Cognition and neurosurgery

OBJECTIVE: We assessed the psychometric properties, established normative data for the German Multifactorial Memory Questionnaire (MMQ), and analyzed its association with neuropsychiatric factors across the life span to provide a validated metamemory assessment for a German-speaking population. METHODS: The three MMQ scales (memory satisfaction, self-rated ability, and strategy application) were translated into German, considering cultural, linguistic, and conceptual aspects...

INTRODUCTION: L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria (L2HGA) is a rare neurometabolic disorder marked by progressive and debilitating psychomotor deficits. Here, we report the first patient with L2HGA-related refractory dystonia that was managed with deep brain stimulation to the bilateral globus pallidus internus (GPi-DBS). CASE PRESENTATION: We present a 17-year-old female with progressive decline in cognitive function, motor skills, and language ability which significantly impaired activities of daily living...

PURPOSE: Mapping higher-order cognitive functions during awake brain surgery is important for cognitive preservation which is related to postoperative quality of life. A systematic review from 2018 about neuropsychological tests used during awake craniotomy made clear that until 2017 language was most often monitored and that the other cognitive domains were underexposed (Ruis, J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 40(10):1081-1104, 218). The field of awake craniotomy and cognitive monitoring is however developing rapidly...

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the visuospatial working memory profiles of behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) using a novel computerised test of visuospatial working memory: the Box Task. METHODS: Twenty-eight bvFTD and 28 AD patients, as well as 32 age-matched control participants were recruited. All participants completed the Box Task and conventional neuropsychological tests of working memory, episodic memory, and visuospatial function...

BACKGROUND: Severity and nature of cognitive impairments in Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) are heterogeneous among studies. We hypothesized that this heterogeneity is explained by different cognitive profiles in DM1, with different clinical, biological and behavioral features. METHODS: Adult patients with genetically proven DM1 underwent a clinical, neuropsychological and behavioral assessment. We conducted a k-means clustering analysis on 9 cognitive tests representative of different domains (verbal/non-verbal episodic memory, visuo-constructive abilities, visual gnosis, executive functions, information processing speed)...

BACKGROUND: The current diagnostic workup for chronic dizziness in elderly patients often neglects neuropsychological assessment, thus missing a relevant proportion of patients, who perceive dizziness as a subjective chief complaint of a concomitant cognitive impairment. This study aimed to establish risk prediction models for cognitive impairment in chronic dizzy patients based on data sources routinely collected in a dizziness center. METHODS: One hundred patients (age: 74...

OBJECTIVE: Several radiological markers have been linked to clinical improvement after shunt surgery for idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH). However, iNPH has no pathognomonic feature, and patients are still diagnosed as probable, possible, or unlikely cases based on clinical symptoms, imaging findings, and invasive supplementary tests. The predictive value of the disproportionately enlarged subarachnoid space hydrocephalus (DESH) score is not yet conclusively determined, but it might offer a more accurate diagnostic method...

OBJECTIVE: The influence of sleep on baseline and postconcussion neurocognitive performance prior to Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) is poorly understood. Since ImPACT is widely used in youth sport to assess neurocognitive performance before and after head injury, it is important to delineate factors that affect testing performance. While some have reported correlations between fewer hours of sleep and lower scores on baseline tests, others have not observed any such associations...

Pediatric epilepsy has a worldwide prevalence of approximately 1% (Berg et al., Handb Clin Neurol 111:391-398, 2013) and is associated with not only lower quality of life but also long-term deficits in executive function, significant psychosocial stressors, poor cognitive outcomes, and developmental delays (Schraegle and Titus, Epilepsy Behav 62:20-26, 2016; Puka and Smith, Epilepsia 56:873-881, 2015). With approximately one-third of patients resistant to medical control, surgical intervention can offer a cure or palliation to decrease the disease burden and improve neurological development...

Tuberculosis (TB) is the second most common cause of death due to a single infectious agent worldwide after COVID-19. Central nervous system tuberculosis is widely prevalent in the world, especially in the developing countries and continues to be a socioeconomic problem. It is highly devastating form of tuberculosis leading to unacceptable levels of morbidity and mortality despite appropriate antitubercular therapy. The clinical symptoms are varied and nonspecific. They can be easily overlooked. Tuberculous meningitis is the most common presentation and its sequelae viz...

OBJECTIVE: Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease, and sometimes shows idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH)-like presentations. We aimed to evaluate spinal tap responsiveness in patients with PSP, including the effect of sham spinal tap. METHODS: Eleven patients with PSP, ten with probable/definite iNPH, and eight control patients were prospectively enrolled. All participants underwent sham spinal tap and spinal tap procedures...

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a severe, progressive, neurological disorder. PD is not a single disease, but rather resembles a syndrome. PD includes two types of pathogenesis (i.e., classical PD and new PD). Clinically, PD patients present with a range of motor symptoms including decreased spontaneous movement, bradykinesia, muscle rigidity, changes in speech, and resting tremors. PD patients also often exhibit non-motor symptoms such as fatigue, sleep disorders, and emotional and mental health disturbances. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) performed in clinical neurosurgery has demonstrated considerable efficacy in the treatment of dyskinesia that occurs in PD patients...

OBJECTIVE: Chordomas are rare malignant bone tumors whose location in the skull base or spine, invasive surgical treatment, and accompanying adjuvant radiotherapy may all lead patients to experience poor quality of life (QOL). Limited research has been conducted on specific demographic and clinical factors associated with decreased QOL in chordoma survivors. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate several potential variables and their impact on specific QOL domains in these patients as well the frequencies of specific QOL challenges within these domains...

INTRODUCTION: Progress in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology and analyses is improving our comprehension of multiple sclerosis (MS) pathophysiology. These advancements, which enable the evaluation of atrophy, microstructural tissue abnormalities, and functional plasticity, are broadening our insights into the effectiveness and working mechanisms of motor and cognitive rehabilitative treatments. AREAS COVERED: This narrative review with selected studies discusses findings derived from the application of advanced MRI techniques to evaluate structural and functional neuroplasticity modifications underlying the effects of motor and cognitive rehabilitative treatments in people with MS (PwMS)...

INTRODUCTION: A greater extent of resection of the contrast-enhancing (CE) tumour part has been associated with improved outcomes in glioblastoma. Recent results suggest that resection of the non-contrast-enhancing (NCE) part might yield even better survival outcomes (supramaximal resection, SMR). Therefore, this study evaluates the efficacy and safety of SMR with and without mapping techniques in high-grade glioma (HGG) patients in terms of survival, functional, neurological, cognitive and quality of life outcomes...

OBJECT: One of the critical steps for the success of intraventricular neuroendoscopic procedures is the entry into the third ventricle and passage of the endoscopy system through the foramen of Monro (FM). A diameter larger than that of the instrument used is considered a prerequisite for safely performing the technique, as damage to this structure can lead to alterations in the fornix and vascular structures. When the foramen diameter is narrow and there is no obstruction/stenosis, the role of foraminoplasty in reducing the risk of complications has not been adequately assessed in the literature...

BACKGROUND: Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) can be treated with ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) placement, but no broadly implemented indication for VPS exists. METHODS: Our protocol consists of physical therapy and occupational therapy practitioners administering validated tests of gait, balance, and cognition before and after lumbar drain (LD) placement. Specific tests include: Timed "Up & Go", Tinetti Gait and Balance Assessment, Berg Balance Scale, Mini Mental Status Exam, Trail Making Test Part B, and the Rey Auditory and Visual Learning Test...

BACKGROUND: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has shown individual promise in treating treatment resistant depression (TRD), but larger-scale trials have been less successful. Here, we create the largest meta-analysis with individual patient data (IPD) to date to explore if the use of tractography enhances the efficacy of DBS for TRD. METHODS: We systematically reviewed 1823 articles, selecting 32 that contributed data from 366 patients. We stratified the IPD based on stimulation target and use of tractography...

Ruptured anterior communicating artery (ACoA) aneurysms are frequently associated with neuropsychological deficits. This review aims to compare neuropsychological outcomes between surgical and endovascular approaches to ACoA. We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science for studies comparing the endovascular and surgical approaches to ruptured ACoA aneurysms. Outcomes of interest were the cognitive function, covered by memory, attention, intelligence, executive, and language domains, as well as motor and visual functions...

PURPOSE: Historically, the presence of gray matter heterotopia was a concern for adverse postnatal neurocognitive status in patients undergoing fetal closure of open spinal dysraphism. The purpose of this study was to evaluate neurodevelopmental outcomes and the onset of seizures during early childhood in patients with a prenatal diagnosis of myelomeningocele/myeloschisis (MMC) and periventricular nodular heterotopia (PVNH). METHODS: All patients evaluated at the Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment with a diagnosis of MMC between June 2016 to March 2023 were identified...