PubMed HealthSearch

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Cognitive functioning”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Extended Long-Term Effects of Cognitive and Aerobic Training on Cognitive Function in Patients With Stress-Related Exhaustion Disorder: A 4.5-Year Follow-Up of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Stress-related conditions like clinical burnout and exhaustion disorder (ED) are associated with enduring cognitive problems. We have previously demonstrated that the addition of computerised cognitive training (CCT) and aerobic training (AT) to a multimodal rehabilitation programme (MMR) yielded greater improvements in cognitive function compared to MMR alone in patients with ED. These effects were maintained at the 1-year follow-up for CCT, but not for AT. Building on these findings, the present study examined the extended long-term effects of CCT and AT on cognitive function, psychological health, and work ability, 4.5 years after the interventions. Participants were recruited from a stress-rehabilitation clinic and 56 of the initial 132 participants returned for the 4.5-year follow-up. Assessments were conducted before (T1), immediately after (T2), 1-year after (T3) and 4.5-years after (T4) the interventions. Mixed model analyses assessed changes in the intervention groups relative to the control group from T1 to T4, with follow-up comparisons examining within-group stability of outcomes between T3 to T4. The primary outcome was cognitive performance on a global cognitive score. Secondary outcomes included domain-specific cognitive functioning, self-reported cognitive function, psychological health (burnout, depression, anxiety, and fatigue), and work ability. The analysis revealed sustained long-term effects on the global cognitive score, a trained updating task and episodic memory in the CCT group, with stable performance between one- and 4.5-year follow-up. The addition of AT did not yield any extended long-term effects on cognitive performance. Both groups showed extended long-term improvements in self-reported memory problems, although findings were mixed. Extended long-term improvements were observed on burnout for both groups, with additional effects on anxiety and work ability in the AT group. Notably, these effects were not present at the 1-year follow-up and are more plausibly explained by selective attrition rather than a delayed intervention effect. In conclusion, the result indicates that cognitive interventions such as CCT can have lasting positive effects on cognitive function in patients with ED, whereas the long-term psychological effects should be interpreted with caution. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT0073772.

Adult

The genetic overlap between schizophrenia and major depression with cognitive function.

This study aimed to systematically dissect the shared genetic basis of schizophrenia (SCZ) and major depression (MD) with cognitive function. To investigate this, we integrated large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS) summary statistics for SCZ (N = 175,799, [cases, 74,776; controls, 101,023]), MD (N = 2,622,273 [cases, 550,355; controls, 2,071,918]) and four cognitive traits (reaction time, N = 330,069; memory, N = 112,067; verbal-numerical reasoning, N = 36,035; educational attainment, N = 111,114). Linkage disequilibrium (LD) score regression analysis revealed that SCZ showed significant negative genetic correlations with reaction time, memory, and verbal-numerical reasoning. MD showed negative genetic correlations with memory, verbal-numerical reasoning, and educational attainment. Bayesian colocalization analysis identified seven genomic regions with strong or supportive evidence between SCZ and cognitive function, and two genomic regions with supportive evidence between MD and cognitive function. Gene mapping and over representation analysis (ORA) indicated that SCZ-associated genes were primarily involved in pathways related to transport processes, and MD-associated genes were significantly enriched in pathways related to neural development. Through genetic correlation and colocalization analysis, this study elucidates the genetic overlap between SCZ and MD with cognitive function, providing a new perspective for related research.

Journal Article

[Effects of kidney transplantation on cognitive functioning of children].

The purpose of the study was the assessment of cognitive functioning in 20 children (age 4-14 years) with end stage renal disease (ESRD) before and after kidney transplantations by means of an intelligence-test (WISC-R or WPPSI). Research questions were: I. do the test scores of children with ESRD deviate significantly from those of the norm-group before transplantation; 2. do the test scores of children with ESRD increase significantly from pre- to post-transplantation; 3. do the test scores of children with ESRD after transplantation deviate significantly from those of the norm-group. The results show that children with ESRD before transplantation perform significantly more poorly on the verbal part of the WISC-R. After transplantation they show a significant increase on cognitive functioning, mainly in the verbal part of the test. However, kidney transplantation does not cause a complete recovery of cognitive functioning; after transplantation children with ESRD still showed lower scores on several tasks (e.g. tasks concerning concentration).

Adolescent

Cognitive function after spinal or general anesthesia for transurethral prostatectomy in elderly men.

Cognitive functions in 53 elderly men who underwent a transurethral prostatectomy were assessed pre-operatively and 4 days and 3 months post-operatively. Thirteen patients had a preference for one particular type of anesthesia, and the remaining 40 were randomly allocated to receive either spinal or general anesthesia. Cognitive function was not different between the groups receiving different types of anesthesia at either time point and did not decrease post-operatively. No pre- or perioperative variable could distinguish the subgroup of patients who had a post-operative decrease of 2 points or more on the Mini-Mental State Examination. No difference in post-operative performance was found in the patient groups with pre-operative Mini-Mental State Examination scores above or under their age-specific norm. It is concluded that neither hospitalization nor the two forms of anesthesia investigated cause a decrease in cognitive function in elderly men.

Aged

Acute effects of oral pyridostigmine on memory and cognitive function in SDAT.

This study reports the effects of the anticholinesterase pyridostigmine on cognitive function in 15 elderly patients with senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT). Each patient was given placebo and pyridostigime 60 mg orally four times over 26 hours, with a seven day washout between, using a randomized double-blind cross-over design. There was no significant improvement in cognitive function following placebo or pyridostigmine. We did not perform any preliminary dose-finding trials to find the optimum dose of pyridostigmine, but gave the drug in a predetermined fixed dosage to each patient. We conclude that with this dosage, pyridostigmine did not significantly improve cognitive function more than placebo in this group of elderly patients.

Administration, Oral

Can hyperbaric oxygenation improve cognitive functioning in the organically impaired elderly?: a critical review.

The present article reviews experimental investigation concerned with the effect of hyperbaric oxygenation upon cognitive functioning in the organically-impaired elderly. The conclusion of the Jacobs et al. studies was that hyperbaric oxygenation in cases of chronic organic brain damage (regardless of etiology) leads to improvement in cognitive functioning and general behavior on the ward. Goldfarb et al. (1972) found no evidence to support this conclusion. A critique of the above studies indicates several methodological weaknesses. First, there are serious reservations concerning the makeup of the samples employed in the Jacobs et al. (1969, 1971, 1972, 1973) investigations: it is highly uncertain that most of the Jacobs et al. subjects were suffering from moderate or severe chronic organic brain damage. One reason for the discrepancy between the Jacobs and Goldfarb studies is that the subjects in the later study were more deteriorated and perhaps not as amenable to hyperbaric oxygenation. Secondly, the Bender-Gestalt Test and Tien's Organic Integrity Test have not been validated in an elderly sample. The gain evidenced on the Stockton Geriatric Rating Scale (Jacobs et al., 1969, 1971, 1972) may have little practical significance, and since the data were pooled across groups, the so-called falloff effect could not have been measured. Third, and most significantly, the experimental designs employed in the Jacobs et al., the Goldfarb et al., and the Jacobs followup investigations have such serious shortcomings that the findings must be regarded as inconclusive. Such factors as experimenter attention, testing effects, and familiarity with the experimenter could account for the change in cognitive functioning. Further, in the case of the Jacobs et al. study, the ward personnel may have treated the control group differently after learning that they were expected to improve. Additionally, the subjects in the Jacobs et al. study (1969) themselves may have heard about this prognosis and may have become more interested in performing well on the psychological tests. Thuse, there is no unambiguous evidence that hyperbaric oxygenation was responsible for the changes or lack of changes in cognitive functioning in the samples presented in these studies.

Bender-Gestalt Test

Social support and cognitive function in postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: An active social lifestyle may protect against cognitive decline in older adults, but few studies have examined specific social support dimensions in relation to specific cognitive domains. This study examines associations between social support dimensions and cognitive function in older women. METHODS: The Early versus Late Intervention Trial with Estradiol (ELITE) was a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of oral 17&#x3b2;-estradiol versus placebo in postmenopausal women, designed primarily to evaluate the timing hypothesis on atherosclerosis progression and cognitive decline; the present analysis is a secondary, hypothesis-generating examination of the psychosocial substudy data (2009-2012). A total of 448 women completed psychosocial assessments every 6 months. Cognitive function was assessed at baseline, 2.5, and 5 years using composite scores for executive function, verbal memory, visual memory, and global cognition derived from 14 standardized tests. Perceived social support was assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study-Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS; 0-100 scale). Paired cognitive-psychosocial assessments were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models adjusted for age, marital status, blood pressure medication, BMI, education, income, race, and randomized treatment (hormone therapy or placebo). RESULTS: A total of 298 women (mean age 60.3&#xa0;y) provided 322 paired visits. Positive associations were observed between instrumental social support and visual memory (&#x3b2;(SE)=0.0044(0.0022), 95% CI: -0.00002 to 0.0088, P=0.051) and between positive social interaction and global cognition (&#x3b2;(SE)=0.0092(0.0046), 95% CI: 0.0001-0.0182, P=0.047). In age-stratified analyses, the positive social interaction-global cognition association was significant among women <65 years (P=0.042) but not women &#x2265;65 years (P=0.34). No association survived false discovery rate (FDR) correction for multiple comparisons. CONCLUSIONS: In this sample of healthy middle- to older-aged women, no association between specific dimensions of social support and cognitive domains was statistically significant after correction for multiple comparisons. These hypothesis-generating findings suggest any association is modest at best and warrant confirmation in studies designed specifically for this question.

Cognitive function

The MRC Multicentre Study of Cognitive Function and Ageing: a EURODEM incidence study in progress.

The purpose of this paper is to describe the design and methodology of this multicentre study of cognitive function and ageing, which is currently funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Department of Health for a period of 5 years. The study is designed to estimate and compare the prevalence and incidence of dementia in five centres in the United Kingdom, to examine the natural history of cognitive decline and dementia in the population and to evaluate the degree of disability associated with any decline. This will be achieved by the examination, twice, of the cognitive function of individuals aged 65 and over, with an interval of 2 years between the examinations. A 20% subsample, taken across the full range of cognitive function will be reviewed annually in more detail to chart the level of cognitive function and to ascertain a diagnosis of dementia. This represents the first systematic examination of different populations using a common methodology in the United Kingdom.

Aged

The effect of regular exercise on cognitive functioning and personality.

The effect of regular exercise on cognitive functioning and personality was investigated in 32 subjects representing 4 discrete groups based on sex and age. Before and after a 10 week exercise programme of jogging, calisthenics, and recreational activities, a test battery was administered to assess functioning in a number of domains: intelligence (WAIS Digit Symbol and Block Design); brain function (Trail-Making); speed of performance (Crossing-Off); memory and learning (WMS Visual Reproduction and Associate Learning); morale and life satisfaction (Life Satisfaction and Control Ratings); anxiety (MAACL); and depression (MAACL). Improvement was observed on several physiological parameters. ANOVA revealed significant sex and age differences on Digit Symbol and Block Design and age differences on Trail-Making, Crossing-Off, Associate Learning, and anxiety. Regardless of sex and age, significant improvement in performance was observed from pre to post-test on Digit Symbol, Block Design, Trail-Making, Crossing-Off, and on Associate Learning. In addition, an increase on health status rating (p less than .01) and decrease in anxiety were observed from pre to post-test. These data illustrate beneficial effects of exercise on certain measures of cognitive functioning and personality.

Adult

The relationship of perceptual field orientation to measures of cognitive functioning and current adaptive abilities in alcoholics and nonalcoholics.

The present study investigated the influence of perceptual field orientation, as measured by the Group Embedded Figures Test (GEFT), on cognitive functioning among alcoholics and nonalcoholics. The subjects were classified as field dependent, intermediate, or field independent based upon their GEFT scores. Cognitive function was assessed by the Wechsler-Bellevue Intelligence Scale as well as the Category Test. Tactual Performance Test, and Trail Making Tests of the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Test Battery. Three primary findings emerged. First, the alcoholics appeared to be significantly impaired on measures of abstraction, problem solving, and adaptive abilities relative to nonalcoholics. Second, a direct relationship was found between GEFT scores and level of cognitive function within both alcoholic and nonalcoholic samples, with field-dependent subjects evidencing the most impaired performance. Third, the level of perceptual field orientation accounted for a large portion of the variance between the alcoholic and nonalcoholic samples, with field-independent alcoholics performing at a level comparable to or greater than other nonalcoholic subroups on a number of the cognitive variables. These results provide validational support for the GEFT and indicate that field orientation may be a relevant variable in the assessment of cognitive function in both alcoholics and nonalcoholics.

Adaptation, Psychological

Cognitive functioning in long-term survivors of childhood leukemia: a prospective analysis.

Treatment-related cognitive impairments have been reported for survivors of childhood leukemia following prophylactic central nervous system (CNS) treatment with 2400 cGy craniospinal irradiation and intrathecal chemotherapy. The present study was designed to prospectively evaluate cognitive functioning of 24 children prior to CNS prophylaxis of 1800 cGy of craniospinal irradiation and intrathecal drugs, and at intervals of 1 and 4-5 years. At diagnosis, prior to CNS treatment, all 24 subjects performed in the average range of intelligence, as measured by the Wechsler Intelligence Scales. Subjects continued to perform in the average range with no significant declines at the 1-year follow-up. Significant declines in cognitive functioning, however, were found at the 4- to 5-year follow-up period, with five subjects (21%) performing in the low average or borderline levels of intelligence. Of the 19 subjects performing in the average range, five showed significant discrepancies between Verbal and Performance IQ scores. Nine subjects exhibited poor performance on a subtest cluster assessing perceptual and attentional processes. With regard to school experiences, 50% of the subjects had received some type of special education services. The findings indicate the need for annual evaluations of cognitive functioning in long-term survivors of childhood leukemia who received 1800 cGy craniospinal irradiation, to identify potential cognitive late effects of treatment requiring appropriate special education services.

Adolescent

Comparing trajectories of cognitive functioning in treatment-resistant and non-resistant depression: a multicentre linear mixed-effects analysis.

BACKGROUND: Impaired cognitive functioning is a severe symptom in major depressive disorder (MDD). Recent evidence suggests it may be a central characteristic in its treatment resistant form (TRD), potentially constituting a clinical marker for treatment resistance and a target amenable to intervention. To date, cognitive functioning in TRD remains poorly understood and longitudinal investigations are scarce. METHODS: This observational prospective cohort study, including 320 patients diagnosed with MDD from the multicentre PROMPT study, examined differences in cognitive functioning between 118 TRD and 202 non-TRD patients over a period of twelve weeks in a real-world setting, using linear mixed modelling. Patients that failed to respond to at least two prior antidepressants trials at baseline were classified as TRD. RESULTS: TRD patients showed significantly poorer baseline performances than non-TRD patients in attention/processing speed (&#x3b2;&#xa0;=&#xa0;-0.45; 95%CI[-0.70, -0.19]; FDR-p&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.003) and verbal memory (&#x3b2;&#xa0;=&#xa0;-0.45; 95%CI[-0.72, -0.18]; FDR-p&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.003). Significant time &#xd7; group interactions were observed in motor speed and verbal fluency tasks. Post-hoc-analyses revealed stagnation in TRD patients and significant improvement in non-TRD patients. Across all other tasks improvement was observed in both groups, and random effects showed large heterogeneity between patients, indicating notable individual differences in cognitive performances. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest distinct recovery patters between non-TRD and TRD patients, and diminished functioning in TRD patients at the domain level. However, intact and diminished performances likely occur in both groups, warranting further investigation of cognitive heterogeneity. These short-term findings highlight the need for more comprehensive longitudinal research on cognition in TRD.

Humans

Antiepileptic drugs, cognitive function, and behavior in children: evidence from recent studies.

The effects of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) on cognitive function and behavior in children are reviewed on the basis of published studies. Individual AEDs have been shown to differ--the deleterious effects of phenytoin generally contrasting with the relatively minimal effects of valproate and carbamazepine. Some of the differences between results may be attributed to the psychological tests used and to age differences. However, there appears to be a dissociation between AEDs that affect higher cognitive function, e.g., phenytoin, and those mainly affecting motor function, e.g., carbamazepine, which appears to increase speed of performance, AEDs should be prescribed with care in children with epilepsy, taking account of their differing effects on cognitive function and behavior.

Adult

Moderate to heavy infections of Trichuris trichiura affect cognitive function in Jamaican school children.

A double-blind placebo trial was conducted to determine the effect of moderate to high loads of Trichuris trichiura (whipworm) infection on the cognitive functions of 159 school children (age 9-12 years) in Jamaica. Infected children were randomly assigned to Treatment or Placebo groups. A third group of randomly selected uninfected children were assigned to a Control for comparative purposes. The improvement in cognitive function was evaluated using a stepwise multiple linear regression, designed to control for any confounding variables. The expulsion of worms led to a significant improvement in tests of auditory short-term memory (P less than 0.02; P less than 0.01), and a highly significant improvement in the scanning and retrieval of long-term memory (P less than 0.001). After 9 weeks, treated children were no longer significantly different from an uninfected Control group in these three tests of cognitive function. The removal of T. trichiura was more important than Ascaris lumbricoides in determining this improvement. The results suggest that whipworm infection has an adverse effect on certain cognitive functions which is reversible by therapy.

Albendazole

Recombinant human erythropoietin treatment may improve quality of life and cognitive function in chronic hemodialysis patients.

Medical, psychological, and social adaptation (quality of life) as well as cognitive function were studied in 15 chronic stable hemodialysis patients before the onset of treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO), 1 month after stabilization of normal hematocrit levels, and 10 to 15 months after treatment onset. After r-HuEPO treatment, subjects had significantly higher hematocrits, markedly improved energy levels, and marginally improved global health. r-HuEPO treatment was also associated with progressively decreased levels of subject mood disturbance and dialysis-related stresses. Subjects had no increased participation in paid employment and only minimally increased participation in social and leisure activities at posttreatment data points. There was no significant improvement in cognitive function after treatment. r-HuEPO treatment appears to be associated with higher energy levels, significant psychological benefits, and minimal improvements in social adaptation. The effects on cognitive function merit further study.

Adaptation, Psychological

Effects of low levels of lead exposure on cognitive function--a review.

The relationship between low levels of lead and cognitive functioning in animals is reviewed. The data suggest that within animals lead can produce a massive disruption of learning ability while not affecting either morbidity or mortality. Concentration of lead appears to insidiously cause damage to learning function where extremely low doses disrupt the hard-to-measure higher levels of cognitive function. It is concluded that the current standards of lead concentration should be reappraised in terms of measures of damage to cognitive learning.

Animals

Effects of early intervention on cognitive function of low birth weight preterm infants.

The Infant Health and Development Program is a randomized clinical trial to test the efficacy of educational and family support services and pediatric follow-up, offered during the first 3 years of life, in reducing the incidence of developmental delay in low birth weight preterm infants at eight clinical sites (N = 985). It was hypothesized that larger intervention effects would be found for the domains in which low birth weight preterm infants are known to have problems, specifically visual-motor and spatial skills and receptive language skills. These analyses explore the effects of the Infant Health and Development Program on different domains of cognitive functioning. Cognitive domains are identified by means of factor analysis of the intelligence tests used at 12, 24, and 36 months (Bayley Scales of Infant Development (including the Mental and Motor scales) at 12 and 24 months; the Stanford-Binet, Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, and Beery Test of Visual Motor Intergration at 36 months). Our results reveal that, although intervention benefits accrue across cognitive domains at 24 and 36 months, gains are most pronounced for receptive language and visual-motor and spatial skills.

Child Development

Nutritional factors in physical and cognitive functions of elderly people.

The quality of life of aging individuals depends profoundly on their capacity for physical mobility, mental alertness, and cognitive function. Independence and self-esteem are strongly determined by physical and mental capacities. Stimulated by reports of declining function with age, investigators have examined the relationships between lifestyle factors and maintenance of functional status. Growing evidence supports the view that continued physical activity and good nutritional status are important determinants of physical and cognitive function. It is possible that some of the decline in cognitive function associated with aging is preventable or reversible with improved vitamin nutriture, especially vitamin B-12, vitamin B-6, and folate. It might well be argued that the most practical outcome of research on the relationship of diet and nutrition to the aging process would be a better understanding of the ways in which our behavior can maintain a vigorous quality of life.

Aged