Cognitive Disorders in Patients with Parkinson\u27s Disease on the Background of Autoimmune Pathology

Parkinson\u27s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by the predominantly dopaminergic neuronal black matter degeneration. The multicentre study of PRIAMO (PaRkinson & non Motor symptom) showed that in 98.6 % of cases, non-motor symptoms (NMS) were observed in patients with PD. Cognitive impairment is one of the most common NMS PD. According to these studies, cognitive dysfunction develops in most patients at an early stage of the disease, with mild to moderate cognitive impairment. In the later stages of the disease, dementia occurs in 80 % of patients with PD. Aim of the research. To study the peculiarities of cognitive impairment in patients with PD and autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT), their association with motor and non-motor disorders, and to assess the impact on the quality of life of patients.Materials and methods of the research. 109 patients with PD aged 47 to 75 years were examined. The main group consisted of patients with IA and IB subgroups, control – IIA and IIB subgroups. General clinical and neurological examinations, evaluation of motor functions by the Unified Parkinson\u27s disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), neuropsychological testing (MMSE, MoCA, FAB, BDI), Hamilton\u27s Alert Scale (HARS), scale used for assessing autonomic disorders in patients with PD and Parkinson\u27s disease questionnaire (PDQ-39), statistical analysis using the "Statistica 6.0" program.Results. Neuropsychological testing showed that MMSE, MoCA, and FAB obtained from patients with PD and AIT are lower compared to patients with PD. Analyzing the indicators of MMSE, FAB, and MoCA scales in dynamics, a statistically significant difference was found in subgroups of IB and IIB; in subgroups of IA and IIA – was not observed. During the analysis of the results of the neuropsychological testing, no association was found at the statistically significant level in the subgroups of IA and IB between the duration of the disease and MMSE, MoCA, and FAB scales. In the IA subgroup, in the initial review, feedback was observed on a statistically significant level of average strength between the level of anxiety and the indicator of the MMSE scale, an indicator of the MoCA scale. In the IA subgroup, there was no relationship at the statistically significant level between the indicators of neuropsychological testing (MMSE, MoCA, FAB) and motor and non-motor manifestations (depression, vegetative disorders). There was a connection at a statistically significant level between the indicators of neuropsychological testing (MMSE, MoCA, FAB) and motor and non-motor manifestations of PD in patients who received anti-parkinsonian therapy for a long period of time. The negative influence of the level of cognitive impairments on the quality of life of patients with PD and AIT was revealed, indicating the high medical and social significance of these violations.Conclusions. Neuropsychological testing showed that MMSE, MoCA, FAB scores in patients with PD and AIT (IB subgroup) were lower compared to patients with PD (IIB subgroup). There was a connection at a statistically significant level between the indicators of neuropsychological testing (MMSE, MoCA, FAB) and motor and non-motor manifestations of PD in patients who received anti-parkinsonian therapy for a long period of time. The negative influence of the level of cognitive impairments on the quality of life of patients with PD and AIT was revealed, indicating the high medical and social significance of these violations

A case of ciprofloxacin-induced acute polymorphic psychosis with a distinct deficit of the executive functions

We present the case of a 45-year-old female patient who developed an acute polymorphic psychosis after treatment with the antibiotic ciprofloxacin. The patient showed a distinct neuropsychological deficit of the executive function. Comparing the psychopharmacological features of ketamine and ciprofloxacine we hypothesize that ciprofloxacine leads to psychosis similar to a ketamine induced psychosis. Our case report is unique not only because fluorquinolone induced psychosis has a very low incidence, but although because we were the first in obtaining a detailed neuropsychological testing

How to understand it: Neuropsychological testing

Neuropsychological testing is a key diagnostic tool for assessing people with dementia and mild cognitive impairment, but can also help in other neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury and epilepsy. While cognitive screening tests offer gross information, detailed neuropsychological evaluation can provide data on different cognitive domains (visuospatial function, memory, attention, executive function, language and praxis) as well as neuropsychiatric and behavioural features. We should regard neuropsychological testing as an extension of the neurological examination applied to higher order cortical function, since each cognitive domain has an anatomical substrate. Ideally, neurologists should discuss the indications and results of neuropsychological assessment with a clinical neuropsychologist. This paper summarises the rationale, indications, main features, most common tests and pitfalls in neuropsychological evaluation

The Role of Neurocognitive Tests in the Assessment of Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Despite widespread recognition that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder, optimal methods of diagnosis among adults remain elusive. Substantial overlap between ADHD symptoms and cognitive symptoms of other mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety, and concerns about validity in symptom reporting have made the use of neuropsychological tests in ADHD diagnostic assessment appealing. However, past work exploring the potential diagnostic utility of neuropsychological tests among adults has often relied on a relatively small subset of tests, has failed to include symptom and performance validity measures, and often does not include comparison groups of participants with commonly comorbid disorders, such as depression. The current study examined the utility of an extensive neuropsychological measure battery for diagnosing ADHD among adults. Two hundred forty-six participants (109 ADHD, 52 depressed, 85 nondisordered controls) completed a multistage screening and assessment process, which included a clinical interview, self, and informant report on behavior rating scales, performance and symptom validity measures, and an extensive neuropsychological testing battery. Results indicated that measures of working memory, sustained attention, response speed, and variability best discriminated ADHD and non-ADHD participants. While single test measures provided performed poorly in identifying ADHD participants, analyses revealed that a combined approach using self and informant symptom ratings, positive family history of ADHD, and a reaction time (RT) variability measure correctly classified 87% of cases. Findings suggest that neuropsychological test measures used in conjunction with other clinical assessments may enhance prediction of adult ADHD diagnoses

Neuropsychological Testing of Astronauts

The Spaceflight Cognitive Assessment Tool for Windows (WinSCAT) is a computer program that administers a battery of five timed neuro-cognitive tests. WinSCAT was developed to give astronauts an objective and automated means of assessing their cognitive functioning during space flight, as compared with their own baseline performances measured during similar prior testing on the ground. WinSCAT is also intended for use by flight surgeons to assess cognitive impairment after exposure of astronauts to such cognitive assaults as head trauma, decompression sickness, and exposure to toxic gas. The tests were selected from among a group of tests, denoted the Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics, that were created by the United States Navy and Army for use in evaluating the cognitive impairment of military personnel who have been subjected to medication or are suspected to have sustained brain injuries. These tests have been validated in a variety of clinical settings and are now in the public domain. The tests are presented in a Microsoft Windows shell that facilitates administration and enables immediate reporting of test scores in numerical and graphical forms

Challenges of neuropsychological testing with Asian American adults: a critical review of the literature

The present study is a critical analysis of literature surrounding the challenges faced during neuropsychological testing with Asian American adults. This dissertation will provide a comprehensive overview and critically analyze what is known with regards to neuropsychological assessment of Asian individuals, challenges that psychologists face in conducting culturally competent neuropsychological assessment of this population, and recommendations for conducting such assessments. Current literature reveals how confounds such as culture, acculturation, language, and the inappropriate use of tests and normative data can impact scores and subsequent treatment recommendations. Given these confounds, recommendations will be made regarding the neuropsychological test selection, test administration, and normative data to discuss ways that testing with Asian Americans can be improved

Performance Variability During a Multitrial List-Learning Task as a Predictor of Future Cognitive Decline in Healthy Elders

Introduction: In clinical settings, neuropsychological test performance is traditionally evaluated with total summary scores (TSS). However, recent studies demonstrated that indices of intraindividual variability (IIV) yielded unique information complementing TSS. This 18-month longitudinal study sought to determine whether IIV indices derived from a multitrial list-learning test (the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test) provided incremental utility in predicting cognitive decline in older adults compared to TSS. Method: Ninety-nine cognitively intact older adults (aged 65 to 89 years) underwent neuropsychological testing (including the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test) at baseline and 18-month follow-up. Participants were classified as cognitively stable (n = 65) or declining (n = 34) based on changes in their neuropsychological test performance. Logistic regression modeling tested the ability of baseline TSS indices (sum of Trials 1–5, immediate recall, and delayed recall) and IIV indices (lost access and gained access) to discriminate between stable and declining individuals. Results: Higher values of both lost access and gained access at baseline were associated with an increased risk for decline at 18-month follow-up. Further, the IIV indices provided predictive utility above and beyond the TSS indices. Conclusion: These results highlight the value of analyzing IIV in addition to TSS during neuropsychological evaluation in older adults. High levels of IIV may reflect impairment in anterograde memory systems and/or executive dysfunction that may serve as a prognostic indicator of cognitive decline

Display Enhanced Testing For Concussions And Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Cognitive assessment systems and methods that provide an integrated solution for evaluating the presence or absence of cognitive impairment. The present invention is used to test cognitive functions of an individual including information processing speed, working memory, work list learning and recall, along with variations of these tasks. Immersive and non-immersive systems and methods are disclosed. Testing and results feedback using the present invention may be completed in real time, typically in less than 15 minutes.Emory UniversityGeorgia Tech Research Corporatio

Prehypertensive blood pressures and regional cerebral blood flow independently relate to cognitive performance in midlife

Background High blood pressure is thought to contribute to dementia in late life, but our understanding of the relationship between individual differences in blood pressure ( BP ) and cognitive functioning is incomplete. In this study, cognitive performance in nonhypertensive midlife adults was examined as a function of resting BP and regional cerebral blood flow ( rCBF ) responses during cognitive testing. We hypothesized that BP would be negatively related to cognitive performance and that cognitive performance would also be related to rCBF responses within areas related to BP control. We explored whether deficits related to systolic BP might be explained by rCBF responses to mental challenge. Methods and Results Healthy midlife participants (n=227) received neuropsychological testing and performed cognitive tasks in a magnetic resonance imaging scanner. A pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling sequence assessed rCBF in brain areas related to BP in prior studies. Systolic BP was negatively related to 4 of 5 neuropsychological factors (standardized β&gt;0.13): memory, working memory, executive function, and mental efficiency. The rCBF in 2 brain regions of interest was similarly related to memory, executive function, and working memory (standardized β&gt;0.17); however, rCBF responses did not explain the relationship between resting systolic BP and cognitive performance. Conclusions Relationships at midlife between prehypertensive levels of systolic BP and both cognitive and brain function were modest but suggested the possible value of midlife intervention. </jats:sec