AIM Poor iron status and under–nutrition among children are of concern not only in South Africa but worldwide. Both independent and combined associations between poor iron status, under–nutrition and cognitive development and function have been investigated. This mini–dissertation investigated possible associations between iron status indicators, anthropometric nutritional status and cognitive performance in the Beverage Fortified with Micronutrients (BeForMi) study population (black South African children aged 6–11 years in the North–West province of South Africa). METHODS The study was cross–sectional and based on the BeForMi study baseline data. Primary school children (n = 414) with the highest serum transferrin receptor (STR) and zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP) levels were included. Anthropometric z–scores - BMI–for–age (BAZ), height–for–age (HAZ), and weight–for–age (WAZ) - and iron status indicators - haemoglobin (Hb), serum ferritin (SF), STR and ZnPP - were determined. The Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children, Second edition (KABC–II) was used to generate cognitive scores. RESULTS Fourteen percent of children were underweight (WAZ <= 2 SDs), 12.8% stunted (HAZ <= 2 SDs) and 8.4% wasted (BAZ <= 2 SDs). Of the children, 7.1% were anaemic (Hb < 11.5 g/dL), 13% iron depleted (Hb < 11.5 g/dL and SF < 12 ug/L) and 2.7% had iron deficiency anaemia (Hb < 11.5 g/dL and SF < 12 ug/L). Low iron stores (SF < 12 ug/L) were observed in 15.7% of the children. Positive correlations were found between SF and WAZ (r = 0.1, p = 0.047), Hb and HAZ (r = 0.13, p = 0.007) and WAZ (r = 0.13, p = 0.009). Positive correlations with small effect sizes were observed between some cognitive scores and z–scores (p < 0.05, r–value range 0.10 – 0.24). Negative correlations with small effect sizes were observed for the subtests Triangles and Rover (both subtests on simultaneous processing) with Hb (p = 0.008, r = –0.13) and SF (p = 0.04, r = –0.1) respectively. Higher HAZ, WAZ and education level of the head of household were all significantly associated with the likelihood that a child would fall within the upper quartile of Hb values in our study group (p = 0.036, p = 0.032 and p = 0.036 respectively). CONCLUSION The results suggested that under–nutrition was positively associated with poor iron status and lower cognitive scores in this study population. Further research, investigating specific effects of poor iron status at different stages of growth and the relationship with cognitive function later in life may help explain the negative correlations observed between current iron status indicators and cognitive scores. / Thesis (M.Sc (Dietetics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Aims: The study of cognitive functioning in large epidemiological settings is hampered by a lack of instruments for the remote assessment of cognitive performance, especially when targeting variability across the full range of adult functioning. The present study examined the practicability of such investigations using a recently developed telephone interview (Cognitive Telephone Screening Instrument, COGTEL). Methods: A subcohort of an ongoing epidemiological study in the elderly German population (ESTHER) was interviewed via telephone by trained personnel. These data were combined with sociodemographic information obtained by standardized self-administered questionnaires, and analysed by tabulation, histograms and regression models. Results: A total of 1,697 interviews could be analysed. The eligible participants had a mean age ± standard deviation of 74.0 ± 2.8 years. The COGTEL total scores closely followed a normal distribution with no evidence of a ceiling effect. In adjusted regression models, COGTEL total and subcomponent scores were negatively associated with age and strongly positively with higher education, whereas the association with sex was less consistent. Conclusions: The results suggest that the COGTEL can readily be administered to large study populations and produces plausible and informative results. Education should be considered in all investigations using this instrument and requires further in-depth analyses. Future studies will need to elucidate its associations with risk factors and its prognostic potential for cognitive decline and dementia. / Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.

A violência contra a criança constitui-se como um problema de saúde pública ao implicar simultaneamente fatores individuais, familiares e sociais. Estudos enfatizam prejuízos cognitivos na população de crianças vítimas de abuso sexual, principalmente quanto aos aspectos atencionais, memória e funções executivas. Esta pesquisa teve por objetivo estudar os fatores clínicos e de risco associados ao desempenho cognitivo de crianças vítimas de abuso sexual. A amostra do estudo foi composta por 50 crianças com idade entre sete e 12 anos, distribuídas em dois grupos, o de pesquisa (n = 25), crianças com histórico de abuso sexual (atendidas no Programa de Psiquiatria Forense e Psicologia Jurídica (NUFOR) do Instituto de Psiquiatria do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo e o de controle (n = 25) composto por crianças, sem histórico de violência sexual, oriundas de Escolas Públicas de ensino infantil e fundamental da Rede Estadual de São Paulo. O método do trabalho foi composto por: questionário de avaliação do abuso sexual, com o objetivo de verificar os dados sociodemográficos, consequências clínicas relacionadas com sintomatologia do Transtorno de estresse pós-traumático e indicadores de risco. Para avaliação das funções cognitivas foram utilizados os seguintes instrumentos: Vocabulário, Dígitos, Cubos, Semelhanças [subtestes da Escala Wechsler de Inteligência para Crianças (WISC-III)], Teste Wisconsin de Classificação de Cartas (WCST), Selective Reminding Test (SRT), Trail Making, Teste de Fluência Verbal - Semântica (FAS) e Figura Complexa de Rey. Da avaliação do abuso sexual, identificamos a prevalência do abuso intrafamiliar, e a criança ainda ter um contato com o abusador, e por isso, destacamos a necessidade de melhora na eficácia de medidas de proteção dessas vítimas. Encontramos os seguintes aspectos clínicos: dificuldade para dormir, dificuldade de concentração, alterações comportamentais raiva/irritabilidade e alteração emocional medo. E constatamos uma influência clínica, a alteração emocional medo, que quando presente, o tempo de execução da prova Trail Making, principalmente na parte que avaliou a atenção alterada visual, aumentou de modo significativo, demonstrando a associação entre os aspectos clínicos e desempenho cognitivo, mais especificamente na esfera atencional. Destacamos, ainda, resultados significativamente inferiores do grupo de pesquisa, nas provas Trail Making, no aspecto perdas de set (flutuação atencional) no teste Wisconsin. Assim, os achados sugerem a possibilidade de um déficit atencional primário na referente população, que influencia no desempenho das demais funções cognitivas. Concluímos que o estudo contribuiu para a possibilidade do estabelecimento de um protocolo de avaliação de crianças vítimas de abuso sexual / Violence against children is constituted as a public health problem while simultaneously involve individual, family and social factors. Studies emphasize cognitive impairments in the population of children victims of sexual abuse, especially regarding the attention aspects, memory and executive functions. This research aimed to study the clinical and risk factors associated with cognitive performance of children victims of sexual abuse. The study sample consisted of 50 children aged between seven and 12 years, divided into two groups, the research (n = 25), children with a history of sexual abuse (seen at the Forensic Psychiatry Program and Legal Psychology (NUFOR) Institute of Psychiatry, Hospital Clinical, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo and the control (n = 25) consisted of children with no history of sexual violence, coming from Public Schools kindergarten and elementary of the State of São Paulo. The method consisted of: assessment questionnaire of sexual abuse, in order to verify the sociodemographic, clinical consequences related to symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder and risk indicators for assessing cognitive function were used the following instruments: Vocabulary, Digit, cubes, Similarities [subtests of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-III)], Test Wisconsin Card Sorting (WCST), Selective Reminding Test (SRT), Trail Making, Fluency Test Verbal Semantic (FAS) and the Rey Complex Figure. The evaluation of sexual abuse, identified the prevalence of intra-family abuse, and the child still have contact with the abuser, and therefore highlight the need for improvement in the effectiveness of protective measures these victims. We found the following clinical features: difficulty sleeping, difficulty concentrating, behavioral changes anger / irritability and emotional fear change. And we find a clinic influence, changing emotional fear, that when present, the execution time of the Trail Making test, mostly in evaluating the visual amended attention, increased significantly, demonstrating the association between clinical and cognitive performance, more specifically in attentional ball. We point, also, significantly lower results of the research group, the Trail Making tests in respect of losses set (attentional fluctuations) in the Wisconsin test. Thus, the findings suggest the possibility of a primary deficit in attentional regarding population, which influences the performance of the other cognitive functions. We conclude that the study contributed to the possibility of establishing an evaluation protocol of child victims of sexual abuse

Lima-Silva TB. Funcionalidade e desempenho cognitivo na demência frontotemporal variante comportamental. [Dissertação]. São Paulo: Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, 2012. Resumo Introdução: Existem poucos estudos sobre alterações funcionais na Demência Frontotemporal variante comportamental (DFTvc). Subtipos de demência menos estudados, como a DFTvc, vêm ganhando destaque, por também apresentarem importância epidemiológica. Objetivou-se no presente estudo: 1. Caracterizar o desempenho funcional e cognitivo de pacientes com diagnóstico prévio de DFTvc, atendidos em ambulatórios de Neurologia e Psiquiatria e compará-los a pacientes com Doença de Alzheimer (DA) e controles saudáveis; 2. Examinar a correlação entre o desempenho em escalas funcionais (DAFS-BR, DAD e PFAQ) e o desempenho cognitivo; 3. Avaliar a acurácia diagnóstica da DAFS-BR para a detecção da DFTvc e da DA. Métodos: Participaram 96 indivíduos com idade igual ou superior a 45 anos, com escolaridade formal acima de dois anos. Destes, 31 haviam recebido o diagnóstico de DFTvc, 31 de DA e 34 eram adultos saudáveis pareados aos pacientes com DFTvc e DA para idade e escolaridade. Foram aplicados: questionário sociodemográfico e de variáveis clínicas; Escala de Depressão Geriátrica (Geriatric Depression Scale - GDS) de 15 itens, Escala de Ansiedade Geriátrica (Geriatric Anxiety Inventory - GAI), Addenbrooke Cognitive Examination-Revised (ACE-R) que engloba as questões do Mini Exame do Estado Mental (MEEM), Executive Interview (EXIT-25), Direct Assessment of Functional Status (DAFS-BR). O protocolo dos acompanhantes conteve a Escala Cornell de Depressão em Demência, Pfeffer Functional Activities Questionnaire (PFAQ), Disability Assessment for Dementia (DAD), Inventário Neuropsiquiátrico (NPI) e a Escala de Avaliação Clínica da Demência (CDR). Resultados: Pôde-se observar que o grupo com DFTvc apresentou pior desempenho em Alimentação na DAFS-BR e nos domínios de Iniciação e Planejamento/Organização na DAD, comparado aos idosos com DA, sugerindo que a dependência na DFTvc é mais acentuada. A pontuação mais elevada na PFAQ, sugeriu que a dependência na DFTvc é mais acentuada. Foram encontradas correlações significativas entre o desempenho cognitivo e funcional. Os dados de acurácia para a DAFS-BR sugeriram que a escala pode auxiliar na identificação das demências, apresentando limitações no diagnóstico diferencial entre os subtipos. Considerações finais: Os resultados apresentados sugerem que indivíduos com DFTvc apresentam maior prejuízo funcional, quando comparados com participantes com DA e adultos saudáveis. Os resultados apresentados destacaram a importância da avaliação funcional de pacientes com suspeita de DFTvc, devido à relevância destas alterações para o diagnóstico e manejo clínico deste subtipo de demência. / Summary Introduction: There are but a few research studies on functional impairment in behavioral variant Frontotemporal Dementia. Less studied dementia subtypes, such as bvFTD, have been gaining prominence due to their epidemiological significance. The objectives of the present research were to: 1. Characterize the functional and cognitive performance of patients previously diagnosed with bvFTD treated at outpatient clinics of Neurology and Psychiatry, and compare their performance with that of patients with AD and normal controls; 2. Examine the correlation between performance in the functional scales (DAFS-BR, DAD e PFAQ) and cognitive performance; and 3. Evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the DAFS-BR for detecting bvFTD and AD. Methodology: The sample consisted of 96 individuals aged 45 or older, with at least two years of formal education. Of these, 31 had been diagnosed with bvFTD, 31 with AD, and 34 were healthy adults paired with the patients with bvFTD and AD for age and education. The following instruments were used: sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire; 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS); Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GAI); Addenbrooke Cognitive Examination-Revised (ACE-R), which includes the questions of the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE); Executive Interview (EXIT-25); and the Direct Assessment of Functional Status Revised (DAFS-BR). The protocol for caregivers included the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia, Pfeffer Functional Activities Questionnaire (PFAQ), Disability Assessment for Dementia (DAD), Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) and the Clinical Dementia Rating scale (CDR). Results: Individuals in the bvFTD group had lower performance in the ´Eating skills´ item of the DAFS-BR, and in ´Initiation´ and in ´Planning/Organization´ in the DAD, suggesting a higher level of dependence in bvFTD, and Higher scores in the PFAQ suggested that dependence in bvFTD is more pronounced. Significant correlations were found between cognitive and functional performances. The accuracy data for the DAFS-BR indicated that the scale can help identify dementia however, it has limitations in the differential diagnosis among subtypes. Final Considerations: The results suggest that individuals with bvFTD display greater functional impairment when compared to individuals with AD and to healthy adults. These results highlight the importance of assessing functionality status among patients suspected to have bvFTD. These deficits are relevant for the diagnosis and clinical management of this subtype of dementia.

L’objectif de cette thèse est d’étudier comment l’identification à un groupe peut conduire à de meilleures performances cognitives en s’appuyant sur la théorie de l’identité sociale (Tajfel & Turner, 1986). Cette théorie avance que l’identité sociale d’un individu repose en partie sur la comparaison entre son groupe d’appartenance et un autre groupe. La quête d’une identité sociale positive pousserait l’individu à agir pour le bien de son groupe afin de se placer dans une position avantageuse par rapport à un autre groupe. Le modèle SIDE (Social Identity model of Deindividuation Effects, Reicher, Spears & Postmes, 1995) a étendu cette théorie en considérant que l’anonymat facilite le passage de l’identité personnelle à l’identité sociale et la renforce. Notre recherche a été déclinée en trois axes. Les deux premiers ont examiné l’effet de l’anonymat et de la comparaison entre groupes sur les performances à des exercices d’informatique et de statistiques réalisés en environnements numériques. Le dernier axe a étudié les effets de l’anonymat et de la comparaison entre groupes à une tâche de production d’idées créatives en situation de coprésence. Conformément aux prédictions du modèle SIDE, les résultats ont montré que la comparaison intergroupe en situation d’anonymat active l’identité sociale des membres d’un groupe et les conduits à avoir de meilleures performances à des tâches cognitives. De plus, nous avons mis en évidence que des différences individuelles, comme le niveau de connaissances antérieures, viennent modérer les effets du modèle SIDE. Les implications pratiques et théoriques de ces résultats sont discutées, et des pistes de recherches futures sont proposées. / The aim of this thesis is to study how group identification may lead to better cognitive performance, based on social identity theory (Tajfel & Turner, 1986). This theory states that the social identity of individuals is partly based on comparison of their group with another group. The search for a positive social identity should drive individuals to act on behalf of their own group, putting them in an advantageous position compared to another group. The SIDE Model (Social Identity model of Deindividuation Effects, Reicher, Spears & Postmes, 1995) extends this theory by postulating that anonymity could facilitate the transition from personal to social identity, which is reinforced in the process. Our study was organized along three lines of research. The first two examined how anonymity and intergroup comparison affects performance on computer quizzes and statistics exercises in a web-based learning environment. The third studied the effects of anonymity and intergroup comparison on the generation of creative ideas in the presence of others. Consistent with the SIDE Model, we found that intergroup comparison under anonymity conditions activated group members’ social identity, leading to better performance on cognitive tasks. We also found that individual differences, such as prior knowledge, may moderate the effects of the SIDE model. The practical and theoretical implications of these results are discussed, and future research directions are suggested.

The purpose of this thesis is twofold: Firstly, it explores the reasons parents state for choosing the car to take their children to school; Secondly, it investigates how the characteristics of the journey relate to children’s wellbeing, mood, and cognitive performance. This thesis consists of three papers (Papers I, II, and III). Participating in Paper I were 245 parents of schoolchildren aged between 10 and 15 in Värmland County, Sweden. These parents answered a questionnaire wherein they stated to what degree certain statements correlated with their decision to choose the car. In Paper II, 237 children in grade 4 (aged 10-11), in the City of Staffanstorp, Sweden, recorded all their journeys in a diary over one school week, also reporting on their travel mode, current mood while travelling, activities on arrival, and experiences vis-à-vis those activities. Participating in Paper III was a sample of 345 children aged between 10 and 15 attending five public schools in Värmland County, Sweden. These children rated their current mood, filled out the Satisfaction with Travel Scale (capturing the travel experience), reported details about their journeys, and took a word fluency test. Parents’ wish to accompany their children to school, and the convenience of the car, both impact upon the travel mode decision. In addition, parents also seem to choose the car regardless of the distance between home and school. The findings further reveal that the mood children are in varies with how they travel and where they go, and that there is a difference between boys’ and girls’ experiences. Children who travel by car experience the lowest degree of quality and activation, something which is maintained throughout the school day (especially for girls). Social activities during travel bring a higher degree of quality and excitement, while solitary activities bring more stress. The findings further show that using a smartphone, or doing a combination of activities during the journey, results in better cognitive performance. Thus, it is concluded that the mode choice that parents make for their children correlates with those children’s mood and experience. Specifically, where and how children travel, what they do when they travel, and how long they travel for affect their experiences, mood, and/or cognitive performance. / The aim of this thesis is twofold. Firstly, it explores parents’ stated reasons for choosing the car for their children’s school journeys. Secondly, it investigates the relationship between the characteristics of a journey (i.e. travel mode, travel time, and activities conducted while travelling) and children’s wellbeing (through domain-specific satisfaction), current mood, and cognitive performance. The overall findings show that parents value the car both for its convenience and for the possibility of accompanying their children. Parents also use the car regardless of the distance between home and school. Travel affects children in various ways; for instance, doing certain activities while traveling can help boost cognitive performance and make children feel happy and excited. Notably, being passive during the journey makes children feel stressed and those who travel to school by car are the most tired during the school day. This implies that parents’ travel mode choice affects children’s wellbeing and cognitive performance. These insights are important when it comes to addressing current challenges relating to children’s day-to-day travel: How they experience their day-to-day travel may contribute toward how children travel in the future. / Den här avhandlingen har två delsyften. Först undersöks vilka skäl föräldrar anger för varför deväljer att skjutsa sina barn till skolan med bil. Ett andra syfte är att undersöka hur detta val påverkarbarns mentala hälsa via självskattad upplevelse av skolresan och hur de känner sig vid ankomst(humör). Ytterligare ett syfte är att undersöka hur upplevelsen av skolresan påverkar hur barnenpresterar när de kommer till skolan. Avhandlingen innehåller tre artiklar. I Artikel I deltog 245föräldrar till barn i årskurs 4, 6 och 8 i värmländska skolor. Föräldrarna angav i vilken utsträckningolika skäl påverkar deras val att skjutsa barnen till skolan med bil. I artikel II deltog 237 barn (varav101 flickor) från årskurs 4 i Staffanstorp, Skåne. Barnen förde resdagbok över alla resor de gjordeunder en vecka. I dagboken beskrev de vart de reste, vilka färdmedel de använt, deras humör underresan (som skattades som ledsen-glad och trött-pigg), vilka aktiviteter de ägnat sig åt vidslutdestinationen samt deras upplevelser av dessa aktiviteter. I Artikel III deltog 345 barn frånårskurs 4, 6 och 8 i Värmland. Istället för resdagbok skattade barnen sitt humör, hur nöjda de varmed resan genom att fylla i Satisfaction with Travel Scale adapted for Children (STS-C), resedetaljersamt gjorde ett ordflödestest direkt vid ankomst i skolan. Resultaten visar bland annat att föräldrars önskan att spendera tid med sina barn och praktiskaaspekter med bil ligger till grund för valet av bil. Huruvida det är ett långt eller kort avstånd tillskolan påverkar inte valet att använda bil. Barns humör varierar beroende på hur de reser(färdmedel) och vart de reser (destination). En skillnad observerades också mellan flickor ochpojkar och mellan olika årskurser där t.ex. fickor påverkades mer negativt av att resa med bil änpojkar. Barn som reser med bil till skolan är minst nöjda (upplevde en lägre grad av kvalitet) ochpå sämre humör (är känslomässigt mindre aktiva) vilket också håller i sig under skoldagen. Att ägnasig åt sociala aktiviteter (konversera med vänner och familj) under resan bidrar till en högre upplevdkvalitet och mer upprymdhet medan barn som ägnat sig åt aktiviteter utan sällskap upplever enhögre grad av stress. Resultaten visar också att barn som använder sin smartphone eller kombinerarolika aktiviteter under resan presterar bättre på kognitivt test.

<p>Observational evidence links breakfast skipping, a behavior frequently observed among adolescents, with other poor health related behaviors that perpetuates a lifestyle associated with poor weight management and decreased cognitive performance. Furthermore, evidence suggests that both the consumption of breakfast and the quality of breakfast consumed may influence both weight and cognitive performance related outcomes. In an effort to improve the prevalence of breakfast consumption and the quality of breakfasts consumed among adolescents, recent initiatives have sought to increase participation in the federal School Breakfast Program (SBP). </p><p>The main objectives of this dissertation were to determine: 1) whether the habitual consumption of breakfast influences perceived appetite following the consumption of breakfast and whether habitual breakfast consumption influences post prandial appetitive sensations following the consumption of breakfasts varying in macronutrient distribution; 2) the feasibility of consuming an egg-based, ‘Breakfast in the Classroom’ (BIC) program in 8th grade students and whether the daily consumption of egg-based breakfasts improve School Breakfast Program participation, the quality of breakfasts consumed, and snacking behavior in 8th grade students; and 3) whether differences in cognitive performance exist between 6th-8th grade students who consume school breakfast, students who consume breakfast at home only, and students who skip breakfast following the initiation of a higher-protein Breakfast in the Classroom program. </p><p>This dissertation is organized into chapters that consist of published manuscripts or manuscripts formatted for submission to peer-reviewed journals. Chapter 2 consists of comprehensive review of the evidence linking breakfast consumption and composition to obesity and cognitive performance with an emphasis on the recent advances in school breakfast programs and future directions. Chapter 3 evaluates whether the habitual consumption of breakfast influences perceived appetite following the consumption of breakfast and whether habitual breakfast consumption influences postprandial appetitive sensations following the consumption of breakfasts varying in macronutrient distribution. Chapter 4 examines the feasibility of implementing an egg-based BIC program and subsequent effects on SBP participation, the quality of breakfasts consumed, and evening snacking in 8th grade students. Chapter 5 examines differences in cognitive performance between 6th-8th grade students who consume school breakfast, students who consume breakfast at home only, and students who skip breakfast following a higher-protein BIC. Chapter 6 summarizes the main findings and presents considerations for future research.</p><p>Collectively, the findings from this dissertation demonstrate:1) consuming 30 grams of protein at breakfast improves appetite and satiety compared to a breakfast containing 15 grams of protein, independent of habitual breakfast consumption in overweight adolescent females; 2) implementing a universally-free ‘Breakfast in the Classroom’ program that serves two additional eggs to a traditional school breakfast served via a traditional SBP is feasible and improves SBP participation, the quality of breakfast consumed, and reduces unhealthy evening snacking; and 3) students who consume breakfast at school, as part of a higher-protein BIC program, perform better on tasks assessing cognitive flexibility and executive function in middle school students when compared to students who skip breakfast, regardless of key behavioral and/or socioeconomic factors. Thus, this work suggests increasing protein content of school breakfasts using a universally-free distribution program is feasible and may provide benefits on overall diet quality and cognitive performance for 6th-8th grade students. <br></p>

Screening of global cognitive performance is of great importance in the detection of early cognitive impairment in neurodegenerative diseases. In contrast to complex neuropsychological assessment, cognitive screening tests offer some advantages as saving time or finance and administration of screening tests makes lower demands on clinicians. Validation of cognitive screening tests for specific diagnostic groups of patients is necessary as well as Czech normative studies that enable an objective evaluation of the cognitive performance of Czech patients. In the theoretical part, we presented the syndrome of mild cognitive impairment as a pre-dementia state in neurodegenerative diseases. We focused on the assessment of mild cognitive impairment and using five different cognitive screening tests (Mini-Mental State Examination, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Dementia Rating Scale 2. edition, Frontal Assessment Battery, Clock Drawing Test) in the detection of cognitive impairment. Then we focused on Parkinson's disease (PD), especially on the evolution of different stages of cognitive deficit in PD and their detection by cognitive assessments. The empirical research included studies analyzing the potential of the five cognitive screening tests to detect mild cognitive impairment. We provided results...

Aims: The study of cognitive functioning in large epidemiological settings is hampered by a lack of instruments for the remote assessment of cognitive performance, especially when targeting variability across the full range of adult functioning. The present study examined the practicability of such investigations using a recently developed telephone interview (Cognitive Telephone Screening Instrument, COGTEL). Methods: A subcohort of an ongoing epidemiological study in the elderly German population (ESTHER) was interviewed via telephone by trained personnel. These data were combined with sociodemographic information obtained by standardized self-administered questionnaires, and analysed by tabulation, histograms and regression models. Results: A total of 1,697 interviews could be analysed. The eligible participants had a mean age ± standard deviation of 74.0 ± 2.8 years. The COGTEL total scores closely followed a normal distribution with no evidence of a ceiling effect. In adjusted regression models, COGTEL total and subcomponent scores were negatively associated with age and strongly positively with higher education, whereas the association with sex was less consistent. Conclusions: The results suggest that the COGTEL can readily be administered to large study populations and produces plausible and informative results. Education should be considered in all investigations using this instrument and requires further in-depth analyses. Future studies will need to elucidate its associations with risk factors and its prognostic potential for cognitive decline and dementia. / Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.

No description available.