Instituto de Adicciones, Ayuntamiento de Madrid, España.
Published: August 2012
AI Article Synopsis
Article Abstract
Impulsivity is a stable correlate throughout the course of drug addiction. However, it has always been studied as a negative condition, linked to psychopathology. Dickman (1990) proposed two subdimensions of impulsivity, dysfunctional (DI) and functional (FI). He defines the latter as the tendency for rapid, goal-oriented decision-making characterized by well calculated risks. Only a few studies have attempted to differentiate between these two subdimensions using classical neuropsychological tests. Fifty two drug addicts in treatment were tested using Dickman's Impulsivity Inventory and a battery of classical neuropsychological tests. FI shows moderate to high correlations with many classical neuropsychological test scores in relation to enhanced executive functioning, whereas DI reveals surprisingly weak and scarce correlations with indicators of impaired executive functioning. DI appears to be a trait related to some difficulties in classical neuropsychological tests, while FI emerges as a consistent and much stronger predictor of higher attention capacity, lower distractibility, better precision, fewer errors, and better maintenance of goal-oriented strategies. Thus, functional impulsivity is related to positive conditions and more efficient cognitive functioning. Implications for the treatment of drug addictions are suggested.
A 72-year-old man with progressive memory loss and confusion presented to a neurology clinic for evaluation. He initially had difficulty remembering names and misplaced objects; however, his memory deficits had progressed, and more recently he had numerous car accidents and difficulty managing his own medications and finances. Cognitive testing revealed significant memory deficits reflecting moderate-stage dementia, and his brain MRI showed several cortical microbleeds and an area of siderosis consistent with the diagnosis of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA).
Aims: Predicting the diagnosis of an older adult solely based on their financial capacity performance or other neuropsychological test performance is still an open question. The aim of this study is to highlight which tests are of importance in diagnostic protocols by using recent advancements in machine learning.
Methods: For this reason, a neuropsychological battery was administered in 543 older Greek patients already diagnosed with different types of neurocognitive disorders along with a test specifically measuring financial capacity, that is, Legal Capacity for Property Law Transactions Assessment Scale (LCPLTAS).
Objective: The purpose of this invited paper was to summarize my clinical research on disturbances of higher order consciousness (i.e., primarily on self-awareness but including anosognosia and impaired awareness of another person's cognitive/emotional state) that contributed to my receiving the Distinguished Career Award from the International Neuropsychology Society.
Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is classically characterized by alterations in memory consolidation. With the advent of diagnostic biomarkers, some patients clinically diagnosed with AD display biomarkers inconsistent with the diagnosis.
Objective: We aimed to explore differences in memory consolidation and neurodegeneration of the temporal and parietal lobes as a function of amyloid-β status in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI).
Service de Médecine Interne, Centre de Référence Des Maladies Héréditaires du Métabolisme, UMR INSERM 1253 « iBraiN », Université de Tours, CHU de Tours, Tours, France.
Background And Objective: Adult patients with early-treated phenylketonuria (AwET-PKU) may present some subtle neurocognitive deficits. The aim of the study was to investigate 1) neurocognitive functions in a large group of AwET-PKU 2) the influence of plasma phenylalanine (Phe).
