Executive dysfunction

22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome (22q11.2DS), the most common chromosomal microdeletion, presents as a heterogeneous phenotype characterized by an array of anatomical, behavioral, and cognitive abnormalities. Individuals with 22q11.2DS exhibit extensive cognitive deficits, both in overall intellectual capacity and focal challenges in executive functioning, attentional control, perceptual abilities, motor skills, verbal processing, as well as socioemotional operations. Heterogeneity is an intrinsic factor of the deletion's clinical manifestation in these cognitive domains...

Background and Objectives : The study aims to provide a comprehensive neuropsychological analysis of psychotic spectrum disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression. It focuses on the critical aspects of cognitive impairments, diagnostic tools, intervention efficacy, and the roles of genetic and environmental factors in these disorders. The paper emphasizes the diagnostic significance of neuropsychological tests in identifying cognitive deficiencies and their predictive value in the early management of psychosis...

Cerebellar ataxia is a neurological syndrome characterized by the imbalance (e.g., truncal ataxia, gait ataxia) and incoordination of limbs while executing a task (dysmetria), caused by the dysfunction of the cerebellum or its connections. It is frequently associated with other signs of cerebellar dysfunction, including abnormal eye movements, dysmetria, kinetic tremor, dysarthria, and/or dysphagia. Among the so-termed mitochondrial ataxias, variants in genes encoding steps of the coenzyme Q10 biosynthetic pathway represent a common cause of autosomal recessive primary coenzyme Q10 deficiencies (PCoQD)s...

Background: Long COVID has brought numerous challenges to healthcare, with olfactory dysfunction (OD) being a particularly distressing outcome for many patients. The persistent loss of smell significantly diminishes the affected individual's quality of life. Recent attention has been drawn to the potential of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy as a treatment for OD. This comprehensive review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of PRP therapy in ameliorating OD, especially when associated with long-term COVID-19...

BACKGROUND: REM-sleep behavior disorder (RBD) and other non-motor symptoms such as hyposmia were proposed by the Movement Disorder Society as research criteria for prodromal Parkinson's disease (P-PD). Global cognitive deficit was later added. OBJECTIVE: To compare non-motor symptoms, focusing on cognition, between a P-PD group and a matched control group. METHODS: In this cross-sectional, case-control study, in a first set of analyses, we performed extensive cognitive testing on people with (n = 76) and a control group without (n = 195) probable RBD and hyposmia...

BACKGROUND: Within older Veterans, multiple factors may contribute to cognitive difficulties. Beyond Alzheimer's disease (AD), psychiatric (e.g., PTSD) and health comorbidities (e.g., TBI) may also impact cognition. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to derive subgroups based on objective cognition, subjective cognitive decline (SCD), and amyloid burden, and then compare subgroups on clinical characteristics, biomarkers, and longitudinal change in functioning and global cognition...

BACKGROUND: Fine and gross motor tasks are usually used to evaluate behavioral dysfunctions and can be applied to diseases of the central nervous system, such as fibromyalgia (FM). Non-linear measures have allowed for deeper motor control analysis, focusing on the process and on the quality of movement. Therefore, to assess uncertainty, irregularity, and structural richness of a time series, different algorithms of entropy can be computed. The aim of this study was to (i) verify the single-scale and multiscale entropy values in fine and gross motor movements and (ii) to verify whether fine and gross motor tasks are sensitive to characterizing FM patients...

Despite evidence of primary hypertension (PH)-associated cognitive dysfunction in pediatric, middle-aged, and older adult populations, respective data in young adults remains scarce. We aimed to define differences in cognitive performance between individuals with PH and healthy controls in early adulthood. A convenience sample of young adults (age 18-45 years) with PH and their healthy sex, age, education, and household income matched counterparts were cross-sectionally tested for verbal fluency, verbal memory, general intelligence, reaction speed, attention, visual memory, and executive functioning...

BACKGROUND: Plasma neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a promising biomarker of neurodegeneration with potential clinical utility in monitoring the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. However, the cross-sectional associations of plasma NfL with measures of cognition and brain have been inconsistent in community-dwelling populations. METHODS: We examined these associations in a large community-dwelling sample of early old age men (N = 969, mean age = 67...

BACKGROUND: The Square Stepping Exercise (SSE) is an exercise training program that integrates physical exercise and cognitive elements and can be conducted in a group setting. The potential of SSE in delaying cognitive decline in older adults is promising. However, the coronavirus pandemic has made it more difficult for older adults worldwide to exercise together in person. To address this issue, this study conducted a wholistic evaluation of the effects of a center-based hybrid SSE trial on cognitive, physical, psychological, and group functioning in sedentary older adults...

Impaired basic academic skills (e.g., word recognition) are common in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The underlying neuropsychological and neural correlates of impaired Chinese reading skills in children with ADHD have not been substantially explored. Three hundred and two children with ADHD (all medication-naïve) and 105 healthy controls underwent the Chinese language skill assessment, and 175 also underwent fMRI scans (84 ADHD and 91 controls). Between-group and mediation analyses were applied to explore the interrelationships of the diagnosis of ADHD, cognitive dysfunction, and impaired reading skills...

Blast-related mild traumatic brain injury (blast-mTBI) can result in a spectrum of persistent symptoms leading to substantial functional impairment and reduced quality of life. Clinical evaluation and discernment from other conditions common to military service can be challenging and subject to patient recall bias and the limitations of available assessment measures. The need for objective biomarkers to facilitate accurate diagnosis, not just for symptom management and rehabilitation but for prognostication and disability compensation purposes is clear...

BACKGROUND: Few studies have focused on functional impairment in depressed patients during symptomatic remission. The exact relationship between cognitive performance and functional outcomes of patients with Major depressive disorder (MDD) remains unclear. METHODS: Participants diagnosed with MDD were included and interviewed at both baseline and follow-up. Cognitive function was assessed during acute episodes using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB), which targeted attention (Rapid Visual Processing - RVP), visual memory (Pattern Recognition Memory - PRM), and executive function (Intra-Extra Dimensional Set Shift - IED)...

Consensus criteria for traumatic encephalopathy syndrome (TES) specify that at least one core clinical feature of cognitive impairment (CI; e.g., difficulties with memory, executive function) or neurobehavioral dysregulation (ND; e.g., explosiveness, rage, and mood lability) be present and not fully accounted for by other health disorders. Associations between self-reported symptoms that mirror the core clinical features of TES-and how they may be related to concomitant medical conditions-remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of medical conditions and football exposures with TES clinical features (CI+/- , ND+/- ) in 1741 former professional American-style football (ASF) players (age, 57...

Despite advances in the treatment and care of severe physical injuries, trauma remains one of the main reasons for disability-adjusted life years worldwide. Trauma patients often suffer from disturbances in energy utilization and metabolic dysfunction, including hyperglycemia and increased insulin resistance. White adipose tissue plays an essential role in the regulation of energy homeostasis and is frequently implicated in traumatic injury due to its ubiquitous body distribution but remains poorly studied...

OBJECTIVE: To identify neurobehavioral symptom profiles among persons with chronic traumatic brain injury (TBI) using the Behavioral Assessment Screening Tool (BAST) and to consider participant characteristics that differ between profile groups. SETTING: Community. PARTICIPANTS: Participants (n = 615) were English-speaking adults (≥18) and had a self-reported history of at least one TBI of any severity. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of cross-sectional data...

Brain fog is one of the most well-known sequelae of long COVID. It causes cognitive problems, mostly short-term memory disturbances, attention impairments, and problems with concentration. Although trials for treatment methods for brain fog have been carried out worldwide, effective methods have not yet been reported. Neurofeedback is effective for several common disorders and symptoms, including anxiety, depression, headaches, and pain. Neurofeedback is also reported to improve cognitive functions, such as processing speed and executive functions, including attention, planning, organization, problem-solving, and performance...

OBJECTIVE: Replicated evidence shows a weak or non-significant correlation between different methods of evaluating executive functions (EF). The current study investigates the association between rating scales and cognitive tests of EF in a sample of children with ADHD and executive dysfunction. METHOD: The sample included 139 children (aged 6-13) diagnosed with ADHD and executive dysfunctions. The children completed subtests of the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB)...

The insula is an integral component of sensory, motor, limbic, and executive functions, and insular dysfunction is associated with numerous human neuropsychiatric disorders. Insular afferents project widely, but insulo-striate projections are especially numerous. The targets of these insulo-striate projections are organized into tissue compartments, the striosome and matrix. These striatal compartments have distinct embryologic origins, afferent and efferent connectivity, dopamine pharmacology, and susceptibility to injury...

OBJECTIVE: To establish reference values for the computerized cognitive test and evaluate cognitive function improvements across different age groups, we introduce the computerized Cognitive Function Test program (eCFT), specifically designed for children. We aimed to establish eCFT reference values and assess cognitive function improvements across different age groups. METHODS: We included children aged 3-6 years with confirmed normal cognition based on the Korean Developmental Screening Test for Infants and Children and Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children-II...