{"title":"Cognitive measures in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging","authors":"H. Tuokko, L. Griffith, M. Simard, V. Taler","doi":"10.1080/13854046.2016.1254279","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/13854046.2016.1254279","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Objective: We describe the implementation of cognitive measures within the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA), a nationwide, epidemiological study of aging, and relate CLSA Tracking cohort data (n over 20,000) to previous studies using these measures.Method: CLSA participants (aged 45–85, n over 50,000) provided demographic, social, physical/clinical, psychological, economic, and health service utilization information relevant to health and aging through telephone interviews (Tracking cohort, n over 20,000) or in-person (i.e. Comprehensive cohort, n over 30,000) in both official languages (i.e. English, French). Cognitive measures included: the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) – Trial 1 and five-minute delayed recall; Animal Fluency (AF), the Mental Alternation Test (MAT) (both cohorts); Controlled Oral Word Association Test, Stroop Test, Prospective Memory Test, and Choice reaction times (Comprehensive Cohort).Results: Performance on the RAVLT Trial 1 and AF were very similar to comparable groups studied previously; CLSA sample sizes were far larger. Within the CLSA Tracking cohort, main effects of age and language were observed for all cognitive measures except RAVLT delayed recall. Interaction effects (language × age) were observed for AF.Conclusion: This preliminary examination of the CLSA Tracking cognitive measures lends support to their use in large studies of aging. The CLSA has the potential to provide the ‘best’ comparison data for adult Canadians generated to date and may also be applicable more broadly. Future studies examining relations among the psychological, biological, health, lifestyle, and social measures within the CLSA will make unique contributions to understanding aging.","PeriodicalId":197334,"journal":{"name":"The Clinical neuropsychologist","volume":"5 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"129471342","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Acting President’s Annual State of the Academy Report","authors":"C. Morrison","doi":"10.1080/13854046.2016.1262992","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/13854046.2016.1262992","url":null,"abstract":"ISSN: 1385-4046 (Print) 1744-4144 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/ntcn20 Acting President’s Annual State of the Academy Report Chris Morrison To cite this article: Chris Morrison (2017) Acting President’s Annual State of the Academy Report, The Clinical Neuropsychologist, 31:1, 1-15, DOI: 10.1080/13854046.2016.1262992 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13854046.2016.1262992","PeriodicalId":197334,"journal":{"name":"The Clinical neuropsychologist","volume":"45 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"127575787","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sascha Hansen, Jana Muenssinger, Simona Kronhofmann, S. Lautenbacher, P. Oschmann, Philipp M. Keune
{"title":"Cognitive screening in Multiple Sclerosis: the Five-Point Test as a substitute for the PASAT in measuring executive function","authors":"Sascha Hansen, Jana Muenssinger, Simona Kronhofmann, S. Lautenbacher, P. Oschmann, Philipp M. Keune","doi":"10.1080/13854046.2016.1241894","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/13854046.2016.1241894","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Objective: The Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) is frequently employed to measure executive functions in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). In the past, the PASAT has often been criticized because of its stressful and demanding requirements. Continuous utilization might also reduce its validity. The Five-Point Test (FPT) by Regard, Strauss, and Knapp ((1982) Children’s production on verbal and non-verbal fluency tasks. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 55, 839–844.) is a short test of figural fluency which might serve as a substitute.Method: 116 patients diagnosed with MS were tested with a short version of the Brief Repeatable Battery (BRB) by Rao and the Cognitive Function Study Group of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society including the PASAT, as well as the FPT. A factor analysis was computed and the frequency of cognitive impairment was calculated for both the original short version of the BRB and the alternative version (involving the FPT).Results: In the factor analysis, PASAT and FPT loaded highest on the same factor (two factors were extracted). The estimation of the frequency of cognitive impairment showed that replacing the PASAT with the FPT did not considerably alter the proportion of patients identified as cognitively impaired.Conclusions: The FPT proved to be a viable alternative to the PASAT in this study. It may be recommended as a possible replacement in neuropsychological screening of MS-patients with the advantage of avoiding the indicated limitations of the PASAT.","PeriodicalId":197334,"journal":{"name":"The Clinical neuropsychologist","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"115042310","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
K. An, Kristen A. Kaploun, L. Erdodi, Christopher A. Abeare
{"title":"Performance validity in undergraduate research participants: a comparison of failure rates across tests and cutoffs","authors":"K. An, Kristen A. Kaploun, L. Erdodi, Christopher A. Abeare","doi":"10.1080/13854046.2016.1217046","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/13854046.2016.1217046","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Objective: This study compared failure rates on performance validity tests (PVTs) across liberal and conservative cutoffs in a sample of undergraduate students participating in academic research.Method: Participants (n = 120) were administered four free-standing PVTs (Test of Memory Malingering, Word Memory Test, Rey 15-Item Test, Hiscock Forced-Choice Procedure) and three embedded PVTs (Digit Span, letter and category fluency). Participants also reported their perceived level of effort during testing.Results: At liberal cutoffs, 36.7% of the sample failed ≥1 PVTs, 6.7% failed ≥2, and .8% failed 3. At conservative cutoffs, 18.3% of the sample failed ≥1 PVTs, 2.5% failed ≥2, and .8% failed 3. Participants were 3 to 5 times more likely to fail embedded (15.8–30.8%) compared to free-standing PVTs (3.3–10.0%). There was no significant difference in failure rates between native and non-native English speaking participants at either liberal or conservative cutoffs. Additionally, there was no relation between self-reported effort and PVT failure rates.Conclusions: Although PVT failure rates varied as a function of PVTs and cutoffs, between a third and a fifth of the sample failed ≥1 PVTs, consistent with high initial estimates of invalid performance in this population. Embedded PVTs had notably higher failure rates than free-standing PVTs. Assuming optimal effort in research using students as participants without a formal assessment of performance validity introduces a potentially significant confound in the study design.","PeriodicalId":197334,"journal":{"name":"The Clinical neuropsychologist","volume":"63 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124658140","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Spontaneous recovery of memory functions in an untreated case of anti NMDAR encephalitis – a reason to maintain hope","authors":"Katy McIvor, P. Moore","doi":"10.1080/13854046.2016.1245358","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/13854046.2016.1245358","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Objective: Anti N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis is an autoimmune disorder that was only fully discovered recently and neuropsychological outcome data remains sparse. We present the case of BA, a 19-year-old male, which illustrates the cognitive outcome in an untreated case over a time period of over 2½ years.Method: We conducted three cognitive assessments, including tests of memory and executive functioning, over this time period and considered the evidence for reliable change in memory function using the Wechsler Advanced Clinical Solutions (ACS) serial assessment package.Results: Our findings revealed mild memory problems 6 months post-discharge with, at best, static and potentially declining memory functioning at follow-up assessment 12 months post-discharge. However, the results of testing at 30 months post-discharge revealed significant improvements in immediate and delayed memory index performances.Conclusions: Our report of a case of anti-NMDAR encephalitis provides evidence for spontaneous improvements in memory functioning occurring more than 2 years after initial assessment and also demonstrates both the utility and potential limitations of the ACS serial assessment software when used in a relatively typical clinical assessment situation.","PeriodicalId":197334,"journal":{"name":"The Clinical neuropsychologist","volume":"46 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"125660897","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
M. Machulda, Clinton E. Hagen, H. Wiste, M. Mielke, D. Knopman, R. Roberts, P. Vemuri, V. Lowe, C. Jack, R. Petersen
{"title":"Practice effects and longitudinal cognitive change in clinically normal older adults differ by Alzheimer imaging biomarker status","authors":"M. Machulda, Clinton E. Hagen, H. Wiste, M. Mielke, D. Knopman, R. Roberts, P. Vemuri, V. Lowe, C. Jack, R. Petersen","doi":"10.1080/13854046.2016.1241303","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/13854046.2016.1241303","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Objective: The objective of this study was to examine practice effects and longitudinal cognitive change in 190 clinically normal elderly classified according to a two-feature biomarker model for Alzheimer’s disease.Methods: All participants completed neuropsychological testing, MRI, FDG-PET, and PiB-PET at their baseline evaluation. We divided participants into four groups based on neuroimaging measures of amyloid (A+ or A−) and neurodegeneration (N+ or N−) and reexamined cognition at 15- and 30-month intervals.Results: The A−N− group showed significant improvements in the memory and global scores. The A+N− group also showed significant improvements in the memory and global scores as well as attention. The A−N+ group showed a significant decline in attention at 30 months. The A+N+ group showed significant improvements in memory and the global score at 15 months followed by a significant decline in the global score at 30 months.Conclusion: Amyloidosis in the absence of neurodegeneration did not have an adverse impact on practice effects or the 30-month cognitive trajectories. In contrast, participants with neurodegeneration (either A−N+ or A+N+) had worse performance at the 30-month follow-up. Our results show that neurodegeneration has a more deleterious effect on cognition than amyloidosis in clinically normal individuals.","PeriodicalId":197334,"journal":{"name":"The Clinical neuropsychologist","volume":"32 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"125302044","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
R. Fellows, Jessamyn Dahmen, D. Cook, M. Schmitter-Edgecombe
{"title":"Multicomponent analysis of a digital Trail Making Test","authors":"R. Fellows, Jessamyn Dahmen, D. Cook, M. Schmitter-Edgecombe","doi":"10.1080/13854046.2016.1238510","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/13854046.2016.1238510","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Objective: The purpose of the current study was to use a newly developed digital tablet-based variant of the TMT to isolate component cognitive processes underlying TMT performance.Method: Similar to the paper-based trail making test, this digital variant consists of two conditions, Part A and Part B. However, this digital version automatically collects additional data to create component subtest scores to isolate cognitive abilities. Specifically, in addition to the total time to completion and number of errors, the digital Trail Making Test (dTMT) records several unique components including the number of pauses, pause duration, lifts, lift duration, time inside each circle, and time between circles. Participants were community-dwelling older adults who completed a neuropsychological evaluation including measures of processing speed, inhibitory control, visual working memory/sequencing, and set-switching. The abilities underlying TMT performance were assessed through regression analyses of component scores from the dTMT with traditional neuropsychological measures.Results: Results revealed significant correlations between paper and digital variants of Part A (rs = .541, p < .001) and paper and digital versions of Part B (rs = .799, p < .001). Regression analyses with traditional neuropsychological measures revealed that Part A components were best predicted by speeded processing, while inhibitory control and visual/spatial sequencing were predictors of specific components of Part B. Exploratory analyses revealed that specific dTMT-B components were associated with a performance-based medication management task.Conclusions: Taken together, these results elucidate specific cognitive abilities underlying TMT performance, as well as the utility of isolating digital components.","PeriodicalId":197334,"journal":{"name":"The Clinical neuropsychologist","volume":"19 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124365482","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Embedded performance validity tests within the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test – Revised and the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test – Revised","authors":"R. John Sawyer, S. Marc Testa, M. Dux","doi":"10.1080/13854046.2016.1245787","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/13854046.2016.1245787","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Objective: Various research studies and neuropsychology practice organizations have reiterated the importance of developing embedded performance validity tests (PVTs) to detect potentially invalid neurocognitive test data. This study investigated whether measures within the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test – Revised (HVLT-R) and the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test – Revised (BVMT-R) could accurately classify individuals who fail two or more PVTs during routine clinical assessment.Method: The present sample of 109 United States military veterans (Mean age = 52.4, SD = 13.3), all consisted of clinically referred patients and received a battery of neuropsychological tests. Based on performance validity findings, veterans were assigned to valid (n = 86) or invalid (n = 23) groups. Of the 109 patients in the overall sample, 77 were administered the HLVT-R and 75 were administered the BVMT-R, which were examined for classification accuracy.Results: The HVLT-R Recognition Discrimination Index and the BVMT-R Retention Percentage showed good to adequate discrimination with an area under the curve of .78 and .70, respectively. The HVLT-R Recognition Discrimination Index showed sensitivity of .53 with specificity of .93. The BVMT-R Retention Percentage demonstrated sensitivity of .31 with specificity of .92.Conclusions: When used in conjunction with other PVTs, these new embedded PVTs may be effective in the detection of invalid test data, although they are not intended for use in patients with dementia.","PeriodicalId":197334,"journal":{"name":"The Clinical neuropsychologist","volume":"31 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130256993","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
D. Waber, Ellen C. Boiselle, J. Girard, Joseph L. Amaral, P. Forbes
{"title":"Ascertaining educational outcomes after assessment in children with learning disorders","authors":"D. Waber, Ellen C. Boiselle, J. Girard, Joseph L. Amaral, P. Forbes","doi":"10.1080/13854046.2016.1244289","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/13854046.2016.1244289","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Objective: To survey educational outcomes after an interdisciplinary, neuropsychologically based team assessment for learning disorders.Method: Parents of 137 children who underwent a comprehensive interdisciplinary neuropsychologically based assessment for learning problems completed an online survey one to four years later. Questions pertained broadly to school outcomes: positive or negative school responses, changes in special education services, and parental perceptions about the helpfulness of those services. These outcomes were examined in relation to demographic characteristics and parent satisfaction with the evaluation. We also obtained recent performance on state-based academic testing for descriptive purposes.Results: Parents reported that schools generally responded positively (78%), and 70% reported that their children had access to more or different special education services after the evaluation. Parents nearly uniformly (98%) viewed these services as helpful. Positive changes in education services were related to income (lower income received more services, p < .05) and parent satisfaction with the evaluation (p < .05). The intensity of special education services was strongly related to performance on state-based testing (p < .0001–p < .01).Conclusions: School response is a relatively objective and meaningful metric of educational outcome after neuropsychologically based evaluation for children with learning problems.","PeriodicalId":197334,"journal":{"name":"The Clinical neuropsychologist","volume":"52 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124771145","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}