Estudios normativos españoles en población adulta joven (proyecto NEURONORMA jóvenes): normas para los test de fluencia verbal

Introduction

Lexical fluency tests are frequently used in clinical practice to assess language and executive function.

Objective

As part of the Spanish normative studies project in young adults (NEURONORMA young adults project), we provide age- and education-adjusted normative data for 3 semantic fluency tasks (animals, fruits and vegetables, and kitchen tools), three formal lexical fluency tasks (words beginning with P, M and R), three excluded-letter fluency tasks (words excluding A, E and S) and a verb fluency task.

Material and methods

The sample consisted of 179 participants who are cognitively normal and range in age from 18 to 49 years. Tables are provided to convert raw scores to scaled scores. Age- and education-adjusted scores are provided by applying linear regression techniques.

Results

The results show that education impacted most of the verbal fluency test scores, with no effects related to age and only minimal effects related to sex.

Conclusions

The norms obtained will be extremely useful in the clinical evaluation of young Spanish adults.     

Estudios normativos españoles en población adulta joven (Proyecto NEURONORMA jóvenes): normas para el Boston Naming Test y el Token Test

Introduction

The Boston Naming Test (BNT) and the Token Test (TT) are frequently used in clinical practice to assess naming and comprehension.

Objective

The aim of this paper is to present normative data for the BNT and for the TT as part of the NEURONORMA young adults Project.

Material and methods

A total of 179 Spanish healthy subjects from 18 to 49 years old were evaluated. Tables to convert raw scores to scaled scores are provided. Age- and education- adjusted scores are obtained by applying linear regressions.

Results

The results show an effect of education in both tests, and a minimal effect of age and sex.

Conclusions

The normative data obtained will be useful in the clinical evaluation of young Spanish adults.     

Estudios normativos españoles en población adulta joven (proyecto NEURONORMA jóvenes): normas para las pruebas Stroop Color-Word Interference Test y Tower of London-Drexel University

Introduction

The Stroop Color-Word Interference Test (Stroop) measures cognitive flexibility, selective attention, cognitive inhibition and information processing speed. The Tower of London-Drexel University version test (TOL^DX) assesses higher-order problem solving and executive planning abilities.

Objective

In this study, as part of the Spanish normative studies project in young adults (NEURONORMA young adults), we present normative data for the Stroop and young adults TOL^DX tests.

Material and methods

The sample consisted of 179 participants who are cognitively normal and range in age from 18 to 49 years. Tables are provided to convert raw scores to scaled scores. Scores adjusted for sociodemographic factors were obtained by applying linear regression techniques.

Results

No effects were found for age and sex in either test. Educational level impacted most of the Stroop test variables and some of the TOL^DX scores (Total Moves score and Total Initiation Time score).

Conclusions

The norms obtained will be extremely useful in the clinical evaluation of young Spanish adults.     

Estudios normativos españoles en población adulta joven (proyecto NEURONORMA jóvenes): normas para las pruebas Visual Object and Space Perception Battery y Judgment of Line Orientation

Introduction

The Visual Object and Space Perception Battery (VOSP) and Judgment of Line Orientation tests (JLO) are used in clinical practice to assess visuoperceptual and visuospatial abilities.

Objective

In this study, as part of the Spanish normative studies project in young adults (NEURONORMA young adults), we present normative data for a short version of the VOSP test and for the JLO test.

Material and methods

The sample consisted of 179 participants who are cognitively normal and range in age from 18 to 49 years. Tables are provided to convert raw scores to scaled scores. Education- and sex-adjusted scores were obtained by applying linear regression techniques.

Results

Our results show that education and sex only affect scores on the JLO test, and that age has no effect.

Conclusions

The normative data obtained will be extremely useful in the clinical evaluation of young Spanish adults.     

Estudios normativos españoles en población adulta joven (Proyecto NEURONORMA jóvenes): normas para las pruebas span verbal,span visuoespacial, Letter-Number Sequencing, Trail Making Test y Symbol Digit Modalities Test

Introduction

Verbal and visuospatial span, Letter-Number Sequencing, Trail Making Test, and Symbol Digit Modalities Test are frequently used in clinical practice to assess attention, executive functions and memory.

Objective

In the present study, as part of the Spanish normative studies of NEURONORMA young adults Project, normative data adjusted by age and education are provided for digits, Corsi Block-Tapping Task, Letter-Number Sequencing, Trail Making Test, and Symbol Digit Modalities Test.

Material and methods

The sample consisted of 179 participants from 18 to 49 years old, who were cognitively normal. Tables to convert raw scores to scaled scores are provided. Age and education adjusted scores are provided by applying linear regressions.

Results

Education affected scores in most of the attention tests; age was found to be related to the visuospatial span and to speed of visuomotor tracking, and there was no relationship as regards sex.

Conclusions

The data obtained will be useful in the clinical evaluation of young Spanish adults.     

Estudios normativos españoles en población adulta joven (proyecto NEURONORMA jóvenes): normas para las pruebas Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure (copia y memoria) y Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test

Introduction

The Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF) and the Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test (FCSRT) are widely used in clinical practice. The ROCF assesses visual perception, constructional praxis, and visuo-spatial memory. The FCSRT assesses verbal learning and memory.

Objective

In this study, as part of the Spanish normative studies project in young adults (NEURONORMA young adults), we present age- and education-adjusted normative data for both tests obtained by using linear regression techniques.

Material and methods

The sample consisted of 179 healthy participants ranging in age from 18 to 49 years. We provide tables for converting raw scores to scaled scores in addition to tables with scores adjusted by socio-demographic factors.

Results

The results showed that education affects scores for some of the memory tests and the figure-copying task. Age was only found to have an effect on the performance of visuo-spatial memory tests, and the effect of sex was negligible.

Conclusions

The normative data obtained will be extremely useful in the clinical neuropsychological evaluation of young Spanish adults.     

Deterioro cognitivo y tratamiento antirretroviral en pacientes con virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana en una población peruana

Background

HIV-associated cognitive impairment occurs even in the early stages of infection. Short-term memory, psychomotor speed, attention, and executive functioning are the main capacities affected. Controversy exists regarding whether highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is helpful in combating this process. The objective of the present study is to determine the association between cognitive impairment and HAART in HIV-infected patients from Hospital Regional de Huacho.

Methods

Prospective study of HIV patients meeting criteria to start HAART. Twenty-one HIV-positive patients were recruited between April and July 2011. Researchers administered a standardised neuropsychological test battery before and 4 weeks after onset of HAART. Psychomotor speed, executive function, short term memory (visual and verbal), attention, and visuospatial performance were evaluated.

Results

Nineteen patients completed the study (14 males and 5 females). In the pre-HAART evaluation, most patients scored below average on the executive function and psychomotor speed subtests. Psychomotor speed and immediate visual memory improved significantly after four months of treatment with HAART.

Conclusions

Some degree of cognitive decline may present even in the early and asymptomatic stages of HIV infection. The benefits of antiretroviral treatment for cognitive performance can be detected after only a few weeks of follow-up.     

Hamartoma hipotalámico en la edad pediátrica: características clínicas,evolución y revisión de la literatura

Objective

To describe the epidemiological and clinical-electroencephalographic characteristics, and associated morbidity of patients with hypothalamic hamartoma, as well as the treatment followed and outcomes

Patients and methods

We have retrospectively reviewed the medical histories of 10 patients diagnosed with hypothalamic hamartoma by magnetic resonance imaging over the last 20 years.

Results

The age of onset of epilepsy in patients with hypothalamic hamartoma in our series was between the first days of life and 2 years. Of the 10 total patients, 8 had epileptic seizures during its progress. All of them had gelastic seizures, in addition to other types of seizures, with the most common being partial simple seizures. The electroencephalographic findings recorded were highly variable. One of the patients developed epileptic encephalopathy. Five patients had some kind of conduct disorder. Five patients had cognitive problems. At least 2 different antiepileptic drugs were measured in 8 of the patients who had seizures, and in 6 of these some type of non-pharmacological treatment had been used with the objective of seizure control. Only in 3 of 8 patients has been achieved Acceptable control of epilepsy had only been achieved in 3 out the 8 patients. Five patients of the series developed precocious puberty. The average time of follow-up of the series was approximately 6 years.

Conclusions

Epilepsy is the most frequent manifestation of hypothalamic hamartomas. Most cases were drug-resistant, which led to difficulties in the management of these patients, requiring surgery for their control on many occasions. Psychiatric comorbidity and cognitive impairment is common.     

Traducción al español y validación de una batería ejecutiva (BE25) y su versión abreviada (ABE12) para la detección de disfunción ejecutiva en demencias

Introduction

There is a need for clinically administered instruments capable of detecting executive dysfunction in dementia.

Objective

The translation and validation of Executive Battery 25 (EB25) and a short version for screening of executive dysfunction in dementia. Methods: The original battery was translated and validated using convergent and divergent correlation in 66 mild dementia patients (CDR 1) matched with 66 controls. EB25 consists of 25 items which detect executive dysfunction. Convergent correlation was made with 7 tests assessing executive dysfunction, the Frontal Systems Behaviour Scale (FrSBe) and Disability Fast Assessment Scale.

Results

Patients had higher scores than controls and correlated with the Stroop Test, verbal fluency test and Frontal Behaviour Inventory. Only 12 out of 25 items were needed to separate both groups, which were used to build an abbreviated Executive Battery with equal psychometric properties and discriminative power. The cut-off point for EB25 was 12, and 7 for the abbreviated version. A cut-off point of 12 was able to discriminate between ¿Alzheimer's disease? (AD) and frontotemporal lobe dementia (FTLD).

Conclusions

EB25 and AEB12 enable executive dysfunction to be detected in mild dementia. On the other hand, AEB12 exhibits better psychometric properties than the original battery, allowing discrimination between AD and FTLD and is completed in less time.     

Parámetros de marcha en una muestra de referencia de escolares sanos españoles: descripción multivariante y asimetrías entre ciclos izquierdos y derechos

Introduction

Instrumental gait analysis is an emerging technology used increasingly to evaluate motor disorders in children. Normal reference data is necessary in order to evaluate patients, but there are few reference resources for the Spanish paediatric population.

Objective

We aim to describe the values of 16 clinically relevant gait variables in healthy Spanish schoolchildren, and identify any linear associations or left-right asymmetries.

Subjects and methods

The values of 16 gait variables were determined in schoolchildren (n = 27, aged 5-13 years) using instrumental gait analysis. We analysed asymmetries for each variable (Student's t-test for dependent samples) and calculated their confidence intervals (95% of the standardised difference in right and left means [SMD]). Values and associations between variables were represented using a heat map.

Results

Our project presents normal values tables for 16 variables in the gait cycle. Significant asymmetries were detected in the mean values for minimum hip flexion (SMD: 0.25 95% CI, 0.11-0.39) and peak hip abduction in swing (SMD: −1.05 95% CI: −1.71- − 0.27). Functional associations among gait variables are present.

Conclusions

We present a reference dataset for Spanish school-aged children in which left-right asymmetries and functional associations may be observed for different variables.     

Del vasoespasmo a la lesión cerebral precoz: una nueva frontera en la investigación de la hemorragia subaracnoidea

Introduction

Delayed vasospasm has traditionally been considered the most important determinant of poor outcome after subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). Consequently, most of the research and therapies are directed towards reducing the incidence of vasospasm (VSP). To date, however, clinical trials based on this strategy have not delivered a definitive treatment for preventing or reducing brain injury after SAH. This fact has caused a paradigm shift in research, which now focuses on early brain injury (EBI) occurring in the first 72 hours after SAH. It has also changed the idea of VSP's role in brain damage, and suggests the need for re-evaluating the pathophysiological process of SAH.

Development

This review examines the current state of knowledge on the pathophysiological mechanisms associated with EBI and summarises the diagnostic options currently available.

Conclusion

It seems that the research approach needs to be changed so that investigators will focus on prevention of EBI, reduction of secondary brain complications and ultimately, the optimisation neurological outcome.