bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Symposium 04: Innovative Ways of Applying Digital Technology in Neuropsychology - A Sneak Peak into the Future
Authors: Madore Michelle , Quiroz Yakeel 
Published: December 2023

Summary Abstract:The explosion of digital technology in the past decade has led to unprecedented possibilities towards improving cognitive assessment and understanding brain health. Digital technology encompasses using a multitude of devices, such as laptops, smartphones, etc, to collect health-related data. The settings can be varied to include in-clinic, remote/virtual, or a combination of hybrid models for data collection. Data can be collected at a single time point or over a continued period of time. Furthermore, the unique combination of devices used, settings, and methods of collecting digital data can become even more exclusive against the backdrop of the 'purpose’ for conducting the digital study. This symposium, consisting of four abstracts, brings together the unique combination of digital studies with exclusive devices, methodologies, settings, and purposes. The topics range from how smartphone-based assessments can be applied to understand the interaction between day-to-day variability in sleep and cognition, to the use of computerized testing to investigate the associations between cognitive performance and markers of brain pathology (e.g. amyloid and tau status), to understanding cognition from an open-source smartphone application to passively and continuously capture sensor data including global positioning system trajectories, to the development and validation of an online simulated money management credit card task, and to determining the effects of cognitive rehabilitation via digital technology on cognition, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and memory strategies.
24 Classification of Alzheimer Disease and Mild Cognitive Impartment Patient's Activities of Daily Living
Authors: Munoz Isabel D.C. , Gutierrez Veronica , Razani Jill 
Published: December 2023

Objective:Research has shown significant deficits in cognitive domains and a decline in activities of daily living (ADL) in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD). Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) also experience struggles with ADL; moreover, research documents that many MCI patients' symptoms gradually worsen such that their diagnosis eventually converts to AD. Different cognitive domains (i.e., memory, executive function, attention etc.) impact ADL performance. Commonly used instruments for assessing ADL are subjective measures filled by primary caregivers. Subjective measures are not able to assess actual ADL performance. Thus, performance-based tests, such as the Direct Assessment of Functional Status (DAFS), tests of ADLs are more informative. The purpose of this study is to analyze classification accuracy rates for AD and MCI patients with use of five ADL subscales and overall performance a performance-based ADL test.Participants and Methods:As part of a larger study, 61 patients diagnosed with AD and 54 age- and education matched patients diagnosed with MCI were administered the DAFS. All patients were administered the Direct Assessment of Functional Status test. This test assesses orientation to time, communication skills, knowledge of transportation rules, financial abilities, and ability to shop for groceries, as well as basic daily skills such as grooming and eating skills. For the purpose of this study, grooming and eating abilities were not used in the analysis.Results:Discriminant functional analysis was performed to assess the classification accuracy rates for AD and MCI patients using their ability to perform various types of ADL tasks on the DAFS. The analysis revealed total DAFS scores and all five subscales significantly classified AD and MCI patients performance (all p values < .01). While performance across the DAFS subscale scores accurately classified MCI at rates ranging from 67% - 90%, the rates of accurate classification was much lower for AD patients (29.5% - 62.3%). Of the subscales, the DAFS Shopping task best discriminated and classified the performance of AD at 62% and MCI at 67%.Conclusions:These results indicates that a performance-based ADL test can aid in classification of AD and MCI. The fact that the DAFS shopping subscale which requires learning and memory abilities had the best accuracy rates, is consistent with profound memory deficits found in AD patients. This study further highlights the importance of using observational-based measures to assess ADL in MCI and AD patients.
63 Longitudinal Decline in Everyday Functioning: Exploring the Incremental Validity of Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Dementia
Authors: Divers Ross , Calamia Matthew , Reed Christopher , Breaux Eathan , Runk Ashlyn , Rasmussen Lauren 
Published: December 2023

Objective:Decline in everyday function is a hallmark of dementia and is associated with increased caregiver burden, medical spending, and poorer quality of life. Neuropsychiatric symptoms (e.g., apathy, hallucinations) can also occur in those with dementia and have been associated with worse everyday functioning cross-sectionally. However, research on which neuropsychiatric symptoms are most associated with everyday functioning in those with dementia longitudinally has been more limited. Further, it is unknown which neuropsychiatric symptoms may add incremental validity beyond cognition in predicting everyday function longitudinally. The current study aimed to address both of these gaps in the literature by identifying which neuropsychiatric symptoms are most associated with everyday function over time and if symptoms add incremental validity in predicting everyday function beyond cognition in those with dementia.Participants and Methods:Older adult participants (N = 4525), classified as having dementia at baseline by the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center, were examined. Severity of neuropsychiatric symptoms were measured via the Neuropsychiatric Symptoms Questionnaire-Informant. Everyday function was assessed via the Functional Activities Questionnaire-Informant. Memory (Logical Memory immediate and delayed) and executive function (Digit Symbol Test, TMT-A and TMT-B) composites were created to assess cognition. Severity of neuropsychiatric symptoms at baseline were analyzed as predictors of everyday functioning beyond demographic factors and cognition at baseline and over the course of five years using multilevel modeling.Results:At baseline, severity of the majority of symptoms, excluding irritability, manic symptoms, and changes in appetite, were associated with everyday function (all p < .05). When examining everyday functioning longitudinally, only severity of hallucinations, apathy, motor dysfunction, and sleep dysfunction were associated with differences in everyday function over time (all p < .01).Conclusions:There is heterogeneity in the degree to which neuropsychiatric symptoms are associated with everyday functioning over time in those with dementia. Additionally, our results show that some neuropsychiatric symptoms are associated with longitudinal changes in everyday function beyond domains of cognition show to be associated with function. Clinicians should pay particular attention to which neuropsychiatric symptoms individuals with dementia and their families are reporting to aid with treatment planning and clinical decision making related to autonomy. Future research would benefit from examining pathways through which neuropsychiatric symptoms are associated with everyday functioning over time in this population, and if treatments of neuropsychiatric symptoms may improve everyday function in this population.
69 Verbal Comprehension and PTSD: A Glimpse into Trauma and Resilience
Authors: Bublitz Analisa , Mastan Joshua , Grivois Isabella , Nolty Anne , Amano Stacy 
Published: December 2023

Objective:Many of those who experience the trauma and abuse of sex trafficking also struggle with a variety of physical and mental health issues, a major one of those issues being posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In this study, we explored the relationship between verbal comprehension and a PTSD diagnosis to see if this aspect of intelligence might be stronger for individuals without a diagnosis of PTSD.Participants and Methods:Participants included 22 adolescent girls between the ages of 14 and 18 who had experienced sex trafficking. Participants were referred to Fuller Psychological and Family Services for learning difficulties, where they were given comprehensive clinical neuropsychological evaluations, including a Wechsler Intelligence Scale (WISC or WAIS) and a screening for PTSD. WISC or WAIS Full Scale IQ ranged from 75 to 115 (M = 85.1, SD = 11.2).Results:Contrary to the hypothesis that those without PTSD would have higher verbal comprehension scores than those with PTSD, the results indicated no difference between the two groups, t(23) = -.86 , p = .40. However, verbal comprehension scores across both groups were significantly below the normal range, suggesting a relationship between trauma and verbal comprehension.Conclusions:The diagnosis of PTSD may impact intelligence in ways not anticipated for this population, or perhaps our method of diagnosing PTSD did not adequately nuance the varying responses to trauma. By further exploring the relationships between Verbal Comprehension Indexes and markers of resilience, we may be able to better understand the characteristics of resilience demonstrated by those who become involved in prostitution.
73 Do depression, anxiety, or stress moderate the relationship between simple attention, working memory and verbal learning?
Authors: Laique Aamir , Springer Jessica , Axelrod Jenna , Breting Leslie Guidotti , Geary Elizabeth , Sweet Jerry J 
Published: December 2023

Objective:Working memory is a vital construct in efficient verbal memory encoding (Cotton & Ricker, 2021). Working memory is impacted by attentional capacities (Riccio, Cohen, Garrison, & Smith, 2005). Mood symptoms impact efficient information processing and consolidation of memory (Hubbard, 2016; Lukasik, 2019). This study examines self-reported symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress as possible moderators of the relationship between working memory and a verbal list-learning task.Participants and Methods:Archival data from 415 adults (Mage= 56.10, SD=18.05; Medu= 15.5 SD=2.2; 53% female; 73% white) were collected at an outpatient clinic. Sex and race were not available in a small percentage of cases included in analyses. The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale 4th Edition Digit Span subtest was given to assess attention and working memory. Although Digit Span Forward is a measure of simple attention, not working memory, it was included in initial analyses because the subtest was given as a whole. The three components of Digit Span total, Forward, Backward, and Sequencing were also investigated separately, with the two latter scores being better representations of working memory. Learning was assessed via the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT-II) total T-Score (Trials 1-5). Mood was assessed via the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-42).Results:Results of a hierarchical linear regression showed a significant effect between total Digit Span performance and total learning on the CVLT-II in the Block 1 (F(3, 411)=14.383, p =<.001 , AR2=.095). Standardized beta weights and p-values for Digit Span Forward, Backward, and Sequencing were (ß=-.50, p=.374), (ß= .159, p=.009), and (ß=.210, p<.001) respectively. In Block 2, when the DASS variables were introduced, the model remained significant F(3,408)=2.602, p=.05 , AR2=.017). The DASS anxiety and stress subscales had significant beta weights in the model (ß=-.172, p=.015) and (ß=.144, p=.039) respectively, with depression being insignificant (ß=--.023, p=.724).Conclusions:Mood symptoms have been shown to be an important consideration when assessing working memory and verbal learning performance (Massey, Meares, Batchelor, & Bryant, 2015). Present results demonstrate that when accounting for working memory, anxiety and stress were significant predictors of performance on a measure of verbal learning. Additionally, as the components best representing working memory, Digit Span Sequencing and Backward were significantly correlated with verbal learning, whereas a measure best representing simple attention, Digit Span Forward, was not significantly correlated with verbal learning.
6 Now or Later? Decision-Making Preferences in Community-Dwelling Older Adults
Authors: Halpin Amy , Brown Lily , Boeve Angelica , Michaud Sahvannah , Moore Lauren , MacAulay Rebecca K 
Published: December 2023

Objective:When deciding between now and later, the tendency to devalue later outcomes is known as temporal discounting. The degree of devaluing is known as one’s discounting rate. Steeper temporal discounting rates indicate preferences for immediate gains and delayed losses, reflecting a desire for instant gratification and greater loss aversion, respectfully. Considering that decrements in decision-making abilities may precipitate cognitive dysfunction and decline, a better understanding of decision-making preferences among older adults represents an important endeavor. Thus, the current study aimed to investigate whether differences among temporal discounting rates for gains and losses exist when outcomes are monetary or interpersonal in nature.Participants and Methods:One hundred and forty community-dwelling older adults aged 50 to 90 (75% female, Mage=71.6) completed a hypothetical discounting task in which they chose between smaller immediate outcomes and larger delayed outcomes presented at various delay periods of one week, one month, six months, and one year. An iterative algorithm determined the indifference point for each delay period. Indifference points were fit to hyperbolic models using nonlinear regressions to determine discounting rates within each condition. Nonparametric Wilcoxon Signed-Rank tests compared discounting rates.Results:Older adults more steeply discounted monetary gains as compared to monetary losses (Z=-6.88, p<.001), as well as for social gains compared to social losses (Z=-4.81, p<.001). They also discounted social gains more steeply than monetary gains (Z=-5.44, p<.001), and social losses more steeply than monetary losses (Z=-4.44, p<.001).Conclusions:Preliminary findings suggest older adults displayed a greater desire for instant gratification of rewards, particularly social rewards, yet also displayed lower loss aversion, particularly for monetary losses. Stronger preferences for instant gratification of gains in certain contexts may inform ways in which healthier lifestyle choices or changes could be framed to appeal to older adults.
11 Contributions of Cardiovascular Burden, Peripheral Inflammation, and Brain Integrity on Digital Clock Drawing Performance in Non-Demented Older Adults
Authors: Dion Catherine , Tanner Jared J. , Libon David J. , Price Catherine C. 
Published: December 2023

Objective:Higher cardiovascular burden and peripheral inflammation are associated with small vessel vascular disease, a predominantly dysexecutive cognitive profile, and a higher likelihood of conversion to vascular dementia. The digital clock drawing test, a digitized version of a standard neuropsychological tool, is useful in identifying cognitive dysfunction related to vascular etiology. However, little is known about the specific cognitive implications of vascular risk, peripheral inflammation, and varying levels of overall brain integrity. The current study aimed to examine the role of cardiovascular burden, peripheral inflammation, and brain integrity on digitally acquired clock drawing latency and graphomotor metrics in non-demented older adults.Participants and Methods:The final prospectively recruited IRB-consented participant sample included 184 non-demented older adults (age: 69±6 years, education: 16±3 years, 46% female, 94% white) who completed digital clock drawing, vascular assessment, blood draw, and brain MRI. Digital clock drawing variables of interest included: total completion time (TCT), pre-first hand latency (PFHL), digit misplacement, hour hand distance from center, and clock face area (CFA). Cardiovascular burden was calculated using the revised version of the Framingham Stroke Risk Profile (FSRP-10). Peripheral inflammation was operationalized using interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a), and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). The brain integrity composite was comprised of bilateral entorhinal cortex volume, bilateral ventricular volume, and whole brain leukoaraiosis.Results:Over and above age and cognitive reserve, hierarchical regressions showed FSRP-10, inflammatory markers, and brain integrity explained an additional 13.3% of the variance in command TCT (p< 0.001), with FSRP-10 (p=0.001), IL-10 (p= 0.019), and hsCRP (p= 0.019) as the main predictors in the model. FSRP-10, inflammatory markers, and brain integrity explained an additional 11.7% of the variance in command digit misplacement (p= 0.009), with findings largely driven by FSRP-10 (p< 0.001).Conclusions:Overall, in non-demented older adults, subtle behavioral nuances seen in digital clock drawing metrics (i.e., total completion time and digit misplacement) are partly explained by cardiovascular burden, peripheral inflammation, and brain integrity over and above age and cognitive reserve. These nuanced behaviors on digitally acquired clock drawing may associate with an emergent disease process or overall vulnerability.Funding sources: Barber Fellowship; K07AG066813; R01 AG055337; R01 NR014810; American Psychological Foundation Dissertation Award; APA Dissertation Research Award
36 Regional Amyloid and Memory in Amyloid Positive and Negative Older Adults
Authors: Cummings Kyla G. , Morales Clarissa D. , Cotton-Samuel Dejania , Lao Patrick J. , Deters Kacie D. , Zimmerman Molly E. , Brickman Adam M. 
Published: December 2023

Objective:Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathophysiology, including β-amyloid (Aβ), can be appreciated with molecular PET imaging. Among older adults, the distribution of Aβ standard uptake value ratios (SUVR) is typically bimodal and a diagnostic cut is applied to define those who are amyloid ‘positive’ and ‘negative’. However, it is unclear whether the dynamic range of SUVRs in amyloid positive and negative individuals is meaningful and associated with cognition. Previous work by Insel and colleagues (2020) used screening data from the Anti-Amyloid Treatment in Asymptomatic Alzheimer’s (A4) trial to demonstrate subtle associations between a cortical summary SUVR and cognition, particularly on the Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test (FCSRT). We followed up this study to determine the extent to which regional SUVR is associated with performance on the FCSRT in amyloid positive and negative participants screened for participation in the A4 study.Participants and Methods:We accessed regional Aβ SUVR, including anterior cingulate, posterior cingulate, parietal, precuneus, temporal, and medial/orbital frontal regions, along with FCSRT15 and demographic data from 4492 A4 participants at screening. Participants were coded as amyloid positive (n=1329; 30%) or amyloid negative (n=3169; 70%) based on a summary SUVR of greater than or equal to 1.15. We used separate general linear models to examine the association of total or regional SUVR, amyloid positivity status, and the interaction of SUVR and amyloid status with FCSRT scores. We compared model fits across regions with the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC). We ran post hoc correlational analyses examining the relationship between SUVR and FCSRT scores stratified by amyloid status in the case of significant interactions. Results were similar with and without demographic adjustment.Results:There was a significant interaction of summary and all regional SUVR with FCSRT scores in addition to main effects of amyloid positivity. In all models, there were small negative associations between SUVR and memory in amyloid positive individuals. For amyloid negative individuals, there was a significant and very small negative association between SUVR and FCSRT scores only in the parietal lobes and precuneus regions. Model fits were generally similar across the different analyses.Conclusions:In this sample of individuals screened for a secondary prevention trial of AD, there were consistent associations between Aβ SUVR in all regions and memory for those considered amyloid positive. However, for individuals considered amyloid negative, there were only very small associations between SUVR and memory in parietal and precuneus regions. We conclude that the dynamic range of amyloid may be relevant among those with diagnostic evidence of amyloidosis, but that subtle Aβ accumulation in posterior regions may relate to declining memory in “subthreshold” states.
71 Effect of Dementia Experience on the Relationship Between Dementia Worry, Knowledge of Dementia, and Age
Authors: Lambertus Taylor D , Calamia Matthew R , Suhr Julie A 
Published: December 2023

Objective:Dementia worry (DW) is anxious rumination about personal risk for dementia. Personal experience with dementia may affect DW, such that individuals with personal experience with dementia may have higher worry about developing dementia themselves. Further, dementia knowledge (DK), including what may increase one’s dementia risk as well as treatment options for dementias, may be influenced by one’s dementia experience. Prior studies have suggested that personal experience alters the relationship of age to DW; no prior studies have examined this for DK. In the present study, we examined whether DW and/or DK were differentially related to age in older adults.Participants and Methods:Adults (≥ 50 years old; N=252) in Ohio and Louisiana completed an online survey. 94 participants reported no personal dementia experiences, and 158 participants endorsed having a biological relative with dementia. The sample ranged in age from 23 to 92 (M=65, SD=9.3), with 96% identifying as White and 76% holding advanced degrees. DW was measured with the Dementia Worry Scale. Dementia knowledge was measured with true or false questions about causes and treatments for dementia.Results:Groups did not differ in age (p=.73), education (p=.50), or perceived SES (p=.28), but did differ in gender (p=.06). The experience group had higher dementia knowledge (p=.02). In those with biological dementia experience, lower age was related to higher dementia worry (r=-.24, p=.003) and greater dementia knowledge (r=-.18, p=.03). However, in those with no experience, age was not related to either dementia worry (r=.04) or to dementia knowledge (r=.16). Dementia worry did not relate to dementia knowledge in either group (no experience r=.03, experience r=.13).Conclusions:Findings suggest that younger individuals who have personal experience with dementia are highly worried about personal risk for dementia, despite having higher knowledge of dementia. Further, these results demonstrate that dementia knowledge is not related to dementia worry in older individuals with or without biological dementia experience. Findings may be important for informing dementia prevention education efforts.