Brain-derived neurotrophic factor Val66Met polymorphism and cognitive function in persons with cardiovascular disease.

Aim: Cognitive impairment is common among persons with cardiovascular disease (CVD), and several potential aetiological mechanisms have been described, including contributions of genetic markers such as variations in the brain-derived neurotrophic (BDNF) gene. This current study examined the associations of BDNF genotype with cognitive function among individuals with CVD.

Methods: This study included 110 participants with CVD who completed a comprehensive neuropsychological battery that assessed global cognitive function, attention/executive function, memory, language, and visuospatial abilities.

Invalid performance and the ImPACT in national collegiate athletic association division I football players.

Context: Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) is a computerized cognitive test battery commonly used for concussion evaluation. An important aspect of these procedures is baseline testing, but researchers have suggested that many users do not use validity indices to ensure adequate effort during testing. No one has examined the prevalence of invalid performance for college football players.

Reduced executive functioning is associated with poorer outcome in cardiac rehabilitation.

Patients with cardiovascular disease and cognitive impairment show reduced adherence to treatment. No study has examined whether cognitive impairment may also predict reduced benefit from cardiac rehabilitation (CR). It appears that cognitively impaired patients may exhibit poorer adherence to CR and limited gains in cardiovascular fitness and/or quality of life (QOL).