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Results for “cognitive function”

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At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

PubMed1993

Improvement in cognitive functions and psychiatric symptoms in treatment-refractory schizophrenic patients receiving clozapine.

Cognitive functions and psychopathology were assessed in 36 treatment-refractory schizophrenic patients before initiation of clozapine, and at 6 weeks and 6 months, thereafter. Before treatment, cognitive impairment was found in each measure of memory, attention, and executive function as compared with 26 normal controls. After both 6 weeks and 6 months of treatment, significant improvement occurred in the Controlled Oral Word Association Test, a measure of retrieval from reference memory. Improvement was also noted at 6 months in the Category Instance Generation Test, another measure of retrieval from reference memory, and in some, but not all, tests of executive function, attention, and recall memory. Clozapine treatment also resulted in significant improvement in Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) Total and Positive symptom scores at both 6-week and 6-month assessment points. There was some evidence for a relationship between improvement in psychopathology and cognitive function. The improvement in cognitive function during clozapine treatment could have consequences for capacity to work and social function.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Cognitive functions and quality of life in patients with low-grade gliomas: the impact of radiotherapy.

The role of early radiotherapy in the treatment of low-grade gliomas is controversial. For this reason the impact of radiotherapy on quality of life was studied in long-term survivors of biopsy-proved low-grade gliomas without signs of tumor recurrence. Twenty patients (age range, 18-66 years) had been treated with early radiotherapy; the other 21 patients (age range, 19-65 years) had undergone surgery or biopsy only. The interval from diagnosis to testing ranged from 1 to 12 years (mean, 3.5 years). Nineteen patients with low-grade hematological malignancies, surviving 1 to 15 years without central nervous system involvement, served as control subjects. Apart from the neurological and functional status, the patients' cognitive, affective, and psychological status was determined. None of the survivors had significant neurological impairment and the Karnofsky index for them was at least 70. However, more specific examinations of cognitive functions and the affective status (Profile of Mood States) indicated that, compared to the control subjects, the patients with low-grade gliomas had significantly more cognitive disturbances and suffered more frequently from fatigue and depressed moods. The two groups with low-grade gliomas, on the other hand, did not differ significantly on any of these measures. It is concluded that radiotherapy did not cause these disturbances and had no negative impact on quality of life in these patients.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Fluvoxamine does not interact with alcohol or potentiate alcohol-related impairment of cognitive function.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether fluvoxamine alters the pharmacokinetics of alcohol or potentiates alcohol-related impairment of cognitive function. METHODS: The study design required partially "blinded" balanced crossover studies, each involving 12 healthy male volunteers who each received a 40 gm dose of intravenous or oral alcohol after single and multiple doses of 50 mg fluvoxamine. Main outcome measures for pharmacokinetics were venous blood alcohol and plasma fluvoxamine. Main outcome measures for pharmacodynamics were word recall, simple and choice reaction time, number vigilance, memory scanning, and word recognition. RESULTS: The pharmacokinetics of intravenous alcohol were not affected by concomitant administration of fluvoxamine. Compared with placebo-alcohol, alcohol slightly increased the rate of fluvoxamine absorption, but the area under the plasma concentration-time curve from 0 to 12 hours at steady state was unchanged. As expected, alcohol significantly impaired cognitive function in volunteers. However, fluvoxamine did not potentiate the effects of alcohol and in some instances appeared to reverse the effects or reduce their duration. Fluvoxamine was well tolerated: only mild adverse effects were reported, and none of those required intervention. CONCLUSION: Fluvoxamine does not interact significantly with alcohol or potentiate alcohol-related impairment of cognitive function.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed1996

Relations of cognitive functions associated with the frontal lobes and learning disorders in children.

Various cognitive processes associated with the frontal lobes and their influence upon learning and learning disorders in children were investigated. Subjects were 29 7- to 12-yr.-old boys and girls. Analysis of variance suggested that, as a group, the learning-disabled children scored lower on tasks with a high demand for selective attention, ability to inhibit interference, sequential reasoning, and integration and organization of new information--cognitive functions commonly attributed to the frontal lobes. The relationship of these cognitive functions to acquisition of basic academic skills is discussed.

Child↗

PubMed1992

Ventricular size, cognitive function and depression in patients with multiple sclerosis.

The purpose of this study was to explore further the hypothesis that changes in cognitive function may occur in the mild stages of multiple sclerosis (MS) by determining whether ventricular enlargement was related to cognitive function. Ten measures of ventricular size were made in a sample of 123 MS patients with mild disability and 60 well-matched healthy controls. In addition, sixteen tests of cognitive function and the Beck Depression Inventory were administered. For the MS group, there were significant correlations between the ventricular measures and cognitive performance but not for the normal controls. Scores on the Beck Depression Inventory were not correlated with either cognitive performance or ventricular enlargement. These findings suggest that for the MS group cognitive impairment was related to the disease process but not to the level of depression.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

The cumulative effect of neglect and failure to thrive on cognitive functioning.

OBJECTIVE: A cumulative risk model was used to examine the relationship among neglect, failure to thrive (FTT), and cognitive functioning in low income children. METHOD: A sample of 177 children 3 to 30 months old was recruited from a pediatric clinic serving low-income, primarily African American families. Four groups were formed based on neglect and FTT status: Neglect and FTT, Neglect Only, FTT Only, and No Neglect or FTT. FTT was defined as weight-for-age below the 5th percentile on growth charts. To avoid the biases associated with Child Protective Service reports as definitions of neglect, the HOME scale (Caldwell & Bradley, 1984) was used to define neglect. RESULTS: The cognitive performance of the group with neglect and FTT was significantly below that of the children in the Neglect Only, FTT Only, and No Neglect or FTT groups. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support a model in which the accumulation of risk factors is detrimental to cognitive functioning. The results also underscore the need for thorough evaluation when one risk factor has been identified. Growth failure may come to the attention of medical personnel, but neglect may not be detected. However, a child experiencing both neglect and FTT may be at risk for significant deficits in cognitive functioning.

Child Abuse↗

PubMed1994

Cognitive functions in subjects with incidental cerebral hyperintensities.

We investigated the association between incidental cerebral hyperintensities (CH) found by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cognitive functions in neurologically normal, nondemented subjects. Semiquantitative scores for MRI lesions and those for brain atrophy were compared with the results of extensive cognitive examinations using multivariate analysis. There was no correlation between CH and cognition, except that periventricular hyperintensities, especially those in posterior locations, were associated with reduced performance in the Stroop test. Overall cognitive functions were associated with age, and age was a predominant factor in the prefrontal functions. Brain atrophy was associated more with decline of the posterior and dorsolateral frontal brain functions. We suggest that disturbances in attention and speed may initially result from incidental CH, while other cognitive functions remain unaffected.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Parasitic helminth infection and cognitive function in school children.

The study examines the effect of moderate to high worm burdens of Trichuris trichiura infection on the cognitive functions of 159 school children (age 9-12 years) in Jamaica, using a double-blind placebo-controlled protocol. Results were evaluated by using a forward-stepwise multiple linear regression. Removal of worms led to a significant improvement in tests of auditory short-term memory (p less than 0.017; p less than 0.013), and scanning and retrieval of long-term memory (p less than 0.001). Nine weeks after treatment, there were no longer significant differences between the treated children and an uninfected Control group in these three tests of cognitive function. It is concluded that whipworm infection has an adverse effect on certain cognitive functions which is reversible by therapy.

Albendazole↗

PubMed1991

Longitudinal application of cognitive function measures in a defined population of community-dwelling elders.

The nature and extent of possible age-related changes in cognitive function have primarily been examined in nonrandom samples, and have not been well described in population-based studies. We examined longitudinal changes in performance on a mental status examination and recall and recognition memory tests in a population-based (n = 1953) study of community-dwelling elders. Advanced age was associated with poorer performance on all tests and more rapid decline longitudinally on the mental status and recall and recognition memory tests. Less-educated persons performed more poorly. Lower levels of educational attainment were predictive of more rapid declines on the mental status examination and recall memory test among women. Subsequent survivorship was associated with preserved performance on the mental status and recall memory tests. These findings suggest that there are age-associated changes in cognitive function, and have implications for population-based studies of cognitive function and survey research in general.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1994

Improvement of cerebral blood flow and cognitive function following pacemaker implantation in patients with bradycardia.

We investigated the effects of pacemaker implantation on cerebral blood flow and cognitive function in 14 severely bradycardic patients (mean age 75.2 years). Cerebral blood flow and verbal intelligence improved after the pacemaker implantation. Systolic and mean arterial blood pressure was significantly reduced after the implantation. Changes in cerebral blood flow significantly correlated with changes in heart rate in polynomial regression analysis, but not with changes in cardiac output. Before the implantation, verbal cognitive function was lower in bradycardic patients than in age-matched control subjects, and brain CT showed significant advanced atrophy in these patients. However, verbal cognitive function was also improved after the implantation. Pacemaker implantation in the severe bradycardic elderly should be beneficial not only for cardiac function but also for brain function. We concluded that these results suggest that heart rate is one of the important factors in the regulation of cerebral circulation in patients with severe bradycardia. Pacemaker implantation in the elderly improved quality of life and may prevent mental deterioration.

Aged↗

PubMed1994

Nonresponse pattern and bias in a community-based cross-sectional study of cognitive functioning among the elderly.

The demographic, health, and mental functioning characteristics of nonresponders to a community-based cross-sectional study of cognitive functioning among the elderly in Amsterdam, the Netherlands (Amsterdam Study of the Elderly (AMSTEL), October 1990 to May 1991), were examined and compared with responders. The randomly selected age-stratified (65-74, 75-84 years) sample was drawn from nonresponders listed with a subsample (n = 8) of general practitioners whose lists served as the sampling frame for the main study. The general practitioners approached and interviewed the responding nonresponders using the same standardized questions that were used in the main study. Nonresponders (n = 115) and responders (n = 999) from the same medical practices were compared by means of chi-square and odds ratios. Compared with responders, these nonresponders more often reported a history of psychiatric illness, heart attack, stroke, and diabetes, and were more likely to be unmarried, to have a lower education, and to do poorly on the cognitive test (odds ratio = 1.6, 95% confidence interval 1.0-2.6). Most significant physical and mental health differences by response status were seen among the persons aged < 75 years and not among those aged > or = 75 years. The odds for poor cognitive test performance associated with age and stroke were relatively more biased than those associated with other risk factors. These results suggest that the characteristics of young-old and old-old elderly nonresponders to cross-sectional studies of cognitive function may differ, and that there may be selective nonresponse that could bias, to a different degree, estimates of risk for poor cognitive functioning. Studies should investigate the possibilities for nonresponse in their own setting.

Aged↗

PubMed1985

Experience-dependent recovery of cognitive functioning in young alcoholics.

Spontaneous recovery of some cognitive functioning in alcoholics after drinking has ceased has been convincingly demonstrated, but there have been no demonstrations of recovery that occurs primarily due to exposure of the alcoholic to specific environmental events. In the present study two groups of alcoholics began a 3-week series of tests sensitive to alcoholic cognitive dysfunction at different time lags after drinking ceased (1 week vs. at least 3 weeks). Each group received five administrations each of three tests. On two of the measures, comparisons between the initial testings administered at least three weeks apart revealed the expected pattern of improvement concommitant with the passage of time. On the Halstead-Reitan Trailmaking Test (Part B), initial test scores were equivalent, showing no time-dependent recovery. Instead, performance improved solely as a function of repeated task administration, thus demonstrating "experience-dependent" recovery. Initial levels of impairment and the extent of recovery were established using two non-alcoholic control groups. Since evidence has accrued that alcoholics' treatment outcome may relate to neuropsychological status, experience-dependent rehabilitation of cognitive functioning may improve success rates in alcoholism treatment.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

Cognitive functioning and symptomatology in chronic schizophrenia.

Chronic schizophrenic patients in a long stay hospital were found to have low levels of intelligence (mean IQ of 80), which was attributed to the effects of substantial intellectual deterioration on below average pre-morbid levels of functioning. Patients with the lowest IQ scores had the least severe positive symptoms but symptomatology was not related to age or extent of intellectual decline. Speed of functioning was relatively more impaired than level of intellectual functioning, with cognitive speed being more affected than motor speed. The severity of negative but not positive symptoms was significantly related to the severity of bradyphrenia (cognitive slowing), a result which would be consistent with the notion of a subcortical pathology in patients with Type II schizophrenia.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Estrogen's impact on cognitive functions in multiple sclerosis.

It has long been suspected that hormonal factors contribute directly and indirectly to the etiology and pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). The susceptibility of MS is higher in women than in men and women are even more susceptible to hormonal influences when onset occurs at an early or delayed age. Pregnancy has a short-term favorable effect on the course of the disease but there is an increased rate of relapse during the post-partum period. In addition, women often report premenstrual exacerbation of their symptoms with remission during menses. These findings suggest that in women estrogens may exert a stabilizing effect on the clinical manifestations of MS. The role of estrogens is supported also by observations of a higher incidence of cognitive impairment in women than men with MS. A 50 year old woman with a remitting progressive MS experienced profound deterioration in cognitive functions during withdrawal from estrogen therapy which was initiated for the treatment of amenorrhea. Improvement in cognitive functions occurred shortly after she restarted therapy with an estrogen/progesterone preparation and was maintained during long term therapy. Serotonin (5-HT) mechanisms have been implicated in memory functions and estrogens modulate these functions through an interaction with 5-HT2 receptors in the cerebral cortex and limbic system. It is suggested that estrogen withdrawal induces impairment in cognitive functions through dysregulation of 5-HT2 receptor activity and 5-HT neurotransmission. These findings suggest that estrogens have a beneficial influence on cognitive functions in MS patients and that hormonal supplementation might be advised in menopausal and postmenopausal MS patients for the prevention of cognitive deterioration.

Cognition↗

PubMed1996

Longitudinal changes in cognitive functioning in adult day care participants.

This study examines longitudinal changes in cognitive functioning over the course of 2 years in participants of adult day cae programs. Cognitive measures included the Brief Cognitive Rating Scale (BCRS) and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Longitudinal data were available for five measurement points over 2 years for 82 participants (22 males and 60 females). Overall, results from this study suggest that there were significant cognitive declines on BCRS and MMSE, even after only 1 or 2 years in the study. The rates of impairment over the 2 years for BCRS and MMSE were highly correlated. Within each measure, the individual rates of decline were very heterogenous and were influenced by the presence, type, and prognosis of dementia. Participants with multi-infarct dementia had greater cognitive decline than did those with other types of dementias. Initial cognitive functioning and physician's prognosis of dementia trajectory were also significant predictors of change over time. Results suggest a floor effect in the BCRS.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed1988

Specialized cognitive function and reading achievement in hearing-impaired adolescents.

This study evaluated the performance of hearing-impaired adolescents on tests of specialized cognitive functioning and explored the linkage between cognitive profile and reading achievement. Other variables noted were mathematics achievement, speech production, etiology, and age of onset of hearing loss. Subjects were 62 severely-to-profoundly hearing-impaired students between 15 and 20 years of age, 31 "high readers" and 31 "low readers." Results indicated that, for this sample, cognitive function was below average for the verbal and sequential skills associated with the left hemisphere but above average for the "visuospatial" skills associated with the right hemisphere. Reading performance proved to be highly correlated with cognitive profile, as did mathematics performance and, to a lesser extent, speech and age of onset. Ramifications for instruction are discussed--in particular, development of strategies for using the right hemispheric cognitive strengths, as identified in this sample, to help overcome the deficits in "verbosequential" processing and reading achievement traditionally associated with hearing-impaired students.

Achievement↗

PubMed1993

Cognitive function in myotonic dystrophy: a follow-up study.

Intellectual and cognitive function were studied in 35 patients with myotonic dystrophy (DM). All 5 patients with the congenital form showed moderate or mild mental retardation. The 30 adult-onset patients had normal intelligence and memory quotients. In this adult-onset group no differences in cognitive function were observed either with respect to sex or physical disability. The sex of the affected parent, mother vs. father, was also without effect in this group. A follow-up study was performed in 16 patients with a mean test interval of 12 years. There was no severe cognitive impairment over this time span or a significant correlation between the progression of physical and cognitive dysfunction.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

Cognitive functioning and posttraumatic stress disorder.

OBJECTIVE: The authors examined the association of cognitive impairment with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other psychiatric diagnoses known to affect cognitive functioning. METHOD: The results of standardized neuropsychological tests were compared in four groups of Vietnam veterans: veterans with both a lifetime history of PTSD and a current diagnosis of depression, anxiety, or substance abuse; veterans with only a PTSD diagnosis; veterans with only a current diagnosis of depression, anxiety, or substance abuse; and veterans with none of these diagnoses. RESULTS: Veterans with both PTSD and concurrent diagnoses. exhibited more impairment in cognitive functioning than did veterans without these diagnoses. CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive deficits seen among persons diagnosed with PTSD may be associated with their concomitant diagnoses.

Adult↗