Decreased white matter integrity in neuropsychologically defined mild cognitive impairment is independent of cortical thinning.

Improved understanding of the pattern of white matter changes in early and prodromal Alzheimer’s disease (AD) states such as mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is necessary to support earlier preclinical detection of AD, and debate remains whether white matter changes in MCI are secondary to gray matter changes. We applied neuropsychologically based MCI criteria to a sample of normally aging older adults; 32 participants met criteria for MCI and 81 participants were classified as normal control (NC) subjects. Whole-head high resolution T1 and diffusion tensor imaging scans were completed.

Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors and Cognition in the Elderly.

While it is relatively widely known that cardiovascular disease (CVD) can result in cognitive decline, it is becoming increasingly clearer that actual risk factors for CVD, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity are also associated with alterations to brain structure and cognition. The prevalence of CVD risk factors increase exponentially with age and are often overlooked as a source of cognitive changes that are otherwise thought to be part of the 'normal' aging process. Associated cognitive changes are observed even at levels of risk that would be considered subclinical by current diagnostic convention, and are often significant enough to interfere with daily functional abilities.

Assessment of stigma associated with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: psychometric evaluation of the ADHD stigma questionnaire.

This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) Stigma Questionnaire (ASQ) among a community sample of 301 adolescents ages 11-19 years at high (n=192) and low risks (n=109) for ADHD. Study subjects were drawn from a cohort study assessing ADHD detection and service use. The 26-item ASQ demonstrated good internal consistency.

Relationships between child-reported activity level and task orientation and parental attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptom ratings.

Objective: This study examines whether elementary school-aged children can report behaviors relevant to assessing symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Methods: Interviews were conducted with 120 children aged 6 to 12 years and their parents across 3 waves as part of a longitudinal cohort study of ADHD detection and service use. Child self-reports obtained through the Dimensions of Temperament Scale-Revised-Child (DOTS-R-C) were correlated with parent-reported ADHD symptoms, which were assessed through DSM-IV-based instrument ratings obtained concurrently and 5 years later.

Double jeopardy! The additive consequences of negative affect on performance-monitoring decrements following traumatic brain injury.

Survivors of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) are at increased risk for emotional sequelae. The current study utilized the error-related negativity (ERN) and posterror positivity (Pe) components of the event-related potential (ERP) to test the hypothesis that negative affect disproportionately impairs performance-monitoring following severe TBI. High-density ERPs were acquired while 20 survivors of severe TBI and 20 demographically matched controls performed a single-trial Stroop task.

Awareness of expressivity deficits in non-demented Parkinson disease.

A masked facial expression, one of the hallmark features of Parkinson disease (PD), can form the basis for misattributions by others about a patient's mood or interest levels. Reports of preserved intensity of internal emotional experience in PD participants raise the question of whether patients are aware of their outward expressivity levels. The aim of the present study was to determine whether PD participants exhibit deficits in overall emotional expressivity, and if so, whether they are aware of these deficits.

Change blindness, aging, and cognition.

Change blindness (CB), the inability to detect changes in visual scenes, may increase with age and early Alzheimer's disease (AD). To test this hypothesis, participants were asked to localize changes in natural scenes. Dependent measures were response time (RT), hit rate, false positives (FP), and true sensitivity (d').

Neuropsychological profile of a Filipino gentleman with X-linked dystonia-parkinsonism: a case report of Lubag disease.

X-Linked Dystonia-Parkinsonism (XDP or "Lubag") is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder unique to the Island of Panay in the Philippines. Imaging and autopsy studies have suggested involvement of the caudate and putamen in late stages. Because the clinical presentation of patients with XDP resembles that of patients with Parkinson disease or dystonia, it is reasonable to predict the neuropsychological profile might be similar; however, the neuropsychological profile of a XDP patient has not previously been published.

Abnormal affective startle modulation in individuals with psychogenic [corrected] movement disorder.

Despite recent advances, psychogenic movement disorder (PMD) remains a poorly understood phenomenon. Emotional functioning and responsiveness to stress are believed to play a role in the development of psychogenic symptoms, but empirical studies examining emotional responsiveness in PMD and other conversion disorders are lacking. We investigated modulation of the startle eyeblink reflex by affective pictures in 12 patients with PMD and 12 age- and education-matched control participants.

Deep brain stimulation and the role of the neuropsychologist.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) now plays an important role in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, tremor, and dystonia. DBS may also have a role in the treatment of other disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, Tourette's syndrome, and depression. The neuropsychologist plays a crucial role in patient selection, follow-up, and management of intra-operative and post-operative effects (Pillon, 2002; Saint-Cyr & Trepanier, 2000).