bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A-066 Recovery in Elementary-Age Children at Three Months Post-Concussion
Authors: T Tarkenton , S Bunt , C Hicks , L Hynan , H Rossetti , N Didehbani , C Silver , M Cullum 
Published: August 2020

Abstract

Objective
Inclusion of broad age ranges in most pediatric concussion studies limits understanding of recovery in elementary-age children. This study’s aim was to investigate the most commonly reported symptoms at 3-months post-concussion in children age 6–10 and determine if factors from initial clinic visit predict prolonged recovery.

Methods
Participants (n = 73) age 6–10 who reported to clinic within 30 days of concussion (M = 10.4, SD = 7.8 days) were selected from the North Texas Concussion Registry (ConTex). Chi-square and independent t-test were used to examine symptoms at 3 months. Participants were then divided into early (14 days post-injury, n = 29) and late (1 month post-injury, n = 35) recovery groups based on days to symptom resolution. Logistic regression was used to identify significant predictors for prolonged recovery. Variables considered for the final model included sex, ethnicity, presence of LD/ADHD, mechanism of injury, and initial post-concussive symptoms.

Results
For the late recovery group, total symptom score at 3 months was 8.3/132 (SD = 14.8, Range = 0–61). The most common symptoms were heightened emotionality (34.3%), headache (31%), and noise sensitivity (31%). The final logistic regression model (2 = 15.7(3), p = .003) included mechanism of injury and initial emotional symptoms as significant predictors for prolonged recovery. For every 1-point (out of 5) increase in emotional symptoms, participants were 1.4x more likely to be in the late recovery group. Concussions sustained by hit or fall were 6x more common in the late recovery group (p = .006).

Conclusions
Similar to adolescents, emotional symptoms play a role in predicting delayed recovery in elementary-age children. Mechanism of concussion may also impact recovery.
A-067 Behavior and Blood Biomarker Differences for Children with Fragile X Syndrome and Idiopathic Autism
Authors: D Sokol , D Miller , C Westmark , D Lahiri 
Published: August 2020

Abstract

Objective
A clearer understanding of behavioral and blood biomarker differences in individuals with Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) and idiopathic autism is necessary as advancement in gene therapies and medication targeted to the FXS single gene abnormality are being trialed in autism. Our primary objective is to determine Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADIR) item/domain differences in children with FXS and autism, controlling for age, IQ, and autism severity. Our secondary objective is to demonstrate blood protein biomarker group differences.

Method
Participants were drawn from a larger study examining amyloid precursor protein (APP) metabolite levels in children with FXS (n = 18) and autism (n = 21) from Indiana University Riley Hospital Clinics. Complete data were available for children with full FXS mutations (n = 9, and autism (n = 9, one girl), matched for age, MSEL IQ, and CARS severity scores. ADI-R was administered to mothers by staff trained to research reliability. Western blot for APP and fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) were performed on peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Results
No significant group differences are seen via Mann–Whitney U after Bonferroni multiple comparison, likely due to low power. However, two trends in our data corroborate recent reports: social smiling (item 51) is more intact for FXS [U(18) = 20.5,Z = -1.76,p = 0.085, 95%CI = -0.15–1.93,r = 0.41] and Restricted Behavior Scale [U(18) = 21,Z = -1.72,p = 0.09,95%CI = -0.57–2.79,r = 0.40] was more pronounced in autism. Western blot showed variations in APP and FMRP between FXS, autism and controls (Figure 1).

Conclusions
Trends in behavioral ADI-R scores and blood biomarker APP differences exist between FXS and idiopathic autism. Further study of these preliminary results should inform appropriate treatment endpoints for autism and FXS.
A-069 Comparing Driving Errors in Young Adults with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: M Showell , M Schultheis , K Patrick 
Published: August 2020

Abstract

Objective
Research has found differences in driving behaviors of individuals with and without autism spectrum disorder (ASD), though it is unclear whether differences translate to poorer driving. This study assessed whether ASD diagnosis, executive functioning, and regulation of driving speed and lane positioning predict errors during a simulated drive.

Method
Participants included 88 16–26 year-olds (45 ASD; 73 Male) who completed assessments of executive functioning and a simulated drive. The drive included a rural route without distractions, the same route with secondary tasks, a highway drive, and a residential drive. For the residential drive, coders documented drivers’ errors including driving onto a curb, crossing the center lane, turning from the wrong lane, running a red light or stop sign, illegally changing lanes, and hitting a person or car. A hierarchical regression included stepwise insertion of ASD diagnosis, neurocognitive performance, and speed and lane deviation as predictor variables and the square root of driving errors as the outcome variable.

Results
Drivers with ASD committed significantly more errors than non-ASD drivers, p = .03, R2 = .06. Neurocognitive performance added significant predictive value, p = .001, R2Adj = .15. Speed and lane regulation also added significant predictive value, p &lt; .001, R2Adj = .39. The full model accounted for 46% of the variance in driving errors.

Conclusions
Novice drivers with ASD may be more likely than their peers to make overt, potentially dangerous, errors while driving. Assessment of executive function and less dangerous driving behaviors such as regulation of speed and lane positioning may help to identify individuals at highest risk for committing driving errors and inform driving interventions.
A-081 Cognitive Reserve Factors Influence Neuropsychological Performance in Alcohol Use Disorder
Authors: S Mcnally , S Syan , T Hargreaves , H Sarles Whittlesley , C McIntyre-Wood , B Surprenant , E Mackillop , J Mackillop , L Sweet 
Published: August 2020

Abstract

Objective
Cognitive reserve (CR) refers to the brain’s capacity to cope with pathology and preserve functioning. We investigated cognitive performance between individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and healthy controls to examine whether CR, operationalized as education and psychosocial functioning, influences neuropsychological functioning.

Method
We recruited 45 AUD (DSM-V criteria) who reported drinking levels exceeding NIAAA guidelines (&gt;14/7 drinks/week for men/women) and 30 healthy controls who did not. MANCOVAs controlling for CR were used to investigate between-group differences in neuropsychological performance, as measured by the NIH Toolbox. A series of linear regression analyses were also performed to evaluate effects of AUD and CR on neuropsychological performance. Psychosocial functioning, education, and AUD status were simultaneously entered as predictors of Flanker, Dimensional Change Card Sort, Picture Sequence, List Sort, and Processing Speed scores.

Results
MANCOVAs revealed a significantly slower processing speed in the AUD group compared to controls when controlling for CR (F = 4.30, p = .042). There were no significant group differences on other tests. Linear regressions showed only processing speed to be predicted by AUD (β = −.255, p = .042), while CR measures were not. Education predicted Picture Sequence (β = .245, p = .041) and Card Sort (β = .291, p = .009) performance, and psychosocial functioning predicted Flanker (β = .296, p = .021) and Card Sort (β = .316, p = .010) performance.

Conclusions
CR appears to contribute to higher-order cognitive functions, regardless of AUD status. Only processing speed, a domain typically susceptible to brain pathology, was significantly related to AUD. Thus, factors linked to CR may serve as important targets for future research and intervention in AUD to promote favorable cognitive outcomes.
A-085 Sports Anxiety Scale − 2: More Sensitive to College Athlete Anxiety
Authors: N Cherry , K Morgan , K Larson , K Shumway , G Andrews 
Published: August 2020

Abstract

Objective
Concussed student-athletes’ responses on two self-report questionnaires were recorded at two points within the semester in order to evaluate distinguishing changes in psychological symptoms.

Methods
A sample of (n = 21) collegiate athletes participated in a pre-post study. Student-athletes were recruited from various sports at a private University through the General Psychology course. The participants (age range 18–22, M = 19.38, SD) included 10 females, 11 males.. A pre-post study, mixed-methods experimental design was employed as part of a larger physiological study. The pre-measures included an informed consent, demographic questionnaire, self-report measures (Generalized Anxiety Scale-7 (GAD-7) and the Sports Anxiety Scale-2 (SAS-2)), and 5-time rating scale of performance. All responses were gathered in the neurocognitive lab of the graduate department.. The post-session occurred 5–6 weeks after the initial session, again gathering data on GAD-7 and SAS.

Results
A within-subject analysis of the data revealed a main effect for time with a moderate effect size (p = .026) in the decrease of SAS-2 total scores. This significant decrease in SAS-2 total scores occurred across groups and across genders in the post-intervention measures. For the GAD-7 measure, there were no significant changes.

Conclusion
The significant findings for the SAS-2 total scores suggest it is a more sensitive measure of anxiety for healthy college athletes who have a concussion history than the GAD-7. Because of the limited number of participants, further research is necessary to confirm the applicability of the SAS-2.
A-089 The Role of Anxiety Severity and Neurocognitive Functions in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: G Lee , J Suhr , L Boxley , C Nguyen 
Published: August 2020

Abstract

Objective
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor and nonmotor symptoms. While much of the extant literature on neuropsychiatric symptoms and cognitive deficits have focused on depression, comparatively less have examined the role of anxiety among patients with PD. Here, we examined levels of anxiety severity (i.e., minimal, mild, moderate–severe) and cognition in this population.

Method
Fifty-six PD patients (M age = 60.8 ± 9.3; 69.6% male) being considered for surgical intervention were evaluated at an outpatient clinic. Inclusion criteria included no history of neurosurgical procedure and no other diagnosis of a neurodegenerative disorder. Participants completed a battery of neuropsychological tests and reported mood symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale-15, Beck Anxiety Inventory). Those who scored above clinical cutoffs for depressive symptoms were excluded due to high comorbidity with anxiety. Motor symptom severity was rated by neurologists using the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale.

Results
Analysis of covariance revealed significant group differences on tests of working memory (p = .03), set-shifting (p = .04), problem-solving (p = .05), and phonemic fluency (p = .03) when controlling for motor symptom severity. PD patients with moderate–severe levels of anxiety performed significantly lower than those with minimal or mild anxiety (p’s &lt; .05). There were no other significant group differences in neuropsychological test performance.

Conclusions
These findings suggest measurable differences in neurocognitive functions associated with frontostriatal circuits among PD patients with varying levels of overall anxiety. Future work should consider the potential overlap between anxiety and PD symptoms as they relate to cognition.
A-09 Concussion History May Accelerate Cognitive Decline in Older Adults
Authors: S Bell , J Maietta , J Caldwell , N Hawley , A Ritter , J Cummings , J Miller 
Published: August 2020

Abstract

Objective
Concussion is a common occurrence among older adults, stemming largely from falls. Evidence suggests that history of moderate–severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) increases risk for cognitive decline and dementia; however, long-term outcomes associated with concussion remain unclear. This study aims to investigate longitudinal cognitive change among older adults with self-reported concussion history (CH).

Method
Older adults (n = 39) enrolled in an observational, longitudinal study by the Center for Neurodegeneration and Translational Neuroscience diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease were studied, including 14 with CH. Participants completed baseline and one-year follow-up testing, including the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Repeated measures ANCOVA with age and education covariates assessed change in MoCA Total Scores from baseline to follow-up based on CH.

Results
Main effects for age, education, time, and CH were not significant; however, significant interaction for CH by time was revealed, F(1,34) = 4.46, p &lt; .05 such that those with CH demonstrated significantly greater decline from baseline to follow-up than those without CH (p &lt; .05). In the CH group, change over time was associated with an effect size of 1.20 (Cohen’s d) compared to an effect size of 0.22 in the non-CH group.

Conclusions
History of concussion may lead to accelerated rate of cognitive decline in those diagnosed with MCI and AD over a 1-year period, which is consistent with prior research in moderate–severe TBI. These results preliminarily support the notion that concussion may be associated with significantly worse cognitive outcomes among older adults. Confirmation of our findings in larger samples and prospective validation of the observation are warranted.
A-095 Processing Speed Indicators in Juvenile Huntington’s Disease: Assessing CAG Repeat, Age of Onset, and Mood
Authors: N Goecke , D Dawson , A Choate , K Boress , P Espe-Pfeifer , P Nopoulos 
Published: August 2020

Abstract

Objective
In adult onset Huntington’s Disease (HD), processing speed deficits and depression can be detected in the prodromal stages. These factors, along with CAG repeat length, may be predictive of age of symptom onset. However, less is known about the relationship between the aforementioned factors for patients diagnosed with Juvenile Huntington’s Disease (JHD). The current study aimed to investigate the relationships between age of symptom onset, CAG repeat, processing speed, and mood to improve prediction of symptom manifestation for JHD patients.

Method
Data was analyzed from the Kids HD study and included 30 participants (age at diagnosis M = 13.6, SD = 5.4, CAG repeat mean = 69, SD = 16). Bivariate partial correlations, independent t-tests, and regression analyses examined differences in processing speed across CAG repeat, age of onset, and depressive symptomology.

Results
CAG repeat length significantly predicted the natural log of age at diagnosis, β = −.59, t(25) = −3.59, p &lt; .01, and significantly explained variance in the natural log of age at diagnosis, R2 = .35, F(1, 25) = 12.86, p &lt; .01. Finally, results indicated that CAG repeat length also predicted processing speed abilities when controlling for depressed mood symptomology, R2 = .39, F(3,24) = 5.18, p &lt; .01.

Conclusion
CAG repeat length holds predictive power for the age of diagnosis and for processing speed, even when accounting for covariate depressive mood indicators. Overall, results indicate evidence of impacted processing speed abilities given expansive CAG repeat numbers. This is consistent with a subcortical neurodegenerative process, such as HD.
A-099 Depression as a Factor in Neuropsychological Test Performance
Authors: C Gass , B Patten 
Published: August 2020

Abstract

Objective
Evaluate the relation between depression and performance on six widely used tests: the Boston Naming Test, Category Fluency Test, Controlled Oral Word Association Test, Corsi Block Tapping Test, Mazes and Trail Making Test (TMT), Parts Speed, A and B.

Method
Participants: 77 women and 33 men referred for a comprehensive neuropsychological examination in an outpatient memory disorders clinic as part of a broader neurodiagnostic workup for memory complaints and possible cognitive decline. Referral sources: neurologists (78%), primary care physicians (21%). Patients’ mean age: 59.3 (SD =12.1); education: 15.1 (SD = 2.7) years. They were screened from a larger sample (N = 175) for any known history of brain disorder or positive neurodiagnostic findings. They met performance and symptom validity criteria (Reliable Digit Span and scores on MMPI-2 validity scales). Diagnostically, 62% of the sample had mood disorders. Using their median score on the Depression scale of the MMPI-2 (T = 70), patients were classified into High and Low Depression groups (ns = 55). The two groups were no different on age, education, or predicted level of intelligence (Test of Premorbid Function).

Results
On all six of the neuropsychological tests (eight measures), scores were compared across the two groups. There was no main effect (MANOVA) for group, F(8,101) = 1.03, p = .427. Univariate comparisons revealed no intergroup differences across tests.

Conclusion
Results suggest that severity of depressive symptoms is not related to performance on these neuropsychological tests. In cooperative examinees, these tests are valid for assessing brain-based abilities independent of the examinees’ emotional status.
A-104 Meta-Analysis of Neuropsychological Intra-Individual Variability in Mild- and Moderate/Severe-Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: S Aita , D Knapp , C Demming , B Hill 
Published: August 2020

Abstract

Objective
Intra-individual variability (IIV) applied to cognition refers to scatter of performances at the individual level. This study meta-analyzed research that examined consistency (i.e., within-task) IIV in mild-traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and moderate/severe-traumatic brain injury (msTBI) compared to normal controls.

Method
Using PRISMA-guided search parameters, eight databases within the EBSCO network as well as ProQuest Dissertations & Theses were searched for studies comparing cognitive IIV between TBI and control samples. Random-effects modeling was used for all analyses. Hedge’s g was used as the index of combined effect size, and Q and I2 were evaluated for heterogeneity analyses.

Results
This study was a part of a broader meta-analysis looking at IIV across all clinical samples. The initial search strategy yielded 2,962 results, which were reduced to 87 studies for final inclusion. This meta-analysis included 12 studies (mTBI: k = 9, 64 effect sizes; msTBI: k = 5, 10 effect sizes). Meta-analysis resulted in a significant combined effect size across all TBI studies (g = 0.45, Q = 23.49, I2 = 53.17). When stratifying for TBI severity, msTBI samples yielded a greater combined effect size (g = 0.66, Q = 10.70, I2 = 62.61) than mTBI (g = 0.39, Q = 10.49, I2 = 23.74). Highest degree of between-study heterogeneity was noted in the msTBI studies.

Conclussions
Broad TBI as well as mTBI and msTBI studies yielded significant combined effect sizes, consistently showing elevated cognitive IIV in TBI samples compared to healthy controls. The combined effect size approximately doubled from mTBI to msTBI. This provides evidence that consistency-based IIV is sensitive and possibly specific to neurologic/pathologic burden. This supports prior literature framing IIV as an index of neurological health.
A-106 Analysis of Switching and Clustering Performance in Anglo-Americans and Hispanic Traumatic Brain Injury Survivors and Healthy Comparison Adults
Authors: S Fatoorechi , D Lopez-Hernandez , S Mangassarian , P Litvin , J Knight , A Bichlmeier , R Rugh-Fraser , D Hardy , D Budding , R Cervantes , N Graub , P Vespa , D Hovda , D McArthur , D Plurad , J Fuster , E Woo , K Boone , M Wright 
Published: August 2020

Abstract

Objective
Research shows traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivors underperform compared to healthy comparison participants (HC) on verbal fluency tasks. Verbal fluency is typically comprised of two tasks: letter fluency and semantic fluency. During verbal fluency trials, participants often cluster responses and switch between clusters, which can serve as measures of executive control and organization. Also, research shows that Anglo-Americans (AA) outperformed ethnic minorities on various aspects of cognitive functioning. We examined the relationship between TBI and ethnic diversity on letter fluency, semantic fluency, switching, and clustering.

Method
The sample included 45 HC adults (21 Hispanics; 24 AA), 33 acute TBI adults (ATBI; 11 Hispanics; 22 AA), and 26 chronic TBI adults (CTBI; 9 Hispanics; 17 AA).

Results
The groups were well matched, with the exception of gender. ANCOVAs, controlling for gender, revealed HC outperformed ATBI participants on letter fluency, p = .007, ηp2 = .10, letter switching, p = .006, ηp2 = .10, and semantic switching, p = .018, ηp2 = .08. We also found HC outperformed both TBI groups in sematic fluency performances, p = .000, ηp2 = .15. Next, we found Hispanics outperformed AA on letter clustering, p = .003, ηp2 = .09 and semantic clustering, p = .010, ηp2 = .07. Finally, an interaction emerged in letter clustering, p = .044, ηp2 = .06, with the Hispanic ATBI outperforming the AA ATBI group.

Conclusion
The HC group outperformed both TBI groups only on semantic fluency, but they outperformed the ATBI survivors on letter fluency, letter switching, and semantic switching. Hispanics outperformed AA on letter clustering and semantic clustering, suggesting the use of clustering over switching strategies to provide verbal fluency responses in this group.
A-107 Historyt of Remote Mild TBI Predicts Poor Health-Related Quality of Life Outcomes in Military Veterans
Authors: M Sakamoto , L Delano-Wood , D Schiehser , V Merritt 
Published: August 2020

Abstract

Objective
We examined health-related quality of life (QOL) in military Veterans with and without a history of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Additionally, we investigated how mTBI injury characteristics modify health-related QOL.

Method
Veterans with a history of remote mTBI (n = 81) and military controls (MCs) without a history of mTBI (n = 62) completed self-report questionnaires measuring combat exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and neurobehavioral symptoms, and health-related QOL. Primary outcomes included the eight subscales of the 36-Item Short-Form Survey (SF-36).

Results
ANCOVAs adjusting for combat exposure and PTSD symptoms found that the mTBI group demonstrated significantly more health-related QOL symptoms when compared to MCs across the following SF-36 subscales: General Health, Vitality, Bodily Pain, Physical Role Functioning, and Social Functioning (p = .001–.045, ηp2 = 0.03–0.07). Within the mTBI sample, repetitive mTBI, combat exposure, and PTSD and neurobehavioral symptoms collectively significantly predicted all five QOL subscales (all p’s &lt; .001), accounting for roughly 33–53% of the total variance. Greater neurobehavioral symptoms were associated with lower Physical Role Functioning, Vitality, and Social Functioning scores; repetitive TBI was associated with higher Bodily Pain scores; greater PTSD symptoms were associated with lower Social Functioning scores; and greater combat exposure was associated with lower General Health scores.

Conclusions
Results suggest that, over and above PTSD and combat exposure, mTBI status independently contributes to health-related QOL. Moreover, specific dimensions of health-related QOL are influenced by different factors, with affective and vestibular-related neurobehavioral symptoms showing the strongest negative associations with health-related QOL. Findings highlight the need for comprehensive assessment and multimodal treatment within this vulnerable population.