Archives of clinical neuropsychology : the official journal of the National Academy of Neuropsychologists
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Arch Clin Neuropsychol · Apr 2011
Olfactory deficits in normal aging and Alzheimer's disease in the polish elderly population.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most frequent cause of dementia. For this reason, a simple, reliable, and inexpensive method of early AD detection is urgently required. The location of neuropathological changes in AD patients indicates the potential diagnostic utility of olfactory tests. ⋯ AD patients also identified significantly fewer odors than healthy participants of the same age. In both the AD patients and the elderly control group, odor identification ability correlated with performance in cognitive tests. It may be concluded that deficits in olfactory identification occur in AD and may be valuable as an indicator of this condition.
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Authentic Professional Competence in Clinical Neuropsychology was Dr Denney's 2009 presidential address at the Annual Conference of the National Academy of Neuropsychology. In his address, he highlighted the need for clinical neuropsychologists to strive for authentic professional competence rather than a mere pretense of expertise. Undisputed credibility arises from authentic professional competence. ⋯ Included in the address were survey results regarding what the consumer believes about board certification as well as survey results regarding the experiences of recent neuropsychology diplomates. It is important for neuropsychologists to realize that the board certification process enhances public perception and credibility of the field as well as personal growth for the neuropsychologist. Lastly, he urged all neuropsychologists to support the unified training model and pursue board certification.
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Arch Clin Neuropsychol · May 2010
Comparative StudyReduced processing speed in rugby union players reporting three or more previous concussions.
The issue pertaining to the effect of multiple self-reported sports-related concussions on cognitive function is controversial. Although this topic has received increased attention in the literature recently, the issue remains unresolved. Evidence supporting a detrimental cognitive effect has been reported at a sub-concussive level and following one, two, and three or more previous concussions. ⋯ Athletes with a history of multiple concussions performed significantly lower on these measures than those with no history of concussion. These results provide further evidence to suggest that a history of three or more self-reported concussions in active athletes may have a detrimental effect on cognitive function. Future research may focus on identifying moderating factors in an attempt to resolve some of the conflicting findings and identify potential athletes at risk for sustaining cognitive deficits.
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Arch Clin Neuropsychol · Dec 2009
Neuropsychological function 5 years after cardiac surgery and the effect of psychological distress.
Research has shown conflicting results with regard to the influence of depression and anxiety on neuropsychological performance following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Notably, the independent effects of depression and anxiety have not been examined among CABG candidates in the longer term where it is has been suggested that these patients show marked cognitive deterioration. A neuropsychological test battery and measures of psychological distress were completed by 86 CABG patients and 50 nonsurgical control participants at baseline and 6 months, whereas 75 patients and 36 controls, respectively, completed a 5-year follow-up. ⋯ On average, CABG patients performed worse on TMT and Digit Symbol at 6 months, whereas at 5-year follow-up their performance was worse on short-term delayed verbal recall. The results among the CABG patients did not show a consistent pattern of association between psychological distress and those neuropsychological domains that were on average significantly lower than a nonsurgical control group. The results here also support the use of nonbiased statistical methodology to document dysfunction among heterogeneous cognitive domains after CABG surgery.
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Arch Clin Neuropsychol · Feb 2009
Practice GuidelineRecommendations for diagnosing a mild traumatic brain injury: a National Academy of Neuropsychology education paper.
A special interest group of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine [ACRM; Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Committee. (1993). Definition of mild traumatic brain injury. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, 8 (3), 86-87.] was the first organized interdisciplinary group to advocate four specific criteria for the diagnosis of a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). ⋯ The authors of the ACRM and the WHO definitions do not provide guidelines or specific recommendations for diagnosing the four criteria. Thus, we provide recommendations for assessing loss of consciousness, retrograde and post-traumatic amnesia, disorientation and confusion as well as clarification of the neurologic signs that can be indicative of a diagnosis of mild TBI. Finally, confounding factors mentioned in both definitions that should exclude a mild TBI diagnosis are summarized.