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At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2014

Cadmium exposure and neuropsychological development in school children in southwestern Spain

This study assessed the association between cadmium exposure and neuropsychological development in children from a region with high industrial and mining activities in southwestern Spain. We conducted a cross-sectional study with 261 children aged 6–9 years between January and March 2012. Cadmium exposure was measured in urine and hair of children, and neuropsychological development was assessed with the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) and with three computerized tests from the Behavioral Assessment and Research System (BARS): Reaction Time Test (RTT), Continuous Performance Test (CPT) and Selective Attention Test (SAT). Multivariate linear regression models, adjusted for potential confounders, were used to estimate the association between neuropsychological development and cadmium exposure measured in urine and hair samples. Geometric means of urine and hair cadmium levels were 0.75 μg/g creatinine and 0.01 μg/g, respectively. We observed that doubling of levels of cadmium in urine was associated with a reduction of two points (95% CI: −3.8 to −0.4) in the Full-Scale intelligence quotient (IQ) in boys. By domains, association was statistically significant for Verbal Comprehension (β=−2.0; p=0.04) and close to the significance level for Perceptual Reasoning (β=−1.8; p=0.06). Among girls, only Verbal Comprehension showed suggestive associations with cadmium exposure (β=−1.7; p=0.06). Cadmium exposure is associated with cognitive delays in boys in our region. Our results provide additional evidence of the neurotoxic effect of low-level postnatal cadmium exposure among children, and support the hypothesis of differences between sexes in the neurotoxic effect of metals on children. - Highlights: • This study associates Cd exposure and neuropsychological development in children. • Cd exposure was associated with cognitive delay in boys, but not in girls. • Intellectual quotient of boys decreased two points for a doubling of urine Cd levels. • Verbal Comprehension and Perceptual Reasoning were the most affected domains in boys. • Results support the sex-related differences in the neurotoxicity of metals in children.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

Neuroanatomical and cognitive correlates of visual hallucinations in Parkinson’s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies: Voxel-based morphometry and neuropsychological meta-analysis

Visual hallucinations (VH) are common in Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies, two forms of Lewy body disease (LBD), but the neural substrates and mechanisms involved are still unclear. We conducted meta-analyses of voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and neuropsychological studies investigating the neuroanatomical and cognitive correlates of VH in LBD. For VBM (12 studies), we used Seed-based d Mapping with Permutation of Subject Images (SDM-PSI), including statistical parametric maps for 50% of the studies. For neuropsychology (35 studies), we used MetaNSUE to consider non-statistically significant unreported effects. VH were associated with smaller grey matter volume in occipital, frontal, occipitotemporal, and parietal areas (peak Hedges' g -0.34 to -0.49). In patients with Parkinson's disease without dementia, VH were associated with lower verbal immediate memory performance (Hedges' g -0.52). Both results survived correction for multiple comparisons. Here, abnormalities in these brain regions might reflect dysfunctions in brain networks sustaining visuoperceptive, attention, and executive abilities, with the latter also being at the basis of poor immediate memory performance.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2015

Neuropsychological Outcome of Children Treated for Standard Risk Medulloblastoma in the PNET4 European Randomized Controlled Trial of Hyperfractionated Versus Standard Radiation Therapy and Maintenance Chemotherapy

Purpose: In the European HIT-SIOP PNET4 randomized controlled trial, children with standard risk medulloblastoma were allocated to hyperfractionated radiation therapy (HFRT arm, including a partially focused boost) or standard radiation therapy (STRT arm), followed, in both arms, by maintenance chemotherapy. Event-free survival was similar in both arms. Previous work showed that the HFRT arm was associated with worse growth and better questionnaire-based executive function, especially in children <8 years of age at diagnosis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare performance-based cognitive outcomes between treatment arms. Methods and Materials: Neuropsychological data were collected prospectively in 137 patients. Using the Wechsler Intelligence Scales, Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children, and Raven's Progressive Matrices, we estimated full-scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ) and, when available, verbal IQ (VIQ), performance IQ (PIQ), working memory index (WMI), and processing speed index (PSI). Results: Among the 137 participants (HFRT arm n=71, STRT arm n=66, 63.5% males), mean (±SD) ages at diagnosis and assessment respectively were 9.3 (±3.2) years of age (40.8% < 8 years of age at diagnosis) and 14.6 (±4.3) years of age. Mean (±SD) FSIQ was 88 (±19), and mean intergroup difference was 3.88 (95% confidence interval: −2.66 to 10.42, P=.24). No significant differences were found in children >8 years of age at diagnosis. In children <8 years of age at diagnosis, a marginally significant trend toward higher VIQ was found in those treated in the HFRT arm; a similar trend was found for PSI but not for PIQ, WMI, or FSIQ (mean intergroup differences were: 12.02 for VIQ [95% CI: 2.37-21.67; P=.02]; 3.77 for PIQ [95% CI: −5.19 to 12.74; P>.10]; 5.20 for WMI [95% CI: −2.07 to 12.47; P>.10]; 10.90 for PSI [95% CI: −1.54 to 23.36; P=.08]; and 5.28 for FSIQ [95% CI: −4.23 to 14.79; P>.10]). Conclusions: HFRT was associated with marginally higher VIQ in children <8 years of age at diagnosis, consistent with a previous report using questionnaire-based data. However, overall cognitive ability was not significantly different.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗
NASA NTRS1988

Attention, effort, and fatigue: Neuropsychological perspectives

Models of attention, effort, and fatigue are reviewed. Methods are discussed for measuring these phenomena from a neuropsychological and psychophysiological perspective. The following methodologies are included: (1) the autonomic measurement of cognitive effort and quality of encoding; (2) serial assessment approaches to neurophysiological assessment; and (3) the assessment of subjective reports of fatigue using multidimensional ratings and their relationship to neurobehavioral measures.

Cohen, Ronald A.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Monitoring cognitive function and need with the automated neuropsychological assessment metrics in Decompression Sickness (DCS) research

Hypobaric decompression sickness (DCS) research presents the medical monitor with the difficult task of assessing the onset and progression of DCS largely on the basis of subjective symptoms. Even with the introduction of precordial Doppler ultrasound techniques for the detection of venous gas emboli (VGE), correct prediction of DCS can be made only about 65 percent of the time according to data from the Armstrong Laboratory's (AL's) hypobaric DCS database. An AL research protocol concerned with exercise and its effects on denitrogenation efficiency includes implementation of a performance assessment test battery to evaluate cognitive functioning during a 4-h simulated 30,000 ft (9144 m) exposure. Information gained from such a test battery may assist the medical monitor in identifying early signs of DCS and subtle neurologic dysfunction related to cases of asymptomatic, but advanced, DCS. This presentation concerns the selection and integration of a test battery and the timely graphic display of subject test results for the principal investigator and medical monitor. A subset of the Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics (ANAM) developed through the Office of Military Performance Assessment Technology (OMPAT) was selected. The ANAM software provides a library of simple tests designed for precise measurement of processing efficiency in a variety of cognitive domains. For our application and time constraints, two tests requiring high levels of cognitive processing and memory were chosen along with one test requiring fine psychomotor performance. Accuracy, speed, and processing throughout variables as well as RMS error were collected. An automated mood survey provided 'state' information on six scales including anger, happiness, fear, depression, activity, and fatigue. An integrated and interactive LOTUS 1-2-3 macro was developed to import and display past and present task performance and mood-change information.

Nesthus, Thomas E.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Neuropsychological Testing of Astronauts

The Spaceflight Cognitive Assessment Tool for Windows (WinSCAT) is a computer program that administers a battery of five timed neuro-cognitive tests. WinSCAT was developed to give astronauts an objective and automated means of assessing their cognitive functioning during space flight, as compared with their own baseline performances measured during similar prior testing on the ground. WinSCAT is also intended for use by flight surgeons to assess cognitive impairment after exposure of astronauts to such cognitive assaults as head trauma, decompression sickness, and exposure to toxic gas. The tests were selected from among a group of tests, denoted the Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics, that were created by the United States Navy and Army for use in evaluating the cognitive impairment of military personnel who have been subjected to medication or are suspected to have sustained brain injuries. These tests have been validated in a variety of clinical settings and are now in the public domain. The tests are presented in a Microsoft Windows shell that facilitates administration and enables immediate reporting of test scores in numerical and graphical forms.

Flynn, Christopher↗
DOE OSTI2018

Maternal selenium status and neuropsychological development in Spanish preschool children

Highlights: • The association between maternal Se and neurodevelopment at 5 years of age has been evaluated. • An inverted U-shaped relationship was observed: low and high Se seem to be harmful for neurodevelopment. • Breastfeeding seems to offset the low Se levels during the prenatal period. • Prenatal period could be especially vulnerable to Se neurotoxicity. The relationship between maternal selenium (Se) status and child neurodevelopment has been scarcely assessed. In a previous study we observed an inverse U-shaped association between maternal Se concentrations and infant neurodevelopment at 12 months of age. In this study, this non-linear association was explored at preschool age. The effect modification by breastfeeding, child's sex and cord blood mercury was also evaluated.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Automated detection of mild cognitive impairment and dementia from voice recordings: A natural language processing approach

Automated computational assessment of neuropsychological tests would enable widespread, cost-effective screening for dementia. A novel natural language processing approach is developed and validated to identify different stages of dementia based on automated transcription of digital voice recordings of subjects’ neuropsychological tests conducted by the Framingham Heart Study (n = 1084). Transcribed sentences from the test were encoded into quantitative data and several models were trained and tested using these data and the participants’ demographic characteristics. Average area under the curve (AUC) on the held-out test data reached 92.6%, 88.0%, and 74.4% for differentiating Normal cognition from Dementia, Normal or Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) from Dementia, and Normal from MCI, respectively. The proposed approach offers a fully automated identification of MCI and dementia based on a recorded neuropsychological test, providing an opportunity to develop a remote screening tool that could be adapted easily to any language.

neuropsychological↗
DOE OSTI2018

Asymmetrical subcortical plasticity entails cognitive progression in older individuals

Abstract Structural brain asymmetries have been associated with cognition. However, it is not known to what extent neuropsychological parameters and structural laterality covary with aging. Seventy‐five subjects drawn from a larger normal aging cohort were evaluated in terms of MRI and neuropsychological parameters at two moments (M1 and M2), 18 months apart. In this time frame, asymmetry as measured by structural laterality index (ΔLI) was stable regarding both direction and magnitude in all areas. However, a significantly higher dispersion for this variation was observed in subcortical over cortical areas. Subjects with extreme increase in rightward lateralization of the caudate revealed increased M1 to M2 Stroop interference scores, but also a worsening of general cognition (MMSE). In contrast, subjects showing extreme increase in leftward lateralization of the thalamus presented higher increase in Stroop interference scores. In conclusion, while a decline in cognitive function was observed in the entire sample, regional brain asymmetries were relatively stable. Neuropsychological trajectories were associated with laterality changes in subcortical regions.

Esteves, Madalena↗
NASA NTRS1994

Human Frontal Lobes and AI Planning Systems

Human frontal lobes are essential for maintaining a self-regulating balance between predictive and reactive behavior. This paper describes a system that integrates prediction and reaction based on neuropsychological theories of frontal lobe function. In addition to enhancing our understanding of deliberate action in humans' the model is being used to develop and evaluate the same properties in machines. First, the paper presents some background neuropsychology in order to set a general context. The role of frontal lobes is then presented by summarizing three theories which formed the basis for this work. The components of an artificial frontal lobe are then discussed from both neuropsychological and AI perspectives. The paper concludes by discussing issues and methods for evaluating systems that integrate planning and reaction.

Levinson, Richard↗
DOE OSTI2018

Neurocognitive and physical functioning in the Seveso Women's Health Study

Highlights: • Little research exists on the neurotoxic effects of dioxins in older women. • TCDD was associated with grip strength but not other measures of physical function. • TCDD exposure was not adversely associated with working memory. • This relationship was not modified by menopause nor timing of TCDD exposure around menarche. • TCDD susceptibility may increase as the women age, warranting further research. 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is neurotoxic in animals but few studies have investigated its effects on the human brain. Related dioxin-like compounds have been linked to poorer cognitive and motor function in older adults, with effects more pronounced in women, perhaps due to the loss of neuro-protective estrogen in menopause. On 10 July 1976, a chemical explosion in Seveso, Italy, resulted in one of the highest known residential exposures to TCDD. In 1996, we initiated the Seveso Women's Health Study, a retrospective cohort study of the health of the women who were newborn to 40 years old in 1976. Here, we investigate whether TCDD exposure is associated with physical functioning and working memory more than 20 years later. Individual TCDD concentration (ppt) was measured in archived serum collected soon after the explosion. In 1996 and 2008, we measured physical functioning (n=154) and working memory (n=459), respectively. We examined associations between serum TCDD and motor and cognitive outcomes with multivariate linear regression and semi-parametric estimators. A 10-fold increase in serum TCDD was not associated with walking speed (adjusted β=0.0006 ft/s, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): −0.13, 0.13), upper body mobility (adjusted β=−0.06, 95% CI: −0.36, 0.23), or manual dexterity (adjusted β=0.34, 95% CI: −0.65, 1.33). We observed an inverted U-shaped association in grip strength, with poorer strength in the lowest and highest TCDD exposure levels. There was no association between TCDD and the Wechsler digit and spatial span tests. Neither menopause status at assessment nor developmental timing of exposure modified associations between TCDD and working memory. Our findings, in one of the only studies of TCDD's effects on neuropsychological and physical functioning in women, do not indicate an adverse effect on these domains, with the exception of a U-shaped relationship with grip strength. Given the limited assessment and relative youth of the women at this follow-up, future work examining additional neuropsychological outcomes is warranted.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2017

Prospective Study of Hippocampal-Sparing Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation in Limited-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer

Purpose: To prospectively evaluate cognitive function and intracranial failure patterns after hippocampal-sparing prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) for limited-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Methods and Materials: Adults with limited-stage SCLC, achieving a complete response to chemoradiotherapy and no brain metastases, were eligible. Patients received PCI 25 Gy/10 fractions, with a mean hippocampal dose limited to <8 Gy and ≥90% of the brain receiving 90% of the prescription. A diverse battery of neuropsychological testing was performed at baseline and 6 and 12 months after PCI. Brain MRI scans were performed at baseline and 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. The primary endpoint was memory measured by the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised Delayed Recall at 6 months after PCI. The 25-Gy arm of Radiation Therapy Oncology Group protocol 0212 was used as a reference of potential efficacy. Development of intracranial metastases was recorded. Overall survival and progression-free survival were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Eight men and 12 women with a median age of 61 years enrolled. Two-year overall survival was 88% (95% confidence interval 68%-100%). There was no significant decline in performance between baseline and 6 or 12 months for any of the tests. The association between baseline intelligence quotient and change in performance on testing was not significant. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed asymptomatic brain metastases at a cumulative rate of 20%, with no concurrent extracranial progression. Two patients developed a metastasis in the under-dosed region. Neither involved the dentate gyrus, but 1 involved the avoidance region. Both patients concurrently developed additional metastasis in fully treated brain regions. There were 2 neurologic deaths. Conclusions: This prospective study suggests a potential benefit of hippocampal sparing in limiting the neuropsychological sequelae of brain radiation, but with a risk of failures in the spared region. These data strongly support continued enrollment on ongoing cooperative group randomized trials. Clinical Trials registration number: (NCT01797159).

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Progress Toward a Multiomic Understanding of Traumatic Brain Injury: A Review

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is not a single disease state but describes an array of conditions associated with insult or injury to the brain. While some individuals with TBI recover within a few days or months, others present with persistent symptoms that can cause disability, neuropsychological trauma, and even death. Understanding, diagnosing, and treating TBI is extremely complex for many reasons, including the variable biomechanics of head impact, differences in severity and location of injury, and individual patient characteristics. Because of these confounding factors, the development of reliable diagnostics and targeted treatments for brain injury remains elusive. We argue that the development of effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for TBI requires a deep understanding of human neurophysiology at the molecular level and that the framework of multiomics may provide some effective solutions for the diagnosis and treatment of this challenging condition. To this end, we present here a comprehensive review of TBI biomarker candidates from across the multiomic disciplines and compare them with known signatures associated with other neuropsychological conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. We believe that this integrated view will facilitate a deeper understanding of the pathophysiology of TBI and its potential links to other neurological diseases.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Altered cortical thickness-based structural covariance networks in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Cognitive impairment is a common complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and early cognitive dysfunction may be associated with abnormal changes in the cerebral cortex. This retrospective study aimed to investigate the cortical thickness-based structural topological network changes in T2DM patients without mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Fifty-six T2DM patients and 59 healthy controls underwent neuropsychological assessments and sagittal 3-dimensional T1-weighted structural magnetic resonance imaging. Then, we combined cortical thickness-based assessments with graph theoretical analysis to explore the abnormalities in structural covariance networks in T2DM patients. Correlation analyses were performed to investigate the relationship between the altered topological parameters and cognitive/clinical variables. T2DM patients exhibited significantly lower clustering coefficient (C) and local efficiency (Elocal) values and showed nodal property disorders in the occipital cortical, inferior temporal, and inferior frontal regions, the precuneus, and the precentral and insular gyri. Moreover, the structural topological network changes in multiple nodes were correlated with the findings of neuropsychological tests in T2DM patients. Thus, while T2DM patients without MCI showed a relatively normal global network, the local topological organization of the structural network was disordered. Moreover, the impaired ventral visual pathway may be involved in the neural mechanism of visual cognitive impairment in T2DM patients. This study enriched the characteristics of gray matter structure changes in early cognitive dysfunction in T2DM patients.

Huang, Yang↗
NASA NTRS1989

Motor and cognitive testing of bone marrow transplant patients after chemoradiotherapy

Assessment of cognitive and motor performance of bone marrow transplant patients prior to, during, and following intensive toxic chemoradiotherapy may provide an important adjunct to measures of physiological and medical status. The present study is an attempt to assess whether, as side-effects, these aggressive treatments result in cognitive performance deficits, and if so, whether such changes recover posttreatment. Measurement of cognitive ability in this situation presents special problems not encountered with one-time tests intended for healthy adults. Such tests must be sensitive to changes within a single individual, which emphasizes the crucial importance of high reliability, stability across repeated-measures, and resistance to confounding factors such as motivation and fatigue. The present research makes use of a microbased portable test battery developed to have reliable and sensitive tests which were adapted to study the special requirements of transplant patients who may suffer cognitive deficits as a result of treatment. The results showed slight but significant changes in neuropsychological capacity when compared to baseline levels and controls, particularly near the beginning of treatment. The sensitivity of the battery in detecting such subtle temporary changes is discussed in terms of past research showing effects of other stressors, such as stimulated high altitude and ingestion of alcohol, on these measures.

Non-NASA Center↗
DOE OSTI2019

Altered amplitude of low‐frequency fluctuation in basal ganglia correlates to pulmonary ventilation function in COPD patients: A resting‐state fMRI study

Abstract Introduction Patients under chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been reported to be associated with a higher prevalence of cognitive impairment (CI). However, it is still largely unknown whether the aberrant resting‐state spontaneous neuronal activity pattern reflected by the amplitude of low‐frequency fluctuation (ALFF) analysis will be associated with the CI in COPD patients. Materials A total of 28 COPD patients and 26 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Of all the subjects, structural and functional MRI data, spirometry tests performance and neuropsychological assessments of different cognitive domains were collected. Voxel‐based two‐sample t tests were used to detect brain regions showing differences in the ALFF value between COPD patients and healthy controls. An additional fMRI runs with supplementary oxygen delivery were employed to explore the impact of elevated partial pressure of oxygen (PaO 2 ) or moderate hyperoxia on ALFF in COPD patients and healthy controls respectively. Results More extensive white matter lesion was detected in COPD patients. COPD patients exhibit decreased ALFF value in bilateral basal ganglia areas and right thalamus, and aberrant ALFF value is correlated with PaO 2 and pulmonary ventilation function (FEV1%pred). COPD patients performed worse in the Digit Span Test (reverse), Digit Symbol Substitution Test, Trail‐making test (A and B) than controls. After supplementary oxygen inhalation, the ALFF value of basal ganglia and right thalamus significantly increased in the controls, but not in the COPD patients. Conclusions COPD patients mainly exhibit impaired executive function but not long‐term memory in cognitive function assessment. Aberrant ALFF alteration in the deep brain may be directly related to lower PaO 2 in COPD patients.

Lu, Chun‐Qiang↗
DOE OSTI2013

Approach to Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Biomarker Discovery and Evaluation in HIV Infection

Central nervous system (CNS) infection is a nearly universal facet of systemic HIV infection that varies in character and neurological consequences. While clinical staging and neuropsychological test performance have been helpful in evaluating patients, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers present a valuable and objective approach to more accurate diagnosis, assessment of treatment effects and understanding of evolving pathobiology. We review some lessons from our recent experience with CSF biomarker studies. We have used two approaches to biomarker analysis: targeted, hypothesis-driven and non-targeted exploratory discovery methods. We illustrate the first with data from a cross-sectional study of defined subject groups across the spectrum of systemic and CNS disease progression and the second with a longitudinal study of the CSF proteome in subjects initiating antiretroviral treatment. Both approaches can be useful and, indeed, complementary. The first is helpful in assessing known or hypothesized biomarkers while the second can identify novel biomarkers and point to broad interactions in pathogenesis. Common to both is the need for well-defined samples and subjects that span a spectrum of biological activity and biomarker concentrations. Previouslydefined guide biomarkers of CNS infection, inflammation and neural injury are useful in categorizing samples for analysis and providing critical biological context for biomarker discovery studies. CSF biomarkers represent an underutilized but valuable approach to understanding the interactions of HIV and the CNS and to more objective diagnosis and assessment of disease activity. Both hypothesis-based and discovery methods can be useful in advancing the definition and use of these biomarkers.

Biomarkers↗