bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
25 Specific Facets of Trait Mindfulness Show Differences in Associations with Affective and Cognitive Measures in Older Adults
Authors: Brown James , Timblin Holly , Brown Lily , Tallman Morgan , MacAulay Rebecca 
Published: December 2023

Objective:Trait mindfulness is associated with reduced stress and psychological well-being. However, evidence regarding its effects on cognitive function is mixed and certain facets of trait mindfulness are associated with higher negative affect (NA). This study investigated whether specific mindfulness skills were associated with cognitive performance and affective traits.Participants and Methods:165 older adults from the Maine Aging Behavior Learning Enrichment (M-ABLE) Study completed the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center T-Cog battery, the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule-SF.Results:All five facets of trait mindfulness were associated with higher Positive Affect and lower NA, with the exception that Observation was not associated with trait NA. Partial correlations adjusting for age indicated that better episodic memory was associated with Observation, Describing, and Nonreactivity. Verbal fluency performance was associated with Observation, while Working Memory was associated with Nonjudgment. Executive Attention/Processing speed was associated with total mindfulness scores and showed a trend relationship with Nonreactivity.Conclusions:Mindfulness skills showed specific patterns with affective traits and cognitive function. These findings suggest that the ability to maintain awareness, describe, and experience internal and external states without reacting to them may partly rely on episodic memory. Mindful awareness skills also may depend on frontal and language functions, while the ability to experience emotional states without reacting may require Executive Attention. Global mindfulness and a non-judgmental stance may require auditory attention. Alternatively, mindfulness skills may serve to enhance these functions. Hence, longitudinal research is needed to determine the directionality of these findings.
35 Impact of Cardiorespiratory Fitness and White Matter Lesions on Processing Speed with Age
Authors: Baller Kelsey L , Jain Shivangi , Springer Jenna , Sodoma Matthew , Oehler Chris , Daniels Will , Armstrong Matthew , Gimblet Colin , Nuckols Virginia , Muellerleile Michael , Nagarajan Nagalakshmi , Bjarnason Thorarinn A. , Harb Nidal , Pierce Gary L , Voss Michelle W 
Published: December 2023

Objective:Processing speed declines with age and is a strong predictor of age-related cognitive decline in other domains, and in predicting who will need help with tasks of daily living in later years. Higher cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) reflects better cardiopulmonary health and is related to maintenance of processing speed and cognition into late life. On the other hand, white matter lesions (WML) are reflective of age-related brain network disconnections from damage to white matter tracts in the brain. Lower CRF and higher WML burden have each been related to poorer cognitive performance. Although higher CRF provides a protective effect on cognition, the combined effects of CRF and WML on processing speed have yet to be determined. Specifically, whether CRF and WML independently affect processing speed or if WML moderates the effect of CRF on processing speed is yet to be established. We predicted WML may moderate CRF benefits on cognitive aging if CRF-related cognitive benefits are weakened by high WML load. Here, we test this question with the gold-standard measure of CRF, maximal exercise oxygen uptake (relative VO2 max, mL/kg/min) during a graded exercise test, and a validated neuropsychological measure of processing speed, the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST).Participants and Methods:CRF, DSST scores, and WML volumes of cognitively normal adults (n=91) aged 55-80 years were included in this analysis. The WML data was corrected for total intracranial volume and was log transformed. A linear regression model included the number of accurately completed items on the DSST as the dependent variable and age, sex, relative VO2 max, WML volumes and the interaction between relative VO2 max and WML volume as the predictor variables.Results:Main effects of age, sex, VO2 max and WML volume on the DSST were observed. Greater age, higher WML volume, and lower relative VO2 max were associated with poorer performance on the DSST. In addition, females (n=55) performed better than males (n=36) on the DSST. No significant interaction was observed between VO2 max and WML volume on DSST scores.Conclusions:Our results show that 1) WML and relative VO2 max independently contribute to processing speed performance in older adults as measured by the DSST, and 2) WML do not moderate the relation between VO2 max and the DSST. Strengths of this study include gold-standard measurement of CRF and WML volumes as predictors of performance on the DSST in older adults. Further research is warranted to understand how vascular aging and brain health indicators interactively or interdependently impact cognition in aging.
40 Associations Between Cardiovascular Risk, White Matter, and Medication Predictors on Longitudinal Cognitive Change in the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC) Cohort
Authors: Rotblatt Lindsay J , Tanner Jared J , Cohen Ronald A , Horgas Ann L , Marsiske Michael 
Published: December 2023

Objective:Drawing on the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC) Uniform Data Set (UDS), this study aimed to investigate the direct and indirect associations between vascular risk factors/cardiovascular disease (CVD), pharmacological treatment (of CVD), and white matter hyperintensity (WMH) burden on overall cognition and decline trajectories in a cognitively diverse sample of older adults.Participants and Methods:Participants were 1,049 cognitively diverse older adults drawn from a larger NACC data repository of 22,684 participants whose data was frozen as of December 2019. The subsample included only participants who were aged 60-97 (56.7% women) who completed at least one post-baseline neuropsychological evaluation, had medication data, and both T1 and FLAIR neuroimaging scans. Cognitive composites (Memory, Attention, Executive Function, Language) were derived factor analytically using harmonized data. Baseline WMH volumes were quantified using UBO Detector. Baseline health screening and medication data was used to determine overall CVD burden and total medication. Longitudinal latent growth curve models were estimated adjusting for demographics.Results:More CVD medication was associated with greater CVD burden; however, no direct effects of medication were found on any of the cognitive composites or WMH volume. While no direct effects of CVD burden on cognition (overall or rate of decline) were observed, instead we found that greater CVD burden had small, but significant, negative indirect effects on Memory, Attention, Executive Functioning and Language (all p’s < .01) after controlling for CVD medication use. Whole brain WMH volume served as the mediator of this relationship, as it did for an indirect effect of baseline CVD on 6-year rate of decline in Memory and Executive function.Conclusions:Findings from this study were generally consistent with previous literature and extend extant knowledge regarding the direct and indirect associations between CVD burden, pharmacological treatment, and neuropathology of presumed vascular origin on cognitive decline trajectories in an older adult sample. Results reveal the subtle importance of CVD risk factors on late life cognition even after accounting for treatment and WHM volume and highlight the need for additional research to determine sensitive windows of opportunity for intervention.
59 An Examination of the Moderating Effect of Self-Efficacy on the Association Between Health Literacy and Healthy Activity Engagement in Older Adults
Authors: Rahman Samina , Pagán Carolyn , Schmitter-Edgecombe Maureen 
Published: December 2023

Objective:Engagement in activities that promote overall brain health and well-being is often a key step in reducing risks to cognitive health in older adults. Given that higher health literacy has been found to be associated with healthier lifestyles, it is unsurprising that it has been the focus of many studies and programs aimed at improving the health outcomes of older adults. An equally important factor to consider when it comes to such efforts is the role of moderating variables in the relationship between health literacy and engagement in healthy behaviors. The present study examined the moderating effect of self-efficacy, a variable that has been shown to be positively associated with both health literacy and health behaviors. We hypothesized that increased self-efficacy will strengthen the relationship between health literacy and healthy activity engagement in a sample of community-living older adults.Participants and Methods:Forty-nine older adults (age: M = 64.35, SD = 8.00; education: M = 16.39, SD = 2.37; 87.76% female) completed a health literacy measure (Newest Vital Sign; NVS), a self-efficacy questionnaire (General Self-Efficacy Scale; GSE), and a lifestyle behaviors questionnaire (Healthy Aging Activity Engagement Scale; HAAE). The NVS is a performance-based measure in which participants are asked to interpret the verbal and numerical information of a nutrition label to make health-related decisions. The GSE is a self-report measure that evaluates one’s belief in their ability to handle challenges, solve problems, and accomplish goals. The HAAE is a self-report measure that assesses one’s engagement in healthy activities across multiple health domains.Results:To examine whether self-efficacy moderates the relationship between health literacy and healthy activity engagement, a moderation analysis was conducted using Hayes’ PROCESS macro for SPSS with age and education included in the model as covariates. The results revealed no significant interaction between health literacy and self-efficacy, b = 0.23, p = .59, 95% CI [-0.60 to 1.05].Conclusions:Contrary to expectations, in the present sample, the degree of self-efficacy was not a condition under which level of health literacy exerted its influence on healthy activity engagement in older adults. Future studies with larger and more nationally representative samples are needed to explore self-efficacy and other potential moderating factors in order to identify individual characteristics that support older adults’ adoption and engagement in health-promoting behaviors.
64 Validity and Stability of Objective Measures of Subtle Functional Difficulties in Older Adults
Authors: Holmqvist Sophia L , Mckniff Moira , Kaplan Marina , Vallecorsa Giuliana , Chaturvedi Riya , Tassoni Molly , Simone Stephanie , Hackett Katherine , Mis Rachel , Giovannetti Tania 
Published: December 2023

Objective:Self-reported mild functional difficulties are one of the most salient predictors of future cognitive decline in older adults. However, few measures of objective assessment of mild functional difficulties are available. This study explored the validity and stability of novel, performance-based measures of subtle functional difficulties in older adults without dementia using an objective and standardized test, called the Naturalistic Action Test (NAT), which has been used for people with dementia.Participants and Methods:40 older adults (Healthy Controls (HC), Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)) completed the NAT at baseline and again after one-month. The NAT requires participants to make a breakfast and a lunch using objects presented on a table. Standard cognitive tests (memory, language, etc.) also were administered at baseline only and were used to compute intraindividual cognitive variability (IIV), a sensitive measure of cognitive ability level. NAT scores reflecting micro-errors and completion time were obtained from video recordings. Micro-errors are inefficient actions that include misreaching toward the wrong object and moving objects around the table without a clear purpose. Validity of the NAT measures was evaluated in correlations with IIV, and the stability of NAT performance was evaluated using within-sample t-tests and correlations between measures at baseline and one-month.Results:In the full sample (N =40), greater micro errors were significantly correlated with greater IIV at baseline (r=.512, p<.001) and one month followup (r=.327, p=.039). Among HC, paired t tests showed that there were no significant differences in micro-errors over one month; however, completion time was significantly slower at baseline (Md=16.06, SD=24; t(32)=3.76, p<.001). MCI participants showed a significant decrease in micro-errors (M=3.86, SD=4.4; t(6)=2.33, p=.029), but no difference in completion time. Among HC and MCI, micro errors (r=.506, p<.001), and completion time (r=.899, p<.001) were significantly correlated across time points.Conclusions:Results show promise for novel NAT measures (time, micro-errors) as valid, objective indicators of subtle cognitive difficulties that affect everyday function. Analyses of stability of scores over time showed evidence of practice effects over time, which along with predictive validity, should be explored in future work.
79 Brief Subjective Memory Screener Predicts Memory Dysfunction
Authors: Joyce Jillian L , Rizer Sandra , Shagalow Shaina , Waltrip Leah , Chapman Silvia , Cosentino Stephanie 
Published: December 2023

Objective:Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is expected to affect over 7 million older Americans by 2025. Development of fast and inexpensive screening measures for routine screening is critical for identifying those suffering from the earliest stages of AD including Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD). Here we assess the validity and utility of a brief, 5-item SCD screener and its associations with neuropsychological performance as compared to an existing objective cognitive screener, the Mini Mental Status Exam (MMSE).Participants and Methods:Development: A brief, 5-item SCD questionnaire was developed based on a more extensive 20-item version previously validated (Chapman et al. 2021). Participants: 27 cognitively diverse (MCI and cognitively normal) community dwelling older adults were recruited for this study. Mean age: 71.9 ± 7. Inclusion criteria include memory concerns. Exclusion criteria include no previous diagnoses of neurodegenerative diseases and/or major stroke. Administration: Participants completed a brief, 5-item SCD screener along with cognitive testing including the MMSE and a clinically validated list-learning test, the Selective Reminding Test (SRT). Statistical Methods: Spearman 2-tailed correlations were conducted to assess the relationship between the two screening measures, and their relationships to the SRT. Outcome measures on the SRT included total recall (max: 72) and delayed recall (max: 12). All cognitive measures were demographically adjusted with normative data.Results:The mean total for the SCD screener was 2.1 ±1.1, and the mean MMSE score was 29.2 ± 1.2. The SCD screener was associated with MMSE scores (r= -.39, p= .043), SRT Total Recall (r= -.43, p= .024) and Delayed Recall (r=-.42, p=.031) measures. MMSE scores did not associate with either SRT outcome (p>.05).Conclusions:Results support the utility and validity of a brief subjective cognitive decline screener for identifying those who may be experiencing memory dysfunction. The brief SCD screener outperformed the MMSE, an existing and widely used objective screening measure. Associations between the SCD screener and SRT outcomes support the validity and utility of the brief screener and recapitulate previous findings with the more extensive version of the SCD questionnaire (Chapman et al. 2021). Ongoing research is focusing on the utility of the screener in frontline clinical settings and translation of the screener into Spanish.
3 Emotional Expression in Infants with Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum: The Role of Callosal Connectivity in Early Temperament
Authors: Turner Jasmin , Haisley Lauren D , Hantzch Lana , Botteron Kelly , Dager Stephen , Estes Annette M , Flake Lisa , Hazlett Heather C , Schultz Robert T , Piven Joseph , Elison Jed T , Paul Lynn K 
Published: December 2023

Objective:Accumulating evidence suggests that corpus callosum development is critically involved in the emergence of behavioral and cognitive skills during the first two years of life and that structural abnormalities of the corpus callosum are associated with a variety of neurodevelopmental disorders. Indeed by adulthood ∼30% of individuals with agenesis of the corpus callosum (ACC), a congenital condition resulting in a partial or fully absent corpus callosum, exhibit phenotypic features consistent with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, very little is known about developmental similarities and/or differences among infants with ACC and infants who develop ASD. This study describes temperament in infants with ACC during the first year of life in comparison with a neurotypical control group. Additionally, it examines the potential contribution of disrupted callosal connectivity to early expression of temperament in ASD through comparison to children with high familial likelihood of ASD.Participants and Methods:Longitudinal ratings of positive and negative emotionality were acquired at 6 and 12 months on the Infant Behavior Questionnaire-Revised across four groups of infants: isolated complete and partial ACC (n=104), high familial likelihood of ASD who do and do not have a confirmed ASD diagnosis (HL+ n=81, HL- n=282), and low-likelihood controls (LL- n=152).Results:Overall, the ACC group demonstrated blunted affect, with significantly lower positive and negative emotionality than LL controls at both timepoints. Specifically, the ACC group exhibited lower activity and approach dimensions of positive emotionality at both timepoints, with lower high-intensity pleasure at 6 months and lower vocal reactivity at 12 months. On negative emotionality subscales, the ACC group exhibited lower distress to limitations and sadness at both timepoints, as well as lower falling reactivity at 6 months. The ACC and HL groups did not differ significantly on positive emotionality at either timepoint. However, negative emotionality was lower in the ACC group than the HL- group at both timepoints and lower than the HL+ group at 12 months, with lower distress to limitations and sadness ratings than both HL groups at both timepoints.Conclusions:These findings highlight the importance of interhemispheric connections in facilitating active engagement and pursuit of pleasurable activities during the first year of life, as well as expression of sadness and distress to limitations. Notably, similarities between infants with ACC and infants at elevated familial risk of ASD suggest that disrupted callosal connectivity may specifically contribute to reductions in positive emotionality.
4 Language Development in Infants and Toddlers (12 to 24 months) with Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum
Authors: Bohlman Ella , Turner Jasmin , Haisley Lauren D , Hantzch Lana , Botteron Kelly N , Dager Stephen , Estes Annette M , Flake Lisa , Hazlett Heather C , Schultz Robert , Piven Joseph , Elison Jed , Paul Lynn 
Published: December 2023

Objective:It is unclear how agenesis of the corpus callosum (ACC), a congenital brain malformation defined by complete or partial absence of the corpus callosum, impacts language development. fMRI studies of middle childhood suggest that the corpus callosum plays a role in the interhemispheric language network (Bartha-Doering et al., 2020), and that reduced interhemispheric functional connectivity is correlated with worse language abilities in children with ACC (Bartha-Doering et al., 2021). Additionally, accumulating evidence suggests structural abnormalities of the corpus callosum play a role in neurodevelopmental disorders. While children who go on to receive an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis may show early signs of altered word and gesture acquisition (Iverson et al., 2018), the same is not known about ACC. This study examined language development during the second year of life in children with ACC in comparison to neurotypical control participants, as well as other children at elevated risk of ASD.Participants and Methods:The MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories (MCDI): Words and Gestures scales were administered to parents of 74 children with isolated ACC at 12, 18 and 24 months of age. Children whose first language was not English and children who were bilingual were excluded. Comparison groups consisted of individuals with a low familial likelihood of ASD (LL- n=140) and individuals with high familial likelihood of ASD who do and do not have a confirmed ASD diagnosis (HL+ n=68, HL- n=256).Results:Compared to LL controls, the ACC group produced fewer words at 18 and 24 months of age, and demonstrated fewer words understood at all three timepoints. Similarly, compared to the HL- group, the ACC group demonstrated fewer words produced and understood at 18 months of age, and fewer words produced at 24 months of age. The ACC and HL+ groups did not differ in words produced or words understood at any timepoint.Conclusions:Overall, infants with ACC demonstrated delayed vocabulary expansion from 12 to 24 months of age. These findings illustrate the role of callosal connectivity in the development of language across the first 2 years of life, and highlight the need for support and interventions that target vocabulary production and comprehension.
2 Predictors of Memory Deficits in Patients with Subjective Cognitive Decline, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Alzheimer’s Disease - Do Disease Severity Moderate the Association?
Authors: Hestad Knut A , Engedal Knut , Strand Bjørn Heine , Farup Per G 
Published: December 2023

Objective:Age, sex, education, memory, and the APOE e4 allele are related to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) risk. Recently it was suggested that low body mass index (BMI) contributes to the development of AD. The objective of this study was to examine how delayed recall of a word list was influenced by demographic variables, APOE and BMI in people with memory problems, and to investigate whether the impact of these variables was smaller at higher disease severity levels.Participants and Methods:The participants were 1206 patients in the Norwegian NorCog registry diagnosed with either subjective cognitive decline (SCD) (n=274), mild cognitive impairment (MCI) (n=444), or AD (n=488). ANOVAs and hierarchical regression were applied to examine whether the delayed recall part of the 10-word test of the CERAD-WL was associated with age, sex, education, APOE (e4/non-e4) and BMI. Analyses were run separately for SCD, MCI and AD patients.Results:There were significant bivariate differences (p<.001) between the three patient groups for all variables; the AD patients were older, less educated, more were women, more had APOE e4 alleles, and they had lower BMI. For the SCD group, 34% of the total variance (R2) of the dependent variable was explained. All independent variables except BMI (p=.07) had a significant contribution in the prediction. For MCI, 18% of the total were explained. All variables except education and sex showed significant contribution to R2. For the AD group, R2 was 13%. Sex and BMI did not contribute significantly.Conclusions:As expected, the performance on CERAD-WML was influenced by age, education and sex in the SCD group, whereas the associations between memory function and the three demographic variables were less clear among patients with MCI and AD. ApoE genotype influenced on the CERAD-WML results among all patients, whereas BMI only influenced on the results among patients with SCD and MCI. Our findings do not support that BMI is associated with delayed recall of memory in AD.