健康成人事件相关电位与神经心理学测验的相关性研究

目的 探讨事件相关电位P300的四个主要成分是否反映特定的认知功能。方法 将120名正常受试者按年龄分为三组，即20～34岁组、35～54岁组和55～70岁组，对所有受试者采用全套韦氏成人智力测验(WAIS-RC)等多项神经心理学测验以及P300进行测评，将神经心理学测验结果与P瑚结果进行Spearman等级相关分析。结果 三个年龄组中的N2潜伏期、P2波幅、N2波幅均与反映注意、短时记忆的神经心理学测验存在以下相关：在20～34岁组中，N2潜伏期与即刻视觉再生呈负相关(r=-0．352)，P2波幅与即刻视觉再生呈正相关(r=0．339)，N2波幅与即刻视觉再生呈正相关(r=0．331)。在35～54岁组中，N2潜伏期与数字广度、数字符号、词汇流畅均呈负相关(r分别=-0．357、-0．385、-0．316)；P2波幅与延线测验B呈负相关(r=-0．427)；Nl波幅与即刻逻辑记忆呈正相关(r=0．343)。在55～70岁组中，N2潜伏期与数字符号、词汇流畅呈负相关(r分别=-0．488和-0．321)，与延线测验B呈正相关(r=0．366)；P2波幅与数字符号呈正相关(r=0．314)；N2波幅与词汇流畅呈正相关(r=0．437)。在不同的年龄组中，P300的其他指标与神经心理学测验相关性不一致。结论 P300的四个主要成分可反映一定的认知功能，但不具有特异性，部分P300指标所反映的认知功能受年龄的影响。     

抑郁对帕金森病患者执行功能的影响

目的 探讨抑郁对帕金森病(PD)患者执行功能的影响。方法 对41例PD患者及20例对照组进行整体认知功能、执行功能及抑郁状况的评定。整体认知功能评定使用简易智力状态量表(MMSE); 执行功能评定包括言语流畅性测验(VFT),连线测验(TMT),Stroop字色干扰测验(SCWT),画钟测验(CDT),数字符号替换测试(DSST)及数字广度测试(DST)等; 使用贝克抑郁自评量表(BDI)评估抑郁状态。结果 抑郁组SFT, PFT, DST, DSST, CDT, TMA,TMB, Stroop-B, Stroop-C,SIE评分均差于对照组(P<0.05); 非抑郁组PFT, DST, DSST,TMA,TMB, Stroop-C,SIE评分差于对照组(P<0.05); 与非抑郁组比较,抑郁组SFT, PFT, DST, DSST, TMA, TMB, Stroop-B, Stroop-C, SIE评分较差(P<0.05)。结论 PD患者存在明显的执行功能障碍,抑郁可以明显加重PD患者的执行功能障碍。     

Association of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and aspirin with cognitive performance in middle-aged adults.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the cross-sectional association of regular use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or aspirin with cognitive function in 13,153 individuals, aged 48-67 years, participating in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study. METHODS: Regular use of NSAIDs or aspirin was analyzed in relation to the results of three cognitive tests, the Delayed Word Recall Test, the WAIS-R Digit Symbol Subtest, and the Word Fluency Test. RESULTS: After adjustment for covariates previously found to be associated with cognition in this sample, we found a weak negative association between current use of aspirin and poor Word Recall [OR = 0.84 (95% confidence interval: 0.68-1.04)] and poor Word Fluency [OR = 0.85 (0.70-1.03)]. We found no association between current use of aspirin and Digit Symbol score, nor did we find current NSAID use to be significantly associated with any of the cognitive tests. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests a modest association, at best, between NSAIDs or aspirin and better cognitive function.     

Effect of interferon-alpha on cognitive functioning in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Treatment with interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) has been shown to adversely affect cognitive functioning in patients with a variety of medical disorders, but information about the effects of IFN-alpha on cognitive functioning in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is limited. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of IFN-alpha on neuropsychological test performance in CHC patients. Participants were 30 patients with CHC, 11 who underwent IFN-alpha therapy and 19 who did not. All participants were tested at baseline (i.e., pretreatment) and approximately 6 months later with the Symbol Digit Modalities Test and Trail Making Test. Results revealed that the treatment group performed significantly worse than untreated CHC patients on Part B of the Trail Making Test after approximately 6 months of treatment. No significant group differences were found on Part A of the Trail Making Test or Symbol Digit Modalities Test. Findings suggest that CHC patients undergoing treatment with IFN-alpha may experience reduced abilities to benefit from practice but suffer no decrements in performance after 6 months of treatment. Additional research is needed to replicate these findings and to explore risk factors for susceptibility to IFN-alpha-induced effects.     

癫(癎)患者认知功能特点的研究

目的:研究癫(EP)患者认知功能的特点及其影响因素。方法:采用听觉词语测验、逻辑记忆测验、数字符号转换测验、Stoop字色干扰测验、连线测验、言语流畅性测验、Rey-Osterrieth复杂图片测验及Boston命名测验对166例EP患者进行认知评定。结果:EP患者存在广泛的认知损害,包括言语记忆、情景记忆、视觉空间结构记忆、词语学习能力、注意力、抗干扰能力、精神运动速度及言语命名功能等方面,以词语延迟回忆、注意力及精神运动速度损害最为明显。而未经药物干预的新诊断EP患者已存在除视觉空间记忆、注意力及抗干扰能力外的上述认知功能的损害,以词语延迟回忆最为明显。随访病例与新诊断病例的区别在于,前者在抗干扰能力及精神运动速度方面损害更明显。结论:新诊断EP组以及随访EP组病例在多项神经心理学测验中得分均低于正常对照组,两组之间差异有统计学意义。     

Intensity of recreational physical activity throughout life and later life cognitive functioning in women

Long-term physical activity may affect risk of cognitive impairment but few studies have examined later life cognition in relation to intensity of life-long physical activity. We examined the associations between the intensity of long-term recreational physical activity and neuropsychological functioning in 90 healthy postmenopausal women on tests found to be useful in the early identification of dementia. Information was collected about their participation in strenuous and moderate activities between high school and menopause. Summary measures of long-term strenuous and moderate activity were constructed for each participant. All analyses were adjusted for relevant covariates. The six linear regression analyses showed significant positive associations between moderate activity and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Revised (WAIS-R), Digit Span backward, WAIS-R Digit Symbol, and Trail Making Test Part B. Significant negative relationships were found between strenuous activity and Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test delayed verbal recall, Complex Figure Test delayed visual memory, WAIS-R Digit Span backward, category fluency, and WAIS-R Digit Symbol. The associations found in the present study suggest that while moderate activity may be protective, long-term strenuous activity before menopause may lower cognitive performance later in life. These results support further investigation of the effects of life-long exercise intensity on cognition in later life.     

神经心理测验预测首发精神分裂症的近期预后

目的：筛选与首发精神分裂症近期预后有关的神经心理测查指标。方法：对１６４例首发精神分裂症患者随机给予氯丙嗪或氯氮平治疗,于治疗前分别作韦氏成人智力量表、韦氏记忆量表、铁槽铁钉测验、手指敲击测验、利手测验、动作功能测验、手功能协调测验、连线测验、连线测验Ｂ、威期康辛卡片分类测验（ＷＣＳＴ）及语言流畅性测验等１１项刘经心理测查各１次,并作ＢＰＲＳ、ＳＡＮＳ、功能总体评定量表（ＧＡＦ）各１次,治疗１２周     

Specific cognitive deficits are common in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy

A neuropsychological assessment was conducted to study cognition, with emphasis on memory, information processing/learning ability, and executive functions in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). A group of 20 boys with DMD, aged 7 to 14 years (mean age 9 years 5 months, SD 2 years 2 months), was contrasted with 17 normally developing age-matched comparison individuals, using specific neuropsychological tests (Block Span, Digit Span, Story Recall, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, Rey Complex Figure Test, Spatial Learning Test, Verbal Fluency, Trail Making Test, Tower of London, Memory for Faces, and Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices). The DMD group performed significantly worse on all aspects of memory, learning, and executive functions. There was no significant difference in general intellectual ability between the two groups. Analyses of group differences indicate that problems in short-term memory are the most apparent, suggesting specific cognitive deficits. The differences between the groups were similar for both verbal-auditory and visuospatial tests, thus contradicting the idea that cognitive deficits are related to type of stimulus presented. It is concluded from this study that short-term memory deficits might play a critical role in the cognitive impairment and intellectual development seen in those with DMD.     

Comorbid substance abuse and neurocognitive function in recent-onset schizophrenia

Despite the high prevalence of comorbid substance use disorder (SUD) up to 65% in schizophrenia there is still few knowledge about the influence of substance abuse on neurocognitive function. In a prospective design we recruited 68 patients (aged 18–40 years) diagnosed as recent-onset schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder consecutively admitted to hospital. The patients received standardized psychopathological evaluation of schizophrenic symptoms [Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS)], depressive symptoms [Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale, (MADRS)] and global ratings [Clinical Global Impressions Scale (CGI), Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF)]. Out of this sample 44 subjects underwent after stabilization (4–6 weeks after admission) neuropsychological investigation focusing on early information processing (Trail-Making-Test A, Digit Span), visuo-spatial ability (Corsi Block Tapping), verbal fluency (Verbal Fluency Test, semantic and letter category), and executive functioning and cognitive flexibility [Trail-Making-Test B, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST)]. About 36% of patients reported drug abuse [European Addiction Severity Index (EuropASI)] with a high prevalence for cannabis. Compared with nonabusers the sample of substance abusers was younger, predominantly male and had lower socioeconomic status. Attentional impairment according to the SANS subscale was less in abusers than in nonabusers on admission, no other psychopathological differences could be detected. Schizophrenic patients without substance abuse demonstrated significantly better performance only in a few neurocognitive tasks (Verbal Fluency, letter category and at trend level Digit Span, backwards), while there tended to be an advantage for substance abusers in executive functioning (WCST, not significant). These results are consistent with other studies of first-episode patients. The lack of higher cognitive disturbance in young schizophrenic patients with comorbid substance abuse may encourage clinicians to develop integrated treatment programmes using cognitive strategies of drug therapy.     

Monitoring Alzheimer's patients for acute changes in cognitive functioning.

To develop and evaluate the use of cognitive monitoring for detecting episodes of acute, excess cognitive decline in individual Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, the authors conducted six repeated cognitive assessments over 11 weeks on 41 otherwise healthy people with mild-to-moderate AD. Patients demonstrated stable cognitive performance over 11 weeks on seven standard neuropsychological tests. Prediction intervals quantitatively defined the expected limits of cognitive decline. They indicated with 90% certainty that over the 11-week period, healthy mild-to-moderate AD patients should not decline more than 4 points on the Word List Recall test, 3 points on the Digit Span test, or 8 items on the Digit Symbol or Verbal Fluency tests. The cognitive stability of healthy AD patients indicates that it is possible to monitor them for acute, excess cognitive decline.     

Individualized piano instruction enhances executive functioning and working memory in older adults

This study evaluates transfer from domain-specific, sensorimotor training to cognitive abilities associated with executive function. We examined Individualized Piano Instruction (IPI) as a potential cognitive intervention to mitigate normal age-related cognitive decline in older adults. Thirty-one musically naïve community-dwelling older adults (ages 60–85) were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n?=?16) or control group (n?=?15). Neuropsychological assessments were administered at three time points: pre-training, following six months of intervention, and following a three-month delay. The experimental group significantly improved performance on the Trail Making Test and Digit Symbol measures as compared to healthy controls. Results of this study suggest that IPI may serve as an effective cognitive intervention for age-related cognitive decline.     

Magnetic resonance imaging predictors of cognition in mild cognitive impairment

OBJECTIVES: To describe magnetic resonance imaging characteristics in a large sample of subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and to investigate associations between these characteristics and cognition. DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING: Baseline data of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of galantamine in MCI. PATIENTS: Included in the study were 896 subjects with MCI (age [mean +/- SD], 70 +/- 9 years; 54% women) with available clinical and magnetic resonance imaging data. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Neuropsychology: Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale, cognitive subscale, MCI version, assessing global cognition; delayed recall on the New York University Paragraph Recall Test, assessing episodic memory; and Digit Symbol Substitution Test, assessing executive function. Neuroimaging: Medial Temporal Lobe Atrophy (MTA) Rating Scale (0-4) and Age-Related White Matter Changes Scale (0-30), assessing white matter hyperintensities (WMHs); and lacune counts. RESULTS: Median MTA score was 2 (range, 0-4), and mean (+/- SD) Age-Related White Matter Changes Scale score 6.0 (+/- 4.7). Lacunes were present in 33% of subjects. In unadjusted models, increasing MTA and WMHs were associated with poorer performance on all cognitive tests, and lacunes with poorer performance on the Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale, cognitive subscale, MCI version, and the Digit Symbol Substitution Test. In multivariable models, including magnetic resonance imaging measures simultaneously, MTA remained a predictor of cognition, whereas WMH had no independent predictive value. There was an interaction between MTA and lacunes: the strength of the association with the Digit Symbol Substitution Test increased with decreasing MTA. CONCLUSIONS: Medial temporal lobe atrophy seems to be a more important predictor of cognition than small-vessel disease in MCI. Lacunes were associated with performance on the Digit Symbol Substitution Test, especially in subjects with milder MTA. Although WMHs were prevalent and associated with cognition in unadjusted analyses, there was no discernible association between WMHs and the cognitive measures in this study after adjustment for age.     

首发精神分裂症偏执型和非偏执型神经心理功能比较

目的 探讨偏执型和非偏执型精神分裂症神经心理学有无差异。方法 对124例首发精神分裂症患随机给予氟丙嗪或氟氮平治疗,于治疗前分别作韦氏成人智力量表、韦氏记忆量表、铁槽铁钉测验、利手测验、动作功能测验、手功能协调测验、连线测验A和B、威斯康星卡片分类测验(WCST)及言语流利性测验10项神经心理测查各一次,治疗12周末再评定一次上述各项检查。结果 在治疗前治疗12周末偏执和非偏执型精神分裂症患在各项神经心理测查指标方面均无显性差异。结论 精神分裂症不同亚型的神经心理功能不具特征性。     

Single Neuropsychological Test Scores Associated With Rate of Cognitive Decline in Early Alzheimer Disease

Alzheimer disease (AD) characteristically begins with episodic memory impairment followed by other cognitive deficits; however, the course of illness varies, with substantial differences in the rate of cognitive decline. For research and clinical purposes it would be useful to distinguish between persons who will progress slowly from persons who will progress at an average or faster rate. Our objective was to use neurocognitive performance features and disease-specific and health information to determine a predictive model for the rate of cognitive decline in participants with mild AD. We reviewed the records of a series of 96 consecutive participants with mild AD from 1995 to 2011 who had been administered selected neurocognitive tests and clinical measures. Based on Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) of functional and cognitive decline over 2 years, participants were classified as Faster (n = 45) or Slower (n = 51) Progressors. Stepwise logistic regression analyses using neurocognitive performance features, disease-specific, health, and demographic variables were performed. Neuropsychological scores that distinguished Faster from Slower Progressors included Trail Making Test - A, Digit Symbol, and California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT) Total Learned and Primacy Recall. No disease-specific, health, or demographic variable predicted rate of progression; however, history of heart disease showed a trend. Among the neuropsychological variables, Trail Making Test - A best distinguished Faster from Slower Progressors, with an overall accuracy of 68%. In an omnibus model including neuropsychological, disease-specific, health, and demographic variables, only Trail Making Test - A distinguished between groups. Several neuropsychological performance features were associated with the rate of cognitive decline in mild AD, with baseline Trail Making Test - A performance best separating those who declined at an average or faster rate from those who showed slower progression.     

氯丙嗪和氯氮平对未经系统治疗精神分裂症患者认知功能的影响

目的 比较典型和非典型抗精神病药对未经系统治疗的精神分裂症患者认知功能的影响.方法 将164例未经系统治疗的精神分裂症住院患者随机分为氯丙嗪组(83例)和氯氮平组(81例),进行双盲对照治疗研究.于治疗前和治疗第12周末各做1次韦氏成人智力量表(WAIS-R)、韦氏记忆量表(WMS)、铁槽铁钉测验、手指敲击试验、动作功能测验、手功能协调测验、连线测验A和B、威斯康星卡片分类测验(WCST)及言语流利性测验10项神经心理测查.结果 治疗第12周末,氯氮平组各项认知功能测查结果 均明显好于氯丙嗪组(P<0.05～0.01);在控制入组时测查的水平和可能的干扰因素(年龄、文化程度和治疗第12周末的阳性症状、阴性症状、药物副反应的程度)后,大部分检测指标两组间差异仍有显著性[氯丙嗪组和氯氮平组WAIS-R操作智商分别为(76.8±19.2)分和(90.5±16.9)分,WMS总分分别为(56.3±24.5)分和(75.4±21.9)分,完成连线测验B的时间分别为(213.9±97.4)s和(143.7±78.5)s,P均=0.000];氯氮平组各项认知功能指标均有所好转,而氯丙嗪组在16项认知功能指标中有7项恶化.结论 未经系统治疗的精神分裂症患者在第1次住院治疗时,氯氮平对其认知功能有改善作用,而氯丙嗪对认知功能的某些方面有损害.     

帕利哌酮对精神分裂症患者临床症状、认知功能及神经营养因子的影响

目的探讨帕利哌酮对精神分裂症患者的临床症状、认知功能及神经营养因子水平的影响,为临床精神分裂症的合理用药提供参考。方法选取在天津市安定医院住院的符合《国际疾病分类(第10版)》(ICD-10)精神分裂症诊断标准的患者60例为研究组,同期选取60例健康志愿者作为对照组。研究组接受帕利哌酮治疗12周。于治疗前后采用阳性和阴性症状量表(PANSS)评定研究组临床症状;采用Stroop测验(SCWT)、数字符号编码测验(DSCT)、持续操作测验(CPT)和连线测验A(TMTA)评定对照组和研究组认知功能;采用酶联免疫吸附技术检测两组血清脑源性神经营养因子(BDNF)、神经生长因子(NGF)和神经营养因子3(NT-3)水平。结果研究组治疗前后PANSS总评分比较差异有统计学意义[(78.12±11.84)分vs.(38.45±7.24)分,Z=24.14,P0.01];治疗后,研究组认知功能指标(SCWT、CPT、DCST及TMTA时间)、BDNF、NGF及NT-3水平均较治疗前高,但仍低于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P均0.01)。结论帕利哌酮有助于改善精神分裂症患者的临床症状和认知功能,治疗机制可能与上调血清神经营养因子水平有关。     

Motor dysfunction influence on executive functioning in manifest and premanifest Huntington's disease

Motor disturbances can be present in both manifest and premanifest Huntington's disease (HD). We aimed to investigate the role of motor functioning on executive functioning to better understand the progression of cognitive dysfunction in HD. Forty patients with manifest HD, 21 patients with premanifest HD, and a group of 28 controls were tested twice with a 1‐year interval. For the Symbol Digit Modalities Test and the Figure Fluency Test, extra conditions were designed to measure motor involvement. Subtraction of this motor score from the original test score resulted in isolation of the cognitive component. Groups were compared on motor, cognitive, and original test scores using multilevel regression analysis. Manifest patients had lower baseline scores of 0.53 standard deviations (SD) on the original Symbol Digit Modalities Test (P = 0.03) and 0.71 SD on the motor isolation part (P = 0.006), and they showed a deterioration of 0.47 SD over 1 year of follow‐up on the original Symbol Digit Modalities Test (P = 0.001) compared with controls. Premanifest patients had lower baseline scores of 0.67 SD on the Symbol Digit Modalities motor part (P = 0.008) and deterioration of 0.48 SD on the original (P = 0.001) and cognitive isolation (P = 0.02) parts. Secondary analyses revealed that the premanifest deterioration resulted from the close‐to‐predicted‐onset group. Motor disturbances have a negative influence on performance on the Symbol Digit Modalities Test. Isolation of the cognitive component of this test revealed cognitive deterioration in the premanifest group only, caused by deteriorating scores for patients who were close to their predicted clinical disease onset. The Figure Fluency Test did not prove sensitive to cognitive change. © 2014 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society     

Pallidal stimulation in dystonia: effects on cognition, mood, and quality of life

Bilateral deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the globus pallidus internus (GPi) alleviates symptoms in patients with dystonia but its effects on cognition, neuropsychiatric status, and quality of life have not been examined. This is a case series report of 15 consecutive patients with different forms of dystonia who underwent bilateral implantation of DBS electrodes in the GPi. The patients were evaluated preoperatively and after 3-12 months of DBS with tests of cognition (Mattis Dementia Rating Scale, Stroop Test, Trail Making Test, Phonemic and Category Word Fluency, Digit Span, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, Tonic and Phasic Alertness), neuropsychiatric status (Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories, Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale, Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale), quality of life, and motor functions. GPi DBS significantly improved dystonic symptoms, functional abilities, and quality of life allowing for a significant reduction of antidystonic medications. No deterioration was observed in cognitive scores and neuropsychiatric measures. The present case series report thus provides preliminary evidence for the safety of GPi DBS regarding cognitive and neuropsychiatric functions in patients with dystonia.     

Trail Making Test error analysis in classic motor neuron disease

The use of non-traditional scores in neuropsychological assessment allows for pattern analysis of test performance, commonly referred to as Quantified Process Approach (QPA). In the present study, the QPA was taken to study error rates on the Trail Making Test (TMT) in 26 non-demented patients with classic motor neuron disease (cMND), who commonly present with impaired cognitive flexibility, and 26 matched healthy controls. Between-group comparisons revealed that cMND patients exhibited higher total error rates on the TMT Part B (TMT-B) relative to controls (p < 0.001), though no significant associations were noted between TMT errors and measures of attention and executive function obtained using the Stroop Neuropsychological Screening Test, the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Digit Symbol and Digit Span subtests and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. Moreover, the percentage of cMND patients with normal TMT-B time-to-completion who committed at least one error (either sequential or perseverative errors) in TMT-B was significantly higher compared to controls (p = 0.005). These findings suggest that error analysis using the QPA may increase the clinical utility of TMT and should be considered in addition to time-to-completion scores, in the neuropsychological assessment of patients with cMND.     

Executive dysfunctions as potential markers of familial vulnerability to bipolar disorder and schizophrenia

Attentional and executive impairments have been found both in patients with schizophrenia and in their unaffected first-degree relatives, suggesting that they might be considered as familial vulnerability markers. Several studies have shown that the performance of bipolar patients does not significantly differ from that of schizophrenic patients, so that executive and attentional deficits might not be specific to schizophrenia. In the present study, we aimed to identify executive dysfunctions in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder that might be vulnerability trait markers specific to one or common to both of these diseases. We assessed cognitive performance of euthymic bipolar and schizophrenic patients, their unaffected first-degree relatives and a healthy control group, using neuropsychological tasks to test different components of executive function: the Verbal Fluency Test, the Stroop Word Colour Test, the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and the Trail Making Test. The two groups of patients and their unaffected relatives demonstrated disproportionately increased slowness on the Stroop test in comparison to the normal healthy group. Patients with schizophrenia performed poorly on all the tests in comparison to the normal healthy subjects, while no other impairment was observed in the bipolar patients and in the relatives of schizophrenic and bipolar patients. Enhanced susceptibility to interference and reduced inhibition could be transnosographical markers for a shared familial vulnerability common to schizophrenia and bipolar disorders.