INS NYC 2024 Program

Poster	Poster Session 08 Program Schedule 02/16/2024 01:45 pm - 03:00 pm Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60) Poster Session 08: Cognition \| Cognitive Reserve Variables Final Abstract #37 Subjective vs. Objective Neuropsychological Outcomes of Gulf War Veterans with Gulf War Illness Dylan Keating, Boston University, Boston, United States Alicia Privett, Boston University, Boston, United States Ola Hamdan, Boston University, Boston, United States Emily Sisson, Boston University, Boston, United States Rosemary Toomey, Boston University, Boston, United States Patricia Janulewicz Lloyd, Boston University, Boston, United States Maxine Krengel, Boston University, Boston, United States Kimberly Sullivan, Boston University, Boston, United States Category: MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment) Keyword 1: memory complaints Keyword 2: neuropsychological assessment Keyword 3: everyday functioning Objective: A third of Gulf War veterans continue to experience a constellation of symptoms called Gulf War Illness (GWI) with one of the commonly reported and most distressing symptoms being cognitive decrements. Environmental exposures during the 1990 Gulf War have been associated with daily executive functioning, memory, and attention difficulties. Although GW veterans have reported subjective cognitive complaints, few studies have compared them with objective neuropsychological test outcomes. In addition, prior research suggests that subjective cognitive decline can increase the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases like mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s Disease. In this study, we assessed measures of subjective cognitive decline with objective validated cognitive measures. Catching early signs of cognitive decline can improve the use and opportunity for clinical intervention. Participants and Methods: A cognitive test battery was conducted with participants from the Boston Biorepository, Recruitment and Integrative Network (BBRAIN) for Gulf War Illness. Participants were included in the analysis if they met the Kansas symptom criteria for Gulf War Illness (n=136). All participants completed in-person neuropsychological tests administered by a trained tester. Cognitive tests included the California Verbal Learning Tests Second Edition (CVLT-II), D-KEFS Color Word Inference test, D-KEFS Category Switching test, Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT), Trails Making Test (TMT) and the Rey-Osterrieth (Rey-O) test. Participants also completed a self-report survey of the Measurement of Everyday Cognition Scale (ECog) which provides a summary score for each self-reported cognitive domain: memory, visuospatial abilities, planning, organization, and attention. Spearman’s correlation coefficient was used to measure the association between ECog domain score and neuropsychological tests. Results: GW veterans who reported more concerns with everyday planning had fewer correct words on the COWAT letter A (r=-0.19; p=0.032) and slower times on the D-KEFS Color-Word interference trial 3 (r=0.27; p=0.001). Participants who reported increased difficulty with organization had significantly less words correct on the D-KEFs Category switching 1^st quarter (r=-0.22; p=0.14) and slower times on D-KEFS Color-Word interference trial 3 (r=0.24; p=0.005). Those who reported memory deficits significantly correlated with fewer words correct on CVLT-II learning trials (r=-0.21; p=0.012), short (r=-0.30; p<0.001), and long delayed recall (r=-0.26; p=0.002); and reduced scoring on the Rey-O 36 item score on immediate (r=-0.16; p=0.002) and delayed recall (r=-0.16; p =0.071). Veterans who reported complaints of visuospatial functioning on the ECog had significant correlations with reduced scoring in the Rey-O 36 item score on copy (r=-0.20; p=0.025); and slower times on Trails A (r=0.24; p=0.004). Those who reported attention deficits had significantly more uncorrected errors on Trails A (r=0.20; p=0.019). Conclusions: There were significant correlations between self-reported ECog functioning scores and objective measures of the five, respective cognitive domains. This study builds on prior reports that memory complaints were correlated with objective memory tests in GW veterans. It is likely that GW veterans who have subjective cognitive complaints across multiple domains have an increased risk of objective decline in cognitive functioning. These individuals should be assessed for full neuropsychological examinations, allowing for early detection of cognitive decline and clinical treatment interventions.

Poster

02/16/2024
01:45 pm - 03:00 pm
Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60)

Poster Session 08: Cognition | Cognitive Reserve Variables

Final Abstract #37

Subjective vs. Objective Neuropsychological Outcomes of Gulf War Veterans with Gulf War Illness

Dylan Keating, Boston University, Boston, United States
Alicia Privett, Boston University, Boston, United States
Ola Hamdan, Boston University, Boston, United States
Emily Sisson, Boston University, Boston, United States
Rosemary Toomey, Boston University, Boston, United States
Patricia Janulewicz Lloyd, Boston University, Boston, United States
Maxine Krengel, Boston University, Boston, United States
Kimberly Sullivan, Boston University, Boston, United States

Category: MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment)

Keyword 1: memory complaints
Keyword 2: neuropsychological assessment
Keyword 3: everyday functioning

Objective:

A third of Gulf War veterans continue to experience a constellation of symptoms called Gulf War Illness (GWI) with one of the commonly reported and most distressing symptoms being cognitive decrements. Environmental exposures during the 1990 Gulf War have been associated with daily executive functioning, memory, and attention difficulties. Although GW veterans have reported subjective cognitive complaints, few studies have compared them with objective neuropsychological test outcomes. In addition, prior research suggests that subjective cognitive decline can increase the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases like mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s Disease. In this study, we assessed measures of subjective cognitive decline with objective validated cognitive measures. Catching early signs of cognitive decline can improve the use and opportunity for clinical intervention.

Participants and Methods:

A cognitive test battery was conducted with participants from the Boston Biorepository, Recruitment and Integrative Network (BBRAIN) for Gulf War Illness. Participants were included in the analysis if they met the Kansas symptom criteria for Gulf War Illness (n=136). All participants completed in-person neuropsychological tests administered by a trained tester. Cognitive tests included the California Verbal Learning Tests Second Edition (CVLT-II), D-KEFS Color Word Inference test, D-KEFS Category Switching test, Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT), Trails Making Test (TMT) and the Rey-Osterrieth (Rey-O) test. Participants also completed a self-report survey of the Measurement of Everyday Cognition Scale (ECog) which provides a summary score for each self-reported cognitive domain: memory, visuospatial abilities, planning, organization, and attention. Spearman’s correlation coefficient was used to measure the association between ECog domain score and neuropsychological tests.

Results:

GW veterans who reported more concerns with everyday planning had fewer correct words on the COWAT letter A (r=-0.19; p=0.032) and slower times on the D-KEFS Color-Word interference trial 3 (r=0.27; p=0.001). Participants who reported increased difficulty with organization had significantly less words correct on the D-KEFs Category switching 1^st quarter (r=-0.22; p=0.14) and slower times on D-KEFS Color-Word interference trial 3 (r=0.24; p=0.005). Those who reported memory deficits significantly correlated with fewer words correct on CVLT-II learning trials (r=-0.21; p=0.012), short (r=-0.30; p<0.001), and long delayed recall (r=-0.26; p=0.002); and reduced scoring on the Rey-O 36 item score on immediate (r=-0.16; p=0.002) and delayed recall (r=-0.16; p =0.071). Veterans who reported complaints of visuospatial functioning on the ECog had significant correlations with reduced scoring in the Rey-O 36 item score on copy (r=-0.20; p=0.025); and slower times on Trails A (r=0.24; p=0.004). Those who reported attention deficits had significantly more uncorrected errors on Trails A (r=0.20; p=0.019).

Conclusions:

There were significant correlations between self-reported ECog functioning scores and objective measures of the five, respective cognitive domains. This study builds on prior reports that memory complaints were correlated with objective memory tests in GW veterans. It is likely that GW veterans who have subjective cognitive complaints across multiple domains have an increased risk of objective decline in cognitive functioning. These individuals should be assessed for full neuropsychological examinations, allowing for early detection of cognitive decline and clinical treatment interventions.