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- Memory awareness in patients with major depressive disorderPublication . Mendes, Tiago; Cardoso, Sandra; Guerreiro, Manuela; Marôco, João Paulo.; Silva, Dina; Alves, Luísa; Schmand, Ben; Couto, Frederico Simões Do; Figueira, Maria Luísa; De Mendonça, AlexandreSubjective Memory Complaints (SMC) along with cognitive deficits are frequently observed in patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). The relationship between SMC and objective memory performance in patients with MDD was evaluated, in comparison with patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment due to Alzheimer's Disease (MCI-AD) and healthy controls (HC).
- Neuropsychological contribution to predict conversion to dementia in patients withmild cognitive impairment due Alzheimer’s diseasePublication . Silva, Dina Lúcia Gomes da; Cardoso, Sandra; Guerreiro, Manuela; Marôco, J. P.; Mendes, Tiago; Alves, Luísa; Nogueira, Joana Maia; Baldeiras, Ines; Santana, Isabel; Mendonça, Alexandre deDiagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) confirmed by biomarkers allows the patient to make important life decisions. However, doubt about the fleetness of symptoms progression and future cognitive decline remains. Neuropsychological measures were extensively studied in prediction of time to conversion to dementia for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients in the absence of biomarker information. Similar neuropsychological measures might also be useful to predict the progression to dementia in patients with MCI due to AD.
- The update of semantic memories in amnestic mild cognitive impairmentPublication . Mendonça, Alexandre De; Cardoso, Sandra; Marôco, J. P.; Guerreiro, Manuela; Carmo, Joana CIt is still controversial to what extent neocortical consolidated memories are susceptible of change by processes of reconsolidation and transformation throughout experience, and whether the medial temporal lobes are necessary for this update of semantic consolidated memories, as they are for episodic remembering. We hypothesize that patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) who have deficits in episodic memory may also have difficulties in updating information on added new features of objects. Sixteen participants with aMCI and 20 healthy control participants performed a semantic word-to-picture task, in which they were asked to identify as belonging to a given semantic category NEW objects, that have incorporated novel features, as well as OLD items, semantically and visually SIMILAR items and UNRELATED items. Patients with aMCI made a greater percentage of errors than healthy controls. Participants globally made greater percentages of errors in difficult types of items, namely NEW and SIMILAR, as compared to easier ones, OLD and UNRELATED. Importantly, an item by diagnostic group interaction effect was observed, and post hoc analysis showed that patients with aMCI made a higher percentage of errors than controls in NEW items only. In conclusion, patients with aMCI had a particular difficulty in identifying the NEW items of the word-to-picture task as compared to the control participants, supporting the concept of a flexible and dynamic conceptual knowledge system, involving the update of semantic memories and the integration of new attributes in a constant transformation process, which is impaired in these patients.
- Neuropsychological profile of amyloid-positive versus amyloid-negative amnestic Mild Cognitive ImpairmentPublication . Alves, Luísa; Cardoso, Sandra; Silva, Dina; Mendes, Tiago; Maroco, J. P.; Nogueira, Joana; Lima, Marisa; Pereira, Miguel Tábuas; Baldeiras, Inês; Santana, Isabel; De Mendonça, Alexandre; Guerreiro, ManuelaPatients diagnosed with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) are at high risk of progressing to dementia. It became possible, through the use of biomarkers, to diagnose those patients with aMCI who have Alzheimer's disease. However, it is presently unfeasible that all patients undergo biomarker testing. Since neuropsychological testing is required to make a formal diagnosis of aMCI, it would be interesting if it could be used to predict the amyloid status of patients with aMCI.
- Time perspective and amnestic mild cognitive impairmentPublication . Coelho, Sara; Mendonça, Alexandre; Marôco, J. P.; Cardoso, Sandra; Mello, Zena; Guerreiro, ManuelaObjective. We examined time perspective in patients with amnesic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). Prior research has shown that aMCI is associated with difficulties in experiencing time duration and succession. However, this line of inquiry has not been extended to time perspective. We examined associations between aMCI and multiple dimensions of time perspective including perceived orientations and relationships among the past, present, and future. Method. Thirty aMCI patients and thirty-three healthy controls participated. Measures were the Time Orientation Scale (TOS), the Time Relation Scale (TRS), and the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI), as well as a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation. Results. The TRS was associated with aMCI. Patients with aMCI were more likely to perceive that time was unrelated than the healthy older adults. Among patients with aMCI, an unrelated time perspective was associated with poorer performance in executive function measures. However, aMCI was not associated with the TOS or the ZTPI. Conclusions. Patients with aMCI have difficulty in perceiving relationships among the past, present, and future. This could be the consequence of deficits in executive functions. This research suggests that patients with aMCI may have limited understanding for how their current behaviours are related to both their past and future.
- Different MMSE domains are associated to cognitive decline and educationPublication . Cardoso, Sandra; Barros, Ricardo; Maroco, J. P.; Mendonça, Alexandre de; Guerreiro, ManuelaThe Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is a long-established test to screen for dementia, estimate the severity and monitor the progression of cognitive impairment. The MMSE total score is dependent upon demographic factors, particularly education, but little is known about how education influences the 6 distinct MMSE cognitive domains. The present study aims to understand how the performances in the MMSE cognitive domains reflect clinical diagnosis and educational level. The study recruited 1043 participants, comprising 388 healthy controls, 360 patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and 295 patients with dementia. The association of the MMSE cognitive domains scores with clinical diagnosis (healthy, MCI, dementia) and educational level (primary education, middle school, high school and university/college) was analyzed with a multivariate ordinal regression model. The scores in all MMSE domains were generally higher in healthy controls as compared to patients with MCI, and higher in these as compared to patients with dementia. The MMSE domain Constructional ability was associated to the education level, the domains Orientation, Recall and Language were associated to diagnosis, Attention and calculation was associated to both education level and diagnosis, and Registration was not associated to either education or diagnosis. In conclusion, impairment in specific MMSE domains pinpoints cognitive decline, probably indicating brain areas affected by neurodegeneration, and impairment in others reflects lower education levels and the lack of acquisition of relevant schooling abilities.