bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
7 Self Assessment Memory Scale, a new simple method for evaluating memory function
Authors: Kowa Hisatomo 
Published: December 2023

Objective:Given the results of the clinical trials for the disease-modifying therapy for Alzheimer's disease and its mechanism of action, it is necessary to start at the early stage as soon as possible. To this end, there is a need for a tool that allows easy periodic home assessment of memory change from the early stages of the disease. The purpose of this study is to establish a new method of memory evaluation showing well- correlated with Logical Memory (LM) II subtest score of the WMS-R and that, at the same time, can be done easily in a short time.Participants and Methods:The subjects were 85 subjects (including 12 MCI, 8 AD, and 65 age people with normal cognitive function). In the new method, 8-picture recall and 16-word recognition were assessed, respectively, and the index was calculated by adding up the ratio ofcorrect responses to both tests (max point is two). The correlation with the LM II score was examined.Results:Our statistical analysis showed that 8-picture recall (R=0.872, p<0.001) and the index (R=0.857, p<0.001) showed a significantcorrelation with the LMII score. On the other hand, the 16-word regression and LM II score was R = 0.691(p<0.001), relatively lower than the other two scores, because this task may have been higher than the true ability due to the false recognition of words that were not there.Conclusions:Our new method can easily predict the LM II score of WMS-R in about one third of the time required by conventional methods. We named this index as Self Assessment Memory Scale (SAMS), and are planning to develop a digital tool to enable easy andself-accessible evaluation of recall.
36 Assessing the Effect of Multiple Sclerosis and Aging Using an Ecological test of Prospective Memory
Authors: Charest Kim , Potvin Marie-Julie , Brando Estefania , Tremblay Alexandra , Roger Elaine , Duquette Pierre , Rouleau Isabelle 
Published: December 2023

Objective:Prospective memory (PM) is the ability to remember to produce an action at a specific moment in the future signaled by the occurrence of a specific event (EB condition), a time or a time interval (TB condition). Detection of the appropriate moment corresponds to the prospective component (PC), while production of the appropriate action corresponds to the retrospective (RC) component. Although PM difficulties have been reported in healthy aging and in association with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), PM has not been examined in elderly people with MS (PwMS), which is particularly relevant since their life expectancy has improved significantly in recent years due to available treatments, and PM is essential to daily functioning. The main objective of this study was to investigate whether the decline in PM performance with advancing age is influenced by the presence of multiple sclerosis (MS). This study also aimed to clarify the type of PM impairment (PC vs RC in TB and EB conditions) in MS as a function of age.Participants and Methods:A total of 80 participants were recruited and separated into four groups: elderly PwMS (n = 20), young PwMS (n = 20), elderly healthy controls (HC) (n = 20) and young HC (n = 20). PM and its components were measured using the TEMP, an experimental ecological tool developed by our laboratory that has been validated in previous studies. In addition, all participants underwent a series of neuropsychological tests specific to MS (MACIFMS) and aging (Boston Naming Test, Clock Drawing Test, Towers of London, Trail making Test, Stroop, MoCA).Results:On the TEMP total score, a two-way ANOVA showed a main effect of age (F[1,75]=47.4, p<0.001, n2 = .40), a main effect of the presence of MS (F[1,75]=19.51, p<0.001, n2 = .21) as well as a significant Age X Disease interaction (F[2,74] =5.40, p=0.023, n2 = .07). Direct comparison between EB and TB conditions revealed that for the PC, only elderly PwMS had more difficulty in the TB than in the EB condition (Z = -2.51, p = 0.012), whereas RC score was significantly lower in the TB than in the EB condition in all groups except in younger controls (younger PwMS : Z = -2.56, p = 0.01; elderly HC : Z = -3.31, p < 0.001; elderly PwMS :Z = -3.04, p = 0.002).Conclusions:The TEMP revealed a marked impairment in PM in elderly PwMS compared to elderly HC and young PwMS. This impairment was particularly evident on the PC component in the TB condition. RC difficulties noted in the TB condition in all but younger controls reflect the arbitrary nature of the cue-action link that is particularly sensitive to episodic memory difficulties often observed in aging and MS.
42 Real-time Associations Among MS Symptoms and Cognitive Dysfunction Using Ecological Momentary Assessment
Authors: Chen Michelle H. , Cherian Christine , Elenjickal Karen , Ross Mindy K. , Leow Alex , DeLuca John 
Published: December 2023

Objective:The current study aimed to examine real-time associations between non-cognitive symptoms and cognitive dysfunction (latter measured both objectively and subjectively in real-time) using ecological momentary assessment (EMA).Participants and Methods:Forty-five persons with MS completed EMA four times per day for three weeks. For each EMA, participants completed mobile versions of the Trail-Making Test part B (mTMT-B) and a finger tapping task, as well as surveys about symptom severity. Trait (usual levels of a symptom) and state (when symptom level was higher or lower than the individual's usual levels) aspects of each symptom's severity were calculated. Multilevel models were conducted to account for within-person clustering, with performance on the mTMT-B and self-reported rating of cognitive dysfunction as primary outcomes.Results:A total of 3,174 EMA sessions were collected; compliance rate was 84%. There was significant intra-day variability in mTMT-B performance, anxiety, fatigue, and pain. More severe state depressive symptoms predicted lower performance on the mTMT-B in real-time. Self-reported difficulties with sleeping the night before predicted mTMT-B performance the following day. In contrast, state (but not trait) fatigue, depression, anxiety, and pain all predicted self-reported cognitive dysfunction in real time. Further, state self-reported cognitive dysfunction (but not mTMT-B performance) was associated with a higher perceived sense of accomplishment.Conclusions:Self-reported cognitive dysfunction was more susceptible to influences of other MS symptoms (especially when the symptom is more severe than the individual's usual levels) and better predicted perceived sense of accomplishment than objectively measured executive functioning in real-time. Objective executive functioning performance was sensitive to effects of depressive symptoms and sleep difficulties. The current study demonstrated the feasibility of assessing real-time associations among MS symptoms using smartphone-administered EMA.
49 Adaptive Functioning in a Mixed Clinical Sample of Older Adults: The Importance of Processing Speed
Authors: Roccaforte Analise , Hoffmeister Jordan , Roye Scott , Copeland Christopher , Linck John 
Published: December 2023

Objective:The presence of cognitive impairment corresponds with declines in adaptive functioning (Cahn-Weiner, Ready, & Malloy, 2003). Although memory loss is often highlighted as a key deficit in neurodegenerative diseases (Arvanitakis et al., 2018), research indicates that processing speed may be equally important when predicting functional outcomes in atypical cognitive decline (Roye et al., 2022). Additionally, the development of performance-based measures of adaptive functioning offers a quantifiable depiction of functional deficits within a clinical setting. This study investigated the degree to which processing speed explains the relationship between immediate/delayed memory and adaptive functioning in patients diagnosed with mild and major neurocognitive disorders using an objective measure of adaptive functioning.Participants and Methods:Participants (N = 115) were selected from a clinical database of neuropsychological evaluations. Included participants were ages 65+ (M = 74.7, SD = 5.15), completed all relevant study measures, and were diagnosed with Mild Neurocognitive Disorder (NCD; N = 69) or Major NCD (N = 46). They were majority white (87.8%) women (53.0%). The Texas Functional Living Scale was used as a performance-based measure of adaptive functioning. The Coding subtest from the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS-CD) was used to measure information processing speed. Composite memory measures for Immediate Recall and Delayed Recall were created from subtests of the RBANS (List Learning, Story Memory, and Figure Recall) and the Wechsler Memory Scale-IV (Logical Memory and Visual Reproduction). Multiple regressions were conducted to evaluate the importance of memory and information processing speed in understanding adaptive functioning. Age and years of education were added as covariates in regression analyses.Results:Significant correlations (p < .001) were found between adaptive functioning and processing speed (PS; r = .52), immediate memory (IM; r = .43), and delayed memory (DM; r = .32). In a regression model with IM and DM predicting daily functioning, only IM significantly explained daily functioning (rsp = .24, p = .009). A multiple regression revealed daily functioning was significantly and uniquely associated with IM (rsp = .28, p < .001) and PS (rsp = .41, p < .001). This was qualified by a significant interaction effect (rsp = -.29, p = .001), revealing that IM was only associated with adaptive functioning at PS scores lower than the RBANS normative 20th percentile.Conclusions:Results suggest that processing speed may be a more sensitive predictor of functional decline than memory among older adults with cognitive disorders. These findings support further investigation into the clinical utility of processing speed tests for predicting functional decline in older adults.
53 REM Sleep Behavior Disorder in Parkinson’s Disease : Longitudinal Effects on Brain Lateralization
Authors: Audet-Duchesne Elisabeth , Hanganu Alexandru 
Published: December 2023

Objective:Laterality of motor symptom onset in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is well-known and under-appreciated. It is still unclear though if this laterality might have an influence on other symptoms. Specifically, REM sleep behavior disorder has been shown to be a factor that has a high probability to be lined to PD. In this study we analyzed the longitudinal effect of REM symptomatology on brain lateralization in PD.Participants and Methods:We used the baseline and 3-year visit data of 116 participants (67 without REM (PD-non-REM), 49 with REM (PD-REM)) aged 37-81 years from the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) dataset. Statistical 3T MRI data (cortical thicknesses, areas, foldings of cortical Desikan atlas and volumes of subcortical regions) were obtained via FreeSurfer 7.1.1. Lateralization was computed using the formula: (left-right)/(lef +right). Mixed ANOVAs were performed on each region of interest.Results:Our findings showed an increased right asymmetry of the paracentral lobule area and of the pars orbitalis area and volume in PD-REM. There was a reduced right asymmetry of the parietal inferior volume at baseline in PD-REM, whereas REM symptomatology had a stable effect at the 3 years visit. At baseline, there was an increased left asymmetry of the thickness of the caudal anterior cingulate, pars orbitalis and pars triangularis regions in PD-REM. After 3 years, there was an increased right asymmetry in those regions. The precentral, frontal superior and transversal temporal gyri showed inverse results: an increased right asymmetry of the thickness at baseline and an increased left asymmetry after 3 years. Finally, REM symptomatology is associated with more significant increases of the left asymmetry of the frontal superior gyrus volume and of the right asymmetry of the supramarginal gyrus volume after 3 years than at baseline.Conclusions:These results provide evidence of the modulating effect of the disease progression on the relationship between REM symptoms and brain lateralization in PD.
56 Predictors of Finger Tapping Variability in Older Adults Evaluated for a Neurodegenerative Memory Disorder
Authors: McElvogue Molly M , Steffes Lori , Burke Anna , Stokes Ashley M , Prigatano George P 
Published: December 2023

Objective:Patients with early Alzheimer Disease (AD) and Mild Cognitive Impairment of the Amnestic type (MCI-A) have been reported to show large variability of tapping scores. Factors that contribute to that variability remain undetermined. This preliminary study aimed to identify predictors of finger tapping variability in older adults evaluated for a neurodegenerative memory disorder. Based on earlier research with normally functioning adults, we predicted that the number of “invalid” tapping responses (i.e. failure of the index finger to adequately lift off the tapping key once it is depressed to produce the next number on a mechanical counter) and the female gender would predict finger tapping variability, but age and educational level would not predict variability.Participants and Methods:This preliminary study included 4 groups of participants, comprised of 8 healthy controls (HC, 3 males; 73±7years); 12 persons with subjective memory complaints (SMC, 3 males; 69±5 years); 12 with MCI-A (7 males; 76±5 years) and 7 early AD (5 males; 75±6years). All participants were administered a modified version of the Halstead Finger Tapping Test (HFTT). Mean, range of tapping score (i.e. a measure of variability), and number of invalid taps across 7 trials in each hand were calculated. ANOVA was performed for the HFTT metrics with the main effect of group. Tukey HSD tests were used for post hoc comparisons between groups. Multiple regression analysis was performed to determine the degree to which the number of invalid tapping responses, sex, age, and educational level predicted finger tapping variability using all 4 groups.Results:Mean tapping score did not vary significantly across groups in the dominant [F (3, 35) = 0.633, p = 0.599] or non-dominant [F (3, 35) = 2.345, p = 0.090] hand. Range score approached a significant difference between groups in the dominant hand [F (3, 35) = 2.745, p = 0.058], with a clear significant effect of group on range score in the non-dominant hand [F (3, 35) = 4.078, p = 0.014]. Range score in the nondominant hand was significantly higher in the AD compared to SMC (p = 0.018) and HC (p = 0.024). Regression analysis revealed statistically significant findings for the dominant hand (R2 = 0.327, F (4, 34) = 4.130, p = 0.008) and for the non-dominant hand (R2 = 0.330, F (4, 34) = 4.180, p = 0.007). For both the dominant and non-dominant hands, number of invalid taps significantly predicted range score (ß = 0.453, p = 0.044, and ß = 0.498, p = 0.012, respectively). Sex, age, and education years did not predict range scores.Conclusions:Variability of finger tapping in patients evaluated for neurodegenerative memory disorders and aged matched controls is predicted by the number of invalid tapping responses (comprising over 30% of the variance), but not by demographic variables in this clinical sample. Neurodegenerative disorders may eliminate a sex effect.
62 Prediction of Mild Cognitive Impairment Conversion Using Cox Model in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: El Haffaf Lyna Mariam , Ronat Lucas , Hanganu Alexandru 
Published: December 2023

Objective:Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a critical state to consider. In fact, PD patients with MCI are more likely to develop dementia than the general population. Thus, identifying the risk factors for developing MCI in patients with PD could help with disease prevention. We aim to use the Cox regression model to identify the variables involved in the development of MCI in healthy controls (HC) and in a PD cohort.Participants and Methods:The Parkinson’s Progressive Markers Initiative (PPMI) database was used to analyze data from 166 HC and 365 patients with PD. They were analyzed longitudinally, at baseline and at 3-year follow up. Both HC and PD were further divided in 2 groups based on the presence or absence of MCI. Conversion to MCI was defined as the first detection of MCI. For all participants, we extracted the (1) Neuropsychiatric symptoms (anxiety, impulsive-compulsive disorders and sleep impairment), (2) 3T MRI-based data (cortical and subcortical brain volumes based on the Desikan atlas, using FreeSurfer 7.1.1) and (3) genetic markers (MAPT and APOE £4 genes). We used Python 3.9 to perform three Cox proportional hazard models (PD-HC, HC only and PD only) and to model the risk of conversion to MCI, attributable to neuropsychiatric symptoms and cortical brain parameters. We included as covariates: age, sex, education, and disease duration (for the PD group). Hazard ratios (HRs) along with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) are reported.Results:When including both HC and PD in the model, Cox regression analyses showed that age of onset, diagnosis, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and sleep impairment are variables that are associated with a greater risk of conversion to MCI (p<.005). For HC, only the STAI and the genetic marker MAPT were significantly associated with a risk of cognitive decline (p<.05). These results further indicated that a greater anxiety score at the STAI leads to a greater chance of developing a MCI whereas being a carrier of the MAPT gene reduces the risk of MCI. Regarding analysis on PD, results revealed that the STAI and the cortical volumes of the frontal dorsolateral and temporal regions are involved with a greater risk of developing a MCI (p<.05).Conclusions:These analyses show that the neuropsychiatric symptom of anxiety seem to play an important role in the development of a MCI (significant in all three analyses). For patients with PD, cortical volumes of the frontal dorsolateral and temporal regions are significantly related to risk of MCI. This study highlights the importance of considering neuropsychiatric symptoms as well as cerebral volumes as key factors in the development of MCI in PD.
74 Neurobehavioral Symptoms of Dementia as a Risk Factor for Poor Caregiver Sleep Quality
Authors: Ranum Rylea M , Kiselica Andrew M , O’Leary Kimberly 
Published: December 2023

Objective:Caregivers to persons with dementia (PWD) consistently report lower sleep quality than non-caregiving controls. Low sleep quality, in addition to being unhealthy for the caregiver, may also impact the quality of care provided to the PWD. One factor that may contribute to poor sleep among caregivers is neurobehavioral symptoms (NBS) of the PWD. NBS, such as mood changes, lack of motivation, and disinhibition, are consistently rated as some of the most distressing symptoms by caregivers. Furthermore, they can include some symptoms related to sleep, such as nighttime wandering and REM sleep behaviors. Prior correlational research indicates a very strong association between NBS of the PWD and sleep quality of the caregiver. However, there are third variables, particularly demographics of the caregiver, which may better explain this relationship. When these variables are controlled in research, findings on the association between PWD NBS and caregiver sleep quality are mixed. Thus, we sought to investigate the relation between PWD NBS and caregiver sleep quality while controlling for caregiver demographics.Participants and Methods:Fifty caregivers to PWD completed a survey containing the Mild Behavioral Impairment Checklist as a measure of PWD NBS, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index as a measure of caregiver sleep quality, and caregiver demographics. The relationship between PWD NBS and caregiver sleep quality was assessed using hierarchical linear regression. First, we examined the relationship between caregiver demographics (age, gender, income) and caregiver sleep quality. Second, we added NBS to the model to assess for incremental predictive utility by examining change in R2.Results:A significant correlation was found between PWD NBS and caregiver sleep quality, with higher PWD NBS associated with worse caregiver sleep quality (r(48) = .34, p = .014). A hierarchal regression found that caregiver demographics explained a non-significant proportion of variance in reported caregiver sleep quality (F(3, 44) = 1.05, p = .382, R2 = .07). When PWD NBS was added in model two, there was a significant change in variance explained in the overall model (F(1,43) = 2.65, p = .046, AR2 = .13, R2 = .20). Across both models, PWD NBS was the only variable significantly associated with caregiver sleep quality (B = .08, p = .011).Conclusions:In line with previous studies, these results indicate a moderate relationship between PWD NBS and caregiver sleep quality. Furthermore, findings suggested that PWD NBS is a risk factor for poor caregiver sleep quality, above and beyond caregiver demographic characteristics. Individuals designing interventions aimed at improving caregiver sleep quality should consider including PWD NBS as an intervention target. Future research should replicate these findings in a longitudinal sample to further evaluate causality.
3 Validity of Visuoconstructional Assessment Methods within Healthy Elderly Greek Australians: Quantitative and Error Analysis
Authors: Staios Mathew , Nielsen Rune , Kosmidis Mary H. , Papadopoulos Alexandra , Kokkinas Arthur , Velakoulis Dennis , Tsiaras Yiannis , March Evrim March , Stolwyk Renerus J. 
Published: December 2023

Objective:Visuospatial skills are frequently assessed with drawing tests. Research has suggested that the use of drawing tasks in low educated groups may lack the ability to discriminate healthy individuals from clinical populations. The aims of this study were to investigate the validity of visuoconstructional tests in a sample of older Greek Australian immigrants and compare their performances to a matched sample of patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD).Participants and Methods:We assessed visuoconstructional performances in a sample of 90 healthy older Greek Australians, with a primary school level of education, and compared performances to a demographically matched sample of 20 Greek Australians with a diagnosis of AD on four visuoconstructional drawing tests: Greek cross, four-pointed star, intersecting pentagons, and the Necker Cube.Results:While healthy participants tended to outperform the AD group on most copy tasks, high fail rates within the healthy sample were observed for the intersecting pentagons and Necker cube (78% and 73% fail rates respectively) when using established clinical cutoff scores. High rates of curved angle, omission, distorted relation between elements, spatial disorganization and three-dimensional design errors were found across the four-pointed star, intersecting pentagons, and the Necker cube in both healthy participants and those with AD. Exploratory receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that, with perhaps the exception of the Greek cross, meaningful sensitivity and specificity could not be reached for the four-pointed star, intersecting pentagons, and Necker cube.Conclusions:Cognitively healthy immigrants with low education appear to be at a disadvantage when completing visuoconstructional drawing tests, as their performance may be misinterpreted as indicating cognitive impairment. Future research is needed to identify alternative approaches to assess visuoconstructional ability in low education older cohorts.