Digit Symbol Substitution Test

Jaeger, Judith

doi:10.1097/jcp.0000000000000941

Cited by 563 publications

(290 citation statements)

References 50 publications

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“…A significant improvement was noted in both of the visual processing speed tests (TMT A and DSST). Performance on the DSST could be influenced by associative learning, potentially explaining the observed similarities in the pattern of cognitive improvement [22]. In contrast, no significant changes in Digit Span test were noted.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Autonomic and Cognitive Function Response to Normobaric Hyperoxia Exposure in Healthy Subjects. Preliminary Study

et al. 2020

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Background and objective: This is the first study to investigate the effect of high-flow oxygen therapy, using a normobaric chamber on cognitive, biochemical (oxidative stress parameters and the level of neurotrophins), cardiovascular and autonomic functioning. Materials and methods: 17 healthy volunteers, eight males and nine females, with a mean age of 37.5 years, were examined. The experimental study involved ten two-hour exposures in a normobaric chamber with a total pressure of 1500 hPa, in air adjusted to 37% oxygen, 1.079% carbon dioxide and 0.44% hydrogen. Cognitive function was assessed by using Trail Making Test parts A, B and difference in results of these tests (TMT A, TMT B and TMT B-A); California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT); Digit symbol substitution test (DSST); and Digit Span (DS). Fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS)), cardiovascular, autonomic and baroreceptor functioning (Task Force Monitor) and biochemical parameters were measured before and after intervention. Results: After 10 sessions in the normobaric chamber, significant decreases in weight, caused mainly by body fat % decrease (24.86 vs. 23.93%, p = 0.04 were observed. TMT part A and B results improved (p = 0.0007 and p = 0.001, respectively). In contrast, there was no statistically significant influence on TMT B-A. Moreover, decrease in the number of symbols left after a one-minute test in DSST was noted (p = 0.0001). The mean number of words correctly recalled in the CVLT Long Delay Free Recall test improved (p = 0.002), and a reduction in fatigue was observed (p = 0.001). Biochemical tests showed a reduction in levels of malondialdehyde (p < 0.001), with increased levels of Cu Zn superoxide dismutase (p < 0.001), Neurotrophin 4 (p = 0.0001) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (p = 0.001). A significant increase in nitric oxide synthase 2 (Z = 2.29, p = 0.02) and Club cell secretory protein (p = 0.015) was also noted. Baroreceptor function was significantly improved after normobaric exposures (p = 0.003). Significant effect of normobaric exposures and BDNF in CVLT Long Delay Free Recall was noted. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that 10 exposures in a normobaric chamber have a positive impact on visual information and set-shifting processing speed and increase auditory-verbal short-term memory, neurotrophic levels and baroreceptor function. A response of the respiratory tract to oxidative stress was also noted. There is a need to rigorously examine the safety of normobaric therapy. Further studies should be carried out with physician examination, both pre and post treatment.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Autonomic and Cognitive Function Response to Normobaric Hyperoxia Exposure in Healthy Subjects. Preliminary Study

et al. 2020

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“…Furthermore, recent study findings showed that a one-unit decrease in the information processing speed test, as assessed using a digit symbol score, increased the incidence of CF by 33.2%. The digit symbol task has been shown to be a sensitive method for detecting the decrements in cognitive function, specifically in the processing speed among older people with DM and depression [60,61]. Moreover, the association of a smaller volume of the pre-frontal area with a slow gait speed was explained by the lower performance in the digit symbol test [9].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Incidence and Predictors of Cognitive Frailty Among Older Adults: A Community-based Longitudinal Study

Rivan

Shahar

Rajab

et al. 2020

IJERPH

104

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1) Background: Cognitive frailty (CF) is the simultaneous presence of physical frailty and cognitive impairment with an increased risk of dementia. Considering that the risk factors of CF are mostly elucidated from cross-sectional studies, we conducted a community-based longitudinal study to determine the incidence and the predictors of CF among Malaysian older adults.; (2) Methods: Out of 490 older adults participating in the Malaysian Towards Useful Aging (TUA) study, 282 were successfully followed-up at five-years for an analysis of the CF incidence. CF was defined as a comorbid physical frailty (>1 Fried criteria) and mild cognitive impairment (Petersen criteria). A comprehensive interview-based questionnaire was administered for sociodemographic information, cognitive function, physical function, dietary intake, psychosocial, and biochemical indices. Univariate analyses were performed for each variable, followed by a regression analysis to identify the predictors of CF that accounted for confounding effects between the studied factors; (3) Results: The incidence Int.rate of CF was 7.1 per 100 person-years. Advancing age (OR=1.12, 95% CI:1.04-1.21, p < 0.05), depression (OR=1.20, 95% CI:1.05-1.37, p < 0.05), decreased processing speed, assessed by a lower digit symbol score (OR=0.67, 95%CI:0.0.56-0.80, p < 0.05), decreased functional mobility measured using Timed-Up-and-Go (TUG) (OR=1.23, 95% CI:1.04-1.46, p < 0.05), low vitamin D intake (OR:0.36, 95% CI:0.14-0.93, p < 0.05) and physical frailty (OR=2.16, 95% CI:1.02-4.58, p < 0.05) were predictors for CF incidence; and (4) Conclusions: Our study results could be used as an initial reference for future studies to formulate effective preventive management and intervention strategies to decelerate CF development among older adults.

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“…In contrast to VF, the DSST measures speed of information processing and attention, but the contribution of working memory and executive functions is not negligible. The DSST is very sensitive but less specific to a wide range of impairments and is especially suitable for the detection of longitudinal cognitive changes in psychiatric disorders [43]. The dissociation among RMET (improved), VF (stable), and DSST (worsened) is surprising, suggesting that distinct cognitive domains display an altered pattern of changes during the course schizophrenia.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improvement of Theory of Mind in Schizophrenia: A 15-Year Follow-Up Study

Kelemen

Máttyássy

Kéri

2019

Psych

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Neurocognitive and social cognitive deficits are a hallmark of schizophrenia. The purpose of the present study was to investigate long-term changes in theory of mind (ToM), executive functions, lexical retrieval, and speed of information processing/attention in schizophrenia. We followed-up 31 outpatients with schizophrenia and 31 healthy control subjects for 15 years. ToM was assessed with the Reading the Mind from the Eyes Test (RMET), whereas neurocognitive functions were measured with the verbal fluency (VF) task (executive functions and lexical retrieval) and with the Digit-Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) (speed of information processing/attention). Clinical symptoms and general functioning were rated with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and with the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale, respectively. At baseline assessment, patients with schizophrenia exhibited significant and generalized impairments on all measures. At follow-up, relative to the baseline, we observed marked improvements in ToM (RMET), stability in executive functions and lexical retrieval (VF), and a significant decline in psychomotor speed/attention (DSST) in schizophrenia. Clinical symptoms and psychosocial functions did not differ at baseline and at follow-up examinations (mild-to-moderate symptoms on the PANSS and moderate difficulty in social and occupational functions on the GAF). These results indicate that patients with schizophrenia with mild-to-moderate symptoms and functional deficits are characterized by improved ToM during over a decade.

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Digit Symbol Substitution Test

Cited by 563 publications

References 50 publications

Autonomic and Cognitive Function Response to Normobaric Hyperoxia Exposure in Healthy Subjects. Preliminary Study

Autonomic and Cognitive Function Response to Normobaric Hyperoxia Exposure in Healthy Subjects. Preliminary Study

Incidence and Predictors of Cognitive Frailty Among Older Adults: A Community-based Longitudinal Study

Improvement of Theory of Mind in Schizophrenia: A 15-Year Follow-Up Study

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