Latest news with #executiveFunction
Medscape
5 days ago
- General
- Medscape
Childhood AD Not Linked to Executive Function Deficits
A cohort study of children in the United Kingdom found that early childhood atopic dermatitis (AD), especially when mild, is not associated with executive function (EF) deficits in middle childhood. METHODOLOGY: Researchers analyzed 11,373 children (51.5% boys; > 95% White individuals) from the UK-based Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, with parental reports of AD activity and severity in their children between ages 6 and 81 months. AD activity and severity of children were assessed using maternal questionnaires at two or more of seven timepoints between 6 months and 7 years of age, focusing on itchy, dry skin rash in joints and creases, such as behind the knees. At 81 months, data was available for 8208 children, 81% had no AD and 19% had varying degrees of AD activity and severity. Using latent class mixed modeling, researchers classified children into five distinct early childhood AD trajectories: Unaffected/rare (62.90%), early onset resolving (1.09%), persistent mild (31.35%), persistent moderate to severe (0.93%), and worsening (3.74%). EF, specifically attention regulation, inhibition, and working memory, was measured at ages 8, 10, and 11 years, adjusted for covariates. TAKEAWAY: No statistically significant differences were detected across AD trajectories in selective attention, divided attention, and attentional control at ages 8 and 11 years, inhibition at age 10 years, and working memory at ages 8 and 10 years. Similarly, no statistically significant associations were observed between AD severity status at 81 months and EF outcomes in middle-childhood. IN PRACTICE: 'The role of EF in the relationship between childhood AD and neuropsychological outcomes is an understudied area,' the authors wrote, 'but together with prior research, the current study supports the conclusion that EF impairment is not a major mechanism driving this relationship, at least in a sample of nonadolescent children with largely mild AD.' SOURCE: The study was led by Elle Kim, Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, and was published online on May 2025 in Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology . LIMITATIONS: Only a small portion of the study population experienced moderate or severe disease, which limited the statistical power to detect effects in more severe cases. Other limitations included potential selection bias, lack of information about treatments for AD, and limitation of generalizability to non-UK populations. DISCLOSURES: The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health. Some authors reported receiving research and fellowship funding from and having other ties with various sources, including Pfizer, Sun Pharmaceuticals, La Roche Posay. One author also declared holding patents, being a deputy editor, and being a member of the Board of Directors for the International Psoriasis Council and the Medical Dermatology Society.
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Experts reveal 60-second writing task that can reveal earliest signs of dementia - how do you perform?
A simple 60-second test can help uncover if you are at risk of memory robbing dementia, research suggests. The test, which only requires a pen, paper and timer, can pick up early signs of cognitive decline considered a precursor to dementia. It involves picking a large category, with common examples being types of fruit, species of animal, or TV shows. A person then tries to write down as many examples they can think of within the allotted time. Experts say that you should be able to name at least 15 items and ideally more than 21. A 2007 study published in the Journal of Psychiatry, said that: 'If he or she cannot name 15 or more objects, the patient is likely to be cognitively impaired and the likelihood that he or she has Alzheimer's disease may be 20 times higher than if a patient can name 15 animals or more. A 2022 study of 69 adults by American researchers found that scores in the test did get lower as people aged. But crucially worse performance was related to the levels of amyloid-β in the body, which is considered a sign of Alzheimer's. Other similar tests can also be used to identify potential signs of dementia. One of the most famous is the analogue clock drawing test. It involves asking a person to draw a clock face on a blank piece of paper. They must add all the numbers from one to 12 and then set the hands to a specific time, for example 11.10 (ten past 11). The task relies on the patient remembering what a clock face looks like—a skill known as executive function, which involves how we plan, organise and complete tasks. Executive function is one of the cognitive skills that first begins to falter when dementia develops. Used by the NHS for decades, a skewed circle and incorrectly placed numbers on this clock can indicate early signs of the condition. If the patient manages to draw a clock correctly it 'virtually excludes' dementia because the task requires a wide range of cognitive skills, the NHS says. However, if they struggle they should seek further advice from a GP. Dementia affects an estimated one million people in the UK, with Alzheimer's being the most common cause of the disorder. Recent analysis by the Alzheimer's Society estimated the overall annual cost of the dementia to the UK is £42billion a year, with families bearing the brunt. An ageing population means these costs—which include lost earnings of unpaid carers—are set to soar to £90billion in the next 15 years. A separate Alzheimer's Research UK analysis found 74,261 people died from dementia in 2022 compared with 69,178 a year earlier, making it the country's biggest killer. Previous studies have estimated that around 40 per cent of all dementia cases could be prevented with lifestyle changes. This includes healthier diets, increased exercise, drinking less alcohol, preventing head injury and using hearing aids.
