Efficiency of Attentional Components in Elderly with Mild Neurocognitive Disorders Shown by the Attention Network Test

Lu, Hanna; Chan, Sandra S. M.; Fung, Ada Wai Tung; Lam, Linda Chiu Wa

doi:10.1159/000441350

Cited by 17 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 25 publications

(35 reference statements)

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“…In this investigation, lower executive control efficacy was observed for patients ( Table 4 ). Notably, Lu et al ( 43 ) found that Chinese elderly with cerebrovascular disease had poorer executive attention effects than controls after correcting for general slowing. Similar phenomenon was replicated in subcortical stroke using modified ANT, and pathways connecting prefrontal areas to other regions were disrupted and displayed correlations with prolonged RT of executive control ( 44 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Insidious Attentional Deficits in Patients With Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Revealed by Attention Network Test

et al. 2022

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BackgroundSeveral reports have indicated potential cognitive decline for cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), especially in attention domain, whereas the attentional function at network level is still elusive. In this study, we used the attention network test (ANT) paradigm to characterize the efficiency of the alerting, orienting, and executive control networks in patients with CSVD and explore possible correlations between attention network efficiencies and obtained CSVD total score.MethodsA total of 31 patients with CSVD and 30 healthy controls matched for age, gender, and education level were recruited. After neuropsychological and anxiety/depression/somatization assessments, an original version of ANT containing different cue conditions and target stimuli was used to investigate independent attentional components, and then, behavioral performance (accuracy and reaction time) and network efficacy were recorded and analyzed.ResultsAssessed by traditional neuropsychological scale (MoCA), we did not find difference between groups on general cognition. Nevertheless, the overall reaction time to targets of ANT was markedly prolonged in patients with CSVD, and similar phenomenon was observed for overall accuracy on ANT. Moreover, patients showed significantly lower orienting and executive control network efficiencies compared with controls, while not for alerting network. These impairments were correlated with total CSVD burdens, but not with anxiety, depression, or somatization.ConclusionsAlthough general and almost all individual cognitive function evaluated by MoCA seemed to remain intact, the orienting and executive control function was impaired in individuals with CSVD, which was modulated by lesion grades. Our observations implied insidious attentional deficits regarding CSVD. Given this, considering its simplicity and sensitivity, ANT could serve as an attractive tool for early diagnosis of cognitive dysfunction. Further investigations on the availability of ANT detection for CSVD are warranted.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Insidious Attentional Deficits in Patients With Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Revealed by Attention Network Test

et al. 2022

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“…Most studies on the alerting network showed an age-related decline, with just one study reporting no age-related decline (Fernandez-Duque & Black, 2006). More specifically, one study focusing on the efficiency of attentional components in elderly people with mild neurocognitive disorders (NCD) showed that the NCD group was less efficient with respect to the executive control network, and had a slower processing speed compared to healthy elders (Lu et al, 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exercise mode and attentional networks in older adults: a cross-sectional study

Wang

Guo

2020

PeerJ

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Background Previous studies have indicated that physical exercise enhances attentional function; however, the relationship between exercise mode and attentional networks has not been clarified for older adults (>60 years old). This study aimed to investigate the relationship between attentional networks and different exercise modes in older adults. Methods Two hundred and fifty-nine participants aged between 60 to 81 years were enrolled and classified into three groups (closed-skill group, open-skill group, or sedentary control group) using an exercise-related questionnaire. All participants completed an attention network test (ANT), which measured executive control, orienting, and alerting networks. Results The open-skill group had significantly higher executive network efficiency compared to the closed-skill (p < 0.01) and sedentary (p < 0.01) groups. The closed-skill group had significantly higher values compared to the sedentary control group (p < 0.05). Differences were not detected among groups for alerting and orienting networks (p > 0.05). The open-skill group had significantly higher values compared to the sedentary control group regarding proportion score of executive network (p < 0.01). In comparison, no significant differences were detected among groups for proportion scores of alerting and orienting networks. Conclusion This study extends current knowledge by demonstrating that open-skill exercises selectively enhance the executive control of attentional networks in older adults. Open-skill exercises combines physical exercise and cognitive training, potentially representing a more effective exercise mode to maintain or enhance attentional function in older adults.

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“…The other three major domains of cognitive function included the following 8 : (1) short-term memory measured by delayed recall of words and digit span backward (DSB), (2) attention measured by digit span forward (DSF) and trail making test part A (TMT-A) and (3) executive function measured by trail making test part B (TMT-B) and Chinese verbal fluency test (CVFT). The cerebrovascular risks were evaluated by CIRS 35 for the presence and severity of hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, heart diseases, diabetes mellitus, atrial fibrillation, and anaemia.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The two major subtypes of NCD described in the DSM-5 are due to vascular disease (NCD-vascular) or Alzheimer’s disease (NCD-AD) 2 . NCD-vascular and NCD-AD patients have shown group-wise differences with respect to mean RT 8 . There is also intra-individual variability due to advancing age, and this variability reflects the short-term fluctuations on cognitive tests.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 92%

‘Two-level’ measurements of processing speed as cognitive markers in the differential diagnosis of DSM-5 mild neurocognitive disorders (NCD)

Chan

Lam

2017

Sci Rep

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Processing speed is an updated diagnostic factor for neurocognitive disorders (NCD) in DSM-5. This study investigated the characteristics of processing speed and their diagnostic values in NCD patients. A flanker test was conducted in 31 adults with NCD due to vascular disease (NCD-vascular), 36 patients with NCD due to Alzheimer’s disease (NCD-AD), and 137 healthy controls. The processing speed was evaluated using two measurements: mean reaction time (RT) and intra-individual variability of RT. Mean RT represents the global processing speed. Intra-individual variability of RT is the short-term fluctuation of RT and consists of two indices, which are intra-individual coefficient of variation of reaction time (ICV-RT) and intra-individual standard deviations (iSD). We observed elevated ICV-RT and iSD in NCD-AD and NCD-vascular patients. Additionally, there was a slowed RT in NCD-AD patients. The intra-individual variability of RT had a moderate power to differentiate NCD subgroups. The mean RT was able to discriminate the NCD-AD from NCD-vascular patients. Our findings highlight the clinical utility of the combined ‘two-level’ measurements of processing speed to distinguish between individuals with different cognitive status. Furthermore, the ‘two-level’ features of processing speed embedded in the psychometric property may also reflect the diverse aetiology underlying certain ‘disease-specific’ neurocognitive disorders.

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Efficiency of Attentional Components in Elderly with Mild Neurocognitive Disorders Shown by the Attention Network Test

Cited by 17 publications

References 25 publications

Insidious Attentional Deficits in Patients With Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Revealed by Attention Network Test

Insidious Attentional Deficits in Patients With Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Revealed by Attention Network Test

Exercise mode and attentional networks in older adults: a cross-sectional study

‘Two-level’ measurements of processing speed as cognitive markers in the differential diagnosis of DSM-5 mild neurocognitive disorders (NCD)

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