The Cognitive Difficulties Scale (CDS): Psychometric Characteristics in a Clinical Referral Sample.

Objective: To evaluate the psychometric characteristics of the Cognitive Difficulties Scale (CDS), a 39-item Likert-type self-report instrument that requires a fifth grade reading level. The CDS is a popular instrument that has been shown to predict cognitive decline in older persons.

Method: Participants were 512 consecutive outpatient referrals (71% women, mean age 60.

An enhanced delayed recognition measure for the Logical Memory subtest of the Wechsler Memory Scale - IV.

We provide a supplemental measure based on the Logical Memory (LM) subtest of the Wechsler Memory Scale - IV (Wechsler, 2008) to assist in distinguishing deficient memory storage from compromised retrieval operations. A 20-item five-option multiple choice delayed recognition test for the LM stories is described, followed by descriptive data based on a normative sample of 273 neuropsychologically normal outpatient referrals to a neuropsychology clinic. The analysis indicated that about 43% to 48% of the neuropsychology referrals exhibited retrieval difficulties and were able to store more information in long-term memory than they were able to retrieve on the delayed free recall trial.

A cognitive stress test for prodromal Alzheimer's disease: Multiethnic generalizability.

Introduction: Culturally fair cognitive assessments sensitive to detecting changes associated with prodromal Alzheimer's disease are needed.

Methods: Performance of Hispanic and non-Hispanic older adults on the Loewenstein-Acevedo Scale of Semantic Interference and Learning (LASSI-L) was examined in persons with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) or normal cognition. The association between a novel cognitive marker, the failure to recover from proactive semantic interference (frPSI), and cortical thinning was explored.

Visual Object Discrimination Impairment as an Early Predictor of Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease.

Objective: Detection of cognitive impairment suggestive of risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD) progression is crucial to the prevention of incipient dementia. This study was performed to determine if performance on a novel object discrimination task improved identification of earlier deficits in older adults at risk for AD.

Method: In total, 135 participants from the 1Florida Alzheimer's Disease Research Center [cognitively normal (CN), Pre-mild cognitive impairment (PreMCI), amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), and dementia] completed a test of object discrimination and traditional memory measures in the context of a larger neuropsychological and clinical evaluation.

Types of errors on a semantic interference task in mild cognitive impairment and dementia.

Objective: This research aimed to determine whether qualitative analysis of different types of intrusion errors on a verbal cognitive task was useful in detecting subtle cognitive impairment in preclinical stages prior to the progression to dementia.

Method: Different types of semantic intrusions on the Loewenstein-Acevedo Scales of Semantic Interference and Learning (LASSI-L) were compared across 160 individuals diagnosed as cognitively normal (CN), amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI), and dementia. The sample included Hispanics and non-Hispanic European Americans.

Effects of Bilingualism on Verbal and Nonverbal Memory Measures in Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Objectives: Maintaining two active languages may increase cognitive and brain reserve among bilingual individuals. We explored whether such a neuroprotective effect was manifested in the performance of memory tests for participants with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI).

Methods: We compared 42 bilinguals to 25 monolinguals on verbal and nonverbal memory tests.

Utilizing semantic intrusions to identify amyloid positivity in mild cognitive impairment.

Objective: Semantic intrusion (SI) errors may highlight specific breakdowns in memory associated with preclinical Alzheimer disease (AD); however, there have been no investigations to determine whether SI errors occur with greater frequency in persons with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) confirmed as amyloid positive (Amy+) vs those who have clinical symptoms of aMCI-AD with negative amyloid scans (suspected non-AD pathology [SNAP]) or persons who are diagnosed with other brain disorders affecting cognition.

Methods: Eighty-eight participants with aMCI underwent brain amyloid PET and MRI scans and were classified as early AD (Amy+), SNAP (Amy-), or other neurological/psychiatric diagnosis (Amy-). We focused on SI on the Loewenstein-Acevedo Scales for Semantic Interference and Learning (LASSI-L) targeting proactive semantic interference (PSI; old semantic learning interferes with new semantic learning), failure to recover from PSI after an additional learning trial (frPSI), and retroactive semantic interference (new semantic learning interferes with memory for old semantic learning).

Semantic Intrusions and Failure to Recover From Semantic Interference in Mild Cognitive Impairment: Relationship to Amyloid and Cortical Thickness.

Background: Accumulating evidence indicates that the failure to recover from the effects of proactive semantic interference [frPSI] represents an early cognitive manifestation of preclinical Alzheimer's disease. A limitation of this novel paradigm has been a singular focus on the number of targets correctly recalled, without examining co-occurring semantic intrusions [SI] that may highlight specific breakdowns in memory.

Objectives: We focused on SI and their relationship to amyloid load and regional cortical thickness among persons with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI).

A novel cognitive assessment paradigm to detect Pre-mild cognitive impairment (PreMCI) and the relationship to biological markers of Alzheimer's disease.

Objective: A number of older adults obtain normal scores on formal cognitive tests, but present clinical concerns that raise suspicion of cognitive decline. Despite not meeting full criteria for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), these PreMCI states confer risk for progression to Alzheimer's disease (AD). This investigation addressed a pressing need to identify cognitive measures that are sensitive to PreMCI and are associated with brain biomarkers of neurodegeneration.

Recovery from Proactive Semantic Interference and MRI Volume: A Replication and Extension Study.

Background: The rise in incidence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has led to efforts to advance early detection of the disease during its preclinical stages. To achieve this, the field needs to develop more sensitive cognitive tests that relate to biological markers of disease pathology. Failure to recover from proactive interference (frPSI) is one such cognitive marker that is associated with volumetric reductions in the hippocampus, precuneus, and other AD-prone regions, and to amyloid load in the brain.

Recovery from Proactive Semantic Interference in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Normal Aging: Relationship to Atrophy in Brain Regions Vulnerable to Alzheimer's Disease.

Background: There is growing evidence that proactive semantic interference (PSI) and failure to recover from PSI may represent early features of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Objective: This study investigated the association between PSI, recovery from PSI, and reduced MRI volumes in AD signature regions among cognitively impaired and unimpaired older adults.

Methods: Performance on the LASSI-L (a novel test of PSI and recovery from PSI) and regional brain volumetric measures were compared between 38 cognitively normal (CN) elders and 29 older participants with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI).