsistent. Parathyroidectomy seems to ameliorate neuropsychological, cognitive disturbances and quality of life in moderate-severe PHPT, while data in mild PHPT are less clear. Read More

Lancet Neurol 2019 Feb;18(2):177-184

Geriatric Medicine Research, Centre for Health Care of the Elderly, Nova Scotia Health Authority, Halifax, NS, Canada; Department of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada. Electronic address:

Background: Some people with substantial Alzheimer's disease pathology at autopsy had shown few characteristic clinical symptoms or signs of the disease, whereas others with little Alzheimer's disease pathology have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's dementia. We aimed to examine whether frailty, which is associated with both age and dementia, moderates the relationship between Alzheimer's disease pathology and Alzheimer's dementia.

Methods: We did a cross-sectional analysis of data from participants of the Rush Memory and Aging Project, a clinical-pathological cohort study of older adults (older than 59 years) without known dementia at baseline, living in Illinois, USA. Read More

Epilepsy Behav 2019 Jan 15;92:125-134. Epub 2019 Jan 15.

Multidisciplinary Epilepsy Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Bulevar sur, s/n Carretera de Malilla, 46026, Valencia, Spain.

People with drug-resistant epilepsy are exposed to unpredictable and uncontrollable seizures, which can be considered as a chronic stress condition. Additionally, these patients present memory deficits and a high prevalence of depression and anxiety. Cortisol, the main stress hormone, has a modulatory role on memory in healthy individuals and patients with emotional disorders, but its role in memory and emotional processes remains unclear in people with epilepsy. Read More

Exp Gerontol 2019 Jan 15;118:106-116. Epub 2019 Jan 15.

Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Italy; European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing, Brussels, Belgium.

Neural correlates of placebo analgesia (PA) in patients with neurocognitive disorders have not yet been elucidated. The present study aimed to evaluate how and to what extent executive (dys)functions of the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) may be related to PA. To this end, twenty-three subjects complaining of different cognitive deficits (from mild cognitive impairment likely due to Alzheimer's disease to mild AD) were recruited. Read More

J Dev Behav Pediatr 2019 Feb/Mar;40(2):152-153

Division of Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI.

Case: Charles is a 10-year-old African-American male who presents to the Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Clinic for evaluation of his learning. His primary care provider (PCP) was concerned that his developmental delays were negatively affecting his ability to engage in his homeschooling curriculum and also that his mother seemed unaware of the severity of his delays. Neuropsychological evaluation had been recommended by the PCP several times in the past, but the family declined. Read More

Clin Neuropsychol 2019 Jan 16:1-29. Epub 2019 Jan 16.

d Psychology Department , Brock University , St. Catharines , Canada.

Objective: This study was undertaken to explore multimethod neurocognitive screening tools to aid in detection of older adults who may be at heightened risk of pathological cognitive decline (preclinical dementia). In so doing, this study advances the theoretical conceptualization of neurocognitive adaptability in the context of aging and dementia.

Method: This article reports original data from the baseline measurement occasion of a longitudinal study of healthy, community-dwelling older adults from the Victoria, British Columbia region. Read More

Clin Neuropsychol 2019 Jan 12:1-15. Epub 2019 Jan 12.

a Department of Psychiatry , University of Massachusetts Medical School , Worcester , MA , USA.

Objective: Performance validity assessment is a crucial component of any neuropsychological evaluation, particularly in settings where potential exaggeration of complaints and deficits is heightened. Standalone performance validity measures can be time-consuming, so many investigations have explored embedded indices within existing measures. The Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) and the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (ROCF) each have a number of available embedded performance validity tests (PVTs). Read More

Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2019 Jan 14;1:CD012732. Epub 2019 Jan 14.

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Royal Park Campus, Poplar Road, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3052.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a major cause of chronic, neurological disability, with a significant long-term disability burden, often requiring comprehensive rehabilitation.

Objectives: To systematically evaluate evidence from published Cochrane Reviews of clinical trials to summarise the evidence regarding the effectiveness and safety of rehabilitation interventions for people with MS (pwMS), to improve patient outcomes, and to highlight current gaps in knowledge.

Methods: We searched the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews up to December 2017, to identify Cochrane Reviews that assessed the effectiveness of organised rehabilitation interventions for pwMS. Read More

Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2019 Jan 12. Epub 2019 Jan 12.

Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Brazil.

Aim: Sleep disorders can be associated with an increased risk for cognitive decline in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). The aim of this study was to examine the association between cognitive status and presence of sleep symptoms and sleep disorders in PD patients.

Methods: We evaluated excessive sleepiness, other sleep symptoms and performed polysomnography and neuropsychological evaluation in 79 patients. Read More

Appl Neuropsychol Adult 2019 Jan 11:1-11. Epub 2019 Jan 11.

d Austin Neuropsychology PLLC , Austin , Texas, USA.

Interpretive strategies for the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) include Wechsler's four-factor structure and the five-factor Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) model. The frequency of profile occurrence and the contribution of demographic- and ability-related variables to their incidence are unknown. Current participants were 291 referrals (males = 134; female = 157) for neuropsychological evaluation with mean years for age and education of 34. Read More

Appl Neuropsychol Adult 2019 Jan 11:1-11. Epub 2019 Jan 11.

a War Related Illness and Injury Study Center , VA Palo Alto Healthcare System , San Jose , California , USA.

Numerous advantages of and concerns about computerized neuropsychological assessment systems have been noted. Here we report a program evaluation of incorporating a computerized system, the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB), in our tertiary assessment center for Veterans. Patients were 23 consecutive referrals to the Western War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, an interdisciplinary assessment center within the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System for Veterans with complex medical presentations. Read More

Am Fam Physician 2019 Jan;99(2):101-108

University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, Wichita, KS, USA.

Neuropsychologists provide detailed assessments of cognitive and emotional functioning that often cannot be obtained through other diagnostic means. They use standardized assessment tools and integrate the findings with other data to determine whether cognitive decline has occurred, to differentiate neurologic from psychiatric conditions, to identify neurocognitive etiologies, and to determine the relationship between neurologic factors and difficulties in daily functioning. Family physicians should consider referring patients when there are questions about diagnostic decision making or planning of individualized management strategies for patients with mild cognitive impairment, dementia, traumatic brain injury, and other clinical conditions that affect cognitive functioning. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Jan;98(2):e14041

Division of Speech Pathology and Audiology, College of Natural Sciences, Hallym University.

In clinical settings, the language ability of patients with neurologic communication disorders have been measured by quantitative parameters such as the total number of words in dialogue and picture description tasks. However, this quantitative analysis requires a long period of time in order to analyze the quantitative parameters, and results can differ according to discourse tasks. The purposes of this study are to explore whether SR-D may predict the quantitative measures of discourse tasks. Read More

Dement Geriatr Cogn Dis Extra 2018 Sep-Dec;8(3):439-452. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Solna, Sweden.

Background/aims: Many patients presenting to a memory disorders clinic for subjective memory complaints do not show objective evidence of decline on neuropsychological data, have nonpathological biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease, and do not develop a neurodegenerative disorder. Lifestyle variables, including subjective sleep problems and stress, are factors known to affect cognition. Little is known about how these factors contribute to patients' subjective sense of memory decline. Read More

Iran J Psychiatry 2018 Oct;13(4):288-295

Neurocognitive Laboratory, Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Verbal fluency tests (VFTs) are widely used in clinical practice and research to assess executive functions and are highly sensitive to frontal lobe lesions. However, using VFTs in different cultures and languages needs further considerations. The aim of this study was to provide a Persian (Farsi) version of verbal fluency with preliminary normative data. Read More

J Clin Med 2019 Jan 8;8(1). Epub 2019 Jan 8.

Diabetes and Metabolism Research Unit. Vall d'Hebron Research Institute, 08035 Barcelona, Spain.

Type 2 diabetic (T2D) subjects have a significantly higher risk of developing mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia than age-matched non-diabetic individuals. However, the accurate evaluation of cognitive status is based on complex neuropsychological tests, which makes their incorporation into the current standard of care for the T2D population infeasible. Given that the ability to maintain visual gaze on a single location (fixation) is hampered in Alzheimer's disease (AD), the aim of the present study was: (1) To assess whether the evaluation of gaze fixation during fundus-driven microperimetry correlated with cognitive status in T2D subjects; (2) to examine whether the addition of fixational parameters to the assessment of retinal sensitivity increased the predictive value of retinal microperimetry in identifying T2D subjects with MCI. Read More

Front Psychol 2018 18;9:2618. Epub 2018 Dec 18.

Addictions Research Group, University of South Wales, School of Psychology & Therapeutic Studies, Pontypridd, United Kingdom.

Neuropsychological assessment is central to identifying and determining the extent of Alcohol-Related Cognitive Impairment (ARCI). The present systematic review aimed to synthesize and discuss the evidence appraising the neuropsychological tests used to assess ARCI in order to support clinicians and researchers in selecting appropriate tests for use with this population. We searched for studies investigating the psychometric, diagnostic and practical values of tools used in the screening, diagnosis, and assessment of Korsakoff's Syndrome (KS), Alcohol-Related Dementia (ARD), and those with a specific diagnosis of Alcohol-Related Brain Damage (ARBD). Read More

Support Care Cancer 2019 Jan 4. Epub 2019 Jan 4.

Primary Care Research Unit, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, 2075 Bayview Ave, Suite E349, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Purpose: Evidence suggests endocrine therapy (ET) for breast cancer (BC) has adverse cognitive effects, but its specific effects on older women are unknown. This is despite the fact that older women are at increased risk of both breast cancer (BC) and cognitive decline relative to younger women. This study prospectively examined the cognitive effects of ET in a cohort of older BC patients. Read More

Appl Neuropsychol Child 2019 Jan 4:1-11. Epub 2019 Jan 4.

c Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università Sapienza di Roma , Roma , Italy.

Present single case proves the effectiveness of a theory-based cognitive treatment on numerical and calculation abilities in developmental age. Both evaluation and treatment were designed on the bases of current models of numerical cognition, in particular Von Aster's developmental model. At the age of 7. Read More

Arch Clin Neuropsychol 2019 Jan 4. Epub 2019 Jan 4.

Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Objective: A number of studies have documented the benefits of neuropsychological evaluation as a tool for understanding brain-behavior relationships in various childhood disorders; however, little is known about the process by which children are referred for neuropsychological evaluation. From a systems perspective, it is important to understand whether there are identifiable referral patterns, and if so, how being aware of such patterns could shape the behavior of providers making those referrals. We aim to examine child characteristics that influence referral for neuropsychological evaluation. Read More

Psychiatriki 2018 Jul-Sep;29(3):199-208

Second Department of Psychiatry, Attikon General Hospital, University of Athens, Medical School, Athens.

Bipolar disorder is associated with neurocognitive impairment but the etiology of such impairment remains largely unknown. The present study aimed at investigating the performance of bipolar patients in various neuropsychological tasks within the framework of HPA axis hyperactivity model and also the impact of disease characteristics on neuropsychological functioning. Cognitive performance of 60 bipolar-I patients and 30 healthy controls was evaluated by using tasks from the CANTAB battery targeting visual memory, executive function and inhibitory control. Read More

Curr Alzheimer Res 2019 01 3. Epub 2019 Jan 3.

Danish Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen. Denmark.

Background: Determining the underlying etiology of dementia can be challenging. Computer-based clinical decision support systems (CDSS) have the potential to provide objective comparison of data and assist clinicians.

Objectives: To assess the diagnostic impact of a CDSS, the PredictND tool, for differential diagnosis of dementia in memory clinics. Read More

Mult Scler Relat Disord 2018 Dec 21;28:145-152. Epub 2018 Dec 21.

Service de Physiologie, Explorations Fonctionnelles, Hôpital Henri-Mondor, AP-HP, Créteil, France; EA 4391, Excitabilité Nerveuse et Thérapeutique, Université Paris-Est-Créteil, Créteil, France; Neurology Division, Lebanese American University Medical Center-Rizk Hospital (LAUMC-RH), Beirut, Lebanon. Electronic address:

Background: Fatigue is a multifactorial symptom frequently reported by multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. To date, the pathophysiology of MS fatigue remains poorly understood and little is known about the relationship between this symptom and various clinical, neuropsychological, neurophysiological and radiological data. The aim of this work is to understand the underlying mechanisms of MS fatigue by means of a multidimensional evaluation. Read More