Hydrocephalus: A neuropsychological and theoretical primer.

Hydrocephalus is a common neurological condition, the hallmark feature of which is an excess in production, or accumulation, of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles. Although it is associated with diffuse damage to paraventricular brain areas, patients are broadly typified by a particular pattern of cognitive impairments that include deficits in working memory, attention, and spatial abilities. There have, however, been relatively few neuropsychological accounts of the condition. Moreover, theories of the relationship between aetiology and impairment appear to have emerged in isolation of each other, and proffer fundamentally different accounts. In this primer, we aim to provide a comprehensive and contemporary overview of hydrocephalus for the neuropsychologist, covering cognitive sequelae and theoretical interpretations of their origins. We review clinical and neuropsychological assays of cognitive profiles, along with the few studies that have addressed more integrative behaviours. In particular, we explore the distinction between congenital or early-onset hydrocephalus with a normal-pressure variant that can be acquired later in life. The relationship between these two populations is a singularly interesting one in neuropsychology since it can allow for the examination of typical and atypical developmental trajectories, and their interaction with chronic and acute impairment, within the same broad neurological condition. We reflect on the ramifications of this for our subject and suggest avenues for future research. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Hydrocephalus: A neuropsychological and theoretical primer

Hydrocephalus is a common neurological condition, the hallmark feature of which is an excess in production, or accumulation, of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles. Although it is associated with diffuse damage to paraventricular brain areas, patients are broadly typified by a particular pattern of cognitive impairments that include deficits in working memory, attention, and spatial abilities. There have, however, been relatively few neuropsychological accounts of the condition. Moreover, theories of the relationship between aetiology and impairment appear to have emerged in isolation of each other, and proffer fundamentally different accounts. In this primer, we aim to provide a comprehensive and contemporary overview of hydrocephalus for the neuropsychologist, covering cognitive sequelae and theoretical interpretations of their origins. We review clinical and neuropsychological assays of cognitive profiles, along with the few studies that have addressed more integrative behaviours. In particular, we explore the distinction between congenital or early-onset hydrocephalus with a normal-pressure variant that can be acquired later in life. The relationship between these two populations is a singularly interesting one in neuropsychology since it can allow for the examination of typical and atypical developmental trajectories, and their interaction with chronic and acute impairment, within the same broad neurological condition. We reflect on the ramifications of this for our subject and suggest avenues for future research

An Evaluation of the Validity of Spatial Navigation Tasks for the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease: A Pilot Study

Objective: The present study aimed to design and evaluate series of novel computerised measures of spatial navigation for use as cognitive screening measures of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Tasks were designed so as to limit additional test taker burden and to be accessible to a wide cross-section of assessing clinicians with the hope of future integration into the digital version of the Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination (ACEMobile). Method: The study adopted a retrospective diagnostic accuracy design, comparing the performance of 12 participants with AD to 10 healthy older adults on the novel measures of spatial navigation. Results: Promising results were obtained, suggesting that measures of object-location binding effectively discriminate between participants with AD and healthy older adults. Further, the results suggest notable effect sizes for tests of route learning and route planning. Further research is required to further evaluate the use of these measures. Conclusions: The results of the present study add further evidence to the utility of measures of spatial navigation in the diagnosis of AD. The present study also demonstrates that brief, accessible measures of spatial navigation are able to discriminate between individuals with AD and healthy older adults. Further research will be needed to develop these preliminary findings, with the hope of validating measures of spatial navigation to be integrated into routine clinical practice