Narahyana Araujo - Profile on Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Narahyana Araujo

CLINICS 2011;66(4):623-627 DOI:10.1590/S1807-59322011000400017 CLINICAL SCIENCE Verbal fluency in Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s

OBJECTIVE: To compare verbal fluency among Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and major de... more OBJECTIVE: To compare verbal fluency among Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and major depression and to assess the sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with the disease severity. METHODS: Patients from an outpatient university center with a clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease or major depression were studied. Severity was staged using the Hoehn & Yahr scale, the Hamilton Depression scale and the Clinical Dementia Rating for Parkinson’s disease, major depression, and Alzheimer’s disease, respectively. All subjects were tested with the Mini-Mental State Examination, the digit span test, and the verbal fluency test (animals). We fit four types of regression models for the count variable: Poisson model, negative binomial model, zero-inflated Poisson model, and zero-inflated negative binomial model. RESULTS: The mean digit span and verbal fluency scores were lower in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (n = 34) than in patients with major dep...

La practica regular de ejercicio fisico puede ayudar a prevenir la enfermedad de Alzheimer (EA) [... more La practica regular de ejercicio fisico puede ayudar a prevenir la enfermedad de Alzheimer (EA) [1] y la demencia vascular [2]. Es mas, el ejercicio ofrece resultados esperanzadores como tratamiento complementario de la demencia [3,4]. No obstante, en determinadas circunstancias, el ejercicio podria afectar negativamente la capacidad cognitiva de los pacientes con EA que presentan un factor de riesgo cardiovascular [5]. Tal podria ser el caso de la demencia mixta, un trastorno mental caracterizado por la presencia de lesiones vasculares, ademas del cuadro clinico tipico de la EA. Segun los estudios neuropatologicos, se calcula que mas de un tercio de los pacientes afectados por la EA presenta esas lesiones [6]. A dia de hoy, pocos estudios han investigado los efectos del ejercicio sobre la cognicion en los pacientes aquejados unicamente de demencia mixta [7]. Por consiguiente, este estudio investigo los efectos del ejercicio fisico en los aspectos cognitivos y funcionales de una pac...

European Cross-Cultural Neuropsychological Test Battery--Brazilian Portuguese Version

PsycTESTS Dataset, 2020

Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry, 2021

from cognitively healthy controls with the highest accuracy was the Recall of Pictures Test (RPT)... more from cognitively healthy controls with the highest accuracy was the Recall of Pictures Test (RPT), particularly the delayed recall task. 1,2 According to Araujo et al., 1 this test is ''similar to a test from the Brief Cognitive Screening Battery (BCSB), 3 except that color pictures are used.'' The reason given for using color pictures instead of black and white line drawings was that color information ''can improve the recognition of pictures in illiterate and less schooled individuals.'' 2 Since we first published the BCSB in 1994, 4 our group conducted many studies involving this instrument. According to several studies by our and other groups in Brazil and abroad, identifying black and white line drawings is extremely easy for low-educated or even illiterate individuals. Of note, a study conducted on riverbanks in the Amazon basin found a median of 10 out of 10 drawings identified when evaluating 163 individuals with a mean of 0.83 years of education (61.55), 110 of whom were illiterate. 5 It is also remarkable that the figures in the BCSB and RPT are identical (except for the bucket, which was replaced with a trash can). In addition, the testing procedures of the RPT are exactly the same as those in the BCSB memory test: naming, incidental memory, immediate memory, learning, delayed recall and recognition. Therefore, in our view, the RPT is a color version of the BCSB memory test, and, as such, the original authors should be credited. Nevertheless, this test received a different name in the European battery, and the papers and names of the BCSB's authors, who in fact designed this battery for use with low-educated individuals, are rarely mentioned. The first paper by Nitrini et al., 4 which describes the BCSB, was never cited by the authors of the CNTB. We must also point out that we have never precluded the use of the BCSB by other researchers or clinicians, and the test has always been freely available. In fact, we have encouraged its use because we believe it is a powerful tool for dementia diagnosis in loweducated individuals. However, we never imagined that it would be used without due recognition that we designed and presented it to the clinical and scientific community. As we close, we strongly suggest that the authors of the CNTB publicly recognize that the RPT is the color version of the BCSB memory test created by Nitrini et al. in 1994 and not a new or similar test.

Jornal Brasileiro de Psiquiatria, 2020

Objective Evaluate the accuracy of two semantic categories of the verbal fluency test (supermarke... more Objective Evaluate the accuracy of two semantic categories of the verbal fluency test (supermarket and animal categories) to separate healthy elderly individuals and lower educated Alzheimer’s disease patients. Methods We evaluated 69 older adults with less than 5 years of schooling, consisting of 31 healthy elderly, and 38 patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Semantic verbal fluency was evaluated using the animal and supermarket categories. Mann-Whitney U and Independent t Tests were used to compare the two groups, and the diagnostic accuracy of the tests was analyzed by sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratio’s, and the Area Under the Curve (AUC). Results We found a significant difference between the healthy older and Alzheimer’s disease groups, in both, animal (p = 0.014) and supermarket verbal fluency (p < 0.001). The supermarket category showed better overall diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 0.840, 95% CI = 0.746-0.933; p < 0.001) compared to the animal category (AUC...

Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry, 2020

Objective: To translate, establish the diagnostic accuracy, and standardize the Brazilian Portugu... more Objective: To translate, establish the diagnostic accuracy, and standardize the Brazilian Portuguese version of the European Cross-Cultural Neuropsychological Test Battery (CNTB) considering schooling level. Methods: We first completed an English-Brazilian Portuguese translation and back-translation of the CNTB. A total of 135 subjects aged over 60 years-65 cognitively healthy (mean 72.83, SD = 7.71; mean education 9.42, SD = 7.69; illiterate = 25.8%) and 70 with Alzheimer's disease (AD) (mean 78.87, SD = 7.09; mean education 7.62, SD = 5.13; illiterate = 10%)-completed an interview and were screened for depression. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to verify the accuracy of each CNTB test to separate AD from healthy controls in participants with low levels of education (p 4 years of schooling) and high levels of education (X 8 years of schooling). The optimal cutoff score was determined for each test. Results: The Recall of Pictures Test (RPT)-delayed recall and the Enhanced Cued Recall (ECR) had the highest power to separate AD from controls. The tests with the least impact from schooling were the Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale (RUDAS), supermarket fluency, RPT naming, delayed recall and recognition, and ECR. Conclusions: The Brazilian Portuguese version of the CNTB was well comprehended by the participants. The cognitive tests that best discriminated patients with AD from controls in lower and higher schooling participants were RPT delayed recall and ECR, both of which evaluate memory.

Jornal Brasileiro de Psiquiatria, 2019

Objective To investigate whether the DT performance can be affected by the diagnosis of major dep... more Objective To investigate whether the DT performance can be affected by the diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Methods Cross-sectional data with 108 individuals [Healthy (HE) = 56, MDD =19, AD = 33] aged 60 and older of both sexes diagnosis with AD, MDD, and HE without a clinical diagnosis of mental disorders, residents of the city of Rio de Janeiro. DT performance, was measured by mean velocity (m/s), DT cost and the number of evoked words (DTanimals). One-way ANOVA was used to compare groups. In addition, a logistic regression was used to verify the association between the performance in the DT variables and the risk of MD and AD, controlled by age and scholarity. Results There was a significant difference between the HE and AD groups in the DT variables. The worst performance in the DTC and DTanimals variables increased risk of AD, regardless of age and scholarity (DTC, OR = 5.6, 95% CI = 1.4-22.2, p = 0.01 and DTanimals, OR = 3.6, 95% CI = ...

Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale--Brazilian Version

PsycTESTS Dataset, 2018

Revista brasileira de psiquiatria (Sao Paulo, Brazil : 1999), Jan 15, 2018

To validate the Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale for use in Brazil (RUDAS-BR). We firs... more To validate the Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale for use in Brazil (RUDAS-BR). We first completed an English-Brazilian Portuguese translation and back-translation of the RUDAS. A total of 135 subjects over 60 years of age were included: 65 cognitively healthy and 70 with Alzheimer's disease (AD) according to the DSM-IV and Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke/Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association (NINCDS-ADRDA) criteria. All participants completed an interview and were screened for depression. The receiver operating characteristic curves of the RUDAS were compared with those of the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) regarding the sensitivity and specificity of cutoffs, taking education into consideration. The areas under the curve were similar for the RUDAS-BR (0.87 [95%CI 0.82-0.93]) and the MMSE (0.84 [95%CI 0.7-0.90]). RUDAS-BR scores < 23 indicated dementia, with sensitivity of 81.5% and specificity of 76.1%. MMSE < 24 in...

Frontiers in Psychology, 2016

The relationship between exercise and cognition is an important topic of research that only recen... more The relationship between exercise and cognition is an important topic of research that only recently began to unravel. Here, we set out to investigate the relation between motor skills, cognitive function, and school performance in 45 students from 8 to 14 years of age. We used a cross-sectional design to evaluate motor coordination (Touch Test Disc), agility (Shuttle Run Speed-running back and forth), school performance (Academic Achievement Test), the Stroop test, and six sub-tests of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-IV (WISC-IV). We found, that the Touch Test Disc was the best predictor of school performance (R 2 = 0.20). Significant correlations were also observed between motor coordination and several indices of cognitive function, such as the total score of the Academic Achievement Test (AAT; Spearman's rho = 0.536; p ≤ 0.001), as well as two WISC-IV sub-tests: block design (R = −0.438; p = 0.003) and cancelation (rho = −0.471; p = 0.001). All the other cognitive variables pointed in the same direction, and even correlated with agility, but did not reach statistical significance. Altogether, the data indicate that visual motor coordination and visual selective attention, but not agility, may influence academic achievement and cognitive function. The results highlight the importance of investigating the correlation between physical skills and different aspects of cognition.

Revista Brasileira de Terapias Cognitivas, 2010

Clinical interventions in aging, 2015

Physical rehabilitation is commonly used in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) to improve... more Physical rehabilitation is commonly used in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) to improve their health and alleviate the symptoms. We compared the effects of three programs, strength training (ST), aerobic training (AT), and physiotherapy, on motor symptoms, functional capacity, and electroencephalographic (EEG) activity in PD patients. Twenty-two patients were recruited and randomized into three groups: AT (70% of maximum heart rate), ST (80% of one repetition maximum), and physiotherapy (in groups). Subjects participated in their respective interventions twice a week for 12 weeks. The assessments included measures of disease symptoms (Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale [UPDRS]), functional capacity (Senior Fitness Test), and EEG before and after 12 weeks of intervention. The PD motor symptoms (UPDRS-III) in the group of patients who performed ST and AT improved by 27.5% (effect size [ES]=1.25, confidence interval [CI]=-0.11, 2.25) and 35% (ES=1.34, CI=-0.16, 2.58...

Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria, 2014

Objective To assess the effect of aerobic exercise on the cognition and functional capacity in Al... more Objective To assess the effect of aerobic exercise on the cognition and functional capacity in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients. Method Elderly (n=20) with mild dementia (NINCDS-ADRDA/CDR1) were randomly assigned to an exercise group (EG) on a treadmill (30 minutes, twice a week and moderate intensity of 60% VO2max) and control group (GC) 10 patients. The primary outcome measure was the cognitive function using Cambridge Cognitive Examination (CAMCOG). Specifics instruments were also applied to evaluate executive function, memory, attention and concentration, cognitive flexibility, inhibitory control and functional capacity. Results After 16 weeks, the EG showed improvement in cognition CAMCOG whereas the CG declined. Compared to the CG, the EG presented significant improvement on the functional capacity. The analysis of the effect size has shown a favorable response to the physical exercise in all dependent variables. Conclusion Walking on treadmill may be recommended as an augmen...

Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria, 2013

Objective To evaluate the relationship between the quantitative results of functional and cogniti... more Objective To evaluate the relationship between the quantitative results of functional and cognitive performance of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and disease severity; and to study the relationship between patients' functional and cognitive capacity and motor impairment (Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale - UPDRS III). Method Twenty-nine subjects clinically diagnosed with PD were classified into three groups according to disease severity using the modified Hoehn and Yahr Scale (H&Y). They were submitted to functional (Senior Fitness Test) and neuropsychological tests. Stepwise regression analysis showed a significant association between H&Y and upper limb strength (r 2 =0.30; p=0.005) and executive function (r 2 =0.37; p=0.004). In relation to UPDRS III, there was a significant association between lower limb strength (r 2 =0.27; p=0.010) and global cognitive status (r 2 =0.24; p=0.024). Conclusion The implementation of simple tests of functional capacity as...

Clinics, 2011

OBJECTIVE: To compare verbal fluency among Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and major de... more OBJECTIVE: To compare verbal fluency among Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and major depression and to assess the sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with the disease severity. METHODS: Patients from an outpatient university center with a clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease or major depression were studied. Severity was staged using the Hoehn & Yahr scale, the Hamilton Depression scale and the Clinical Dementia Rating for Parkinson's disease, major depression, and Alzheimer's disease, respectively. All subjects were tested with the Mini-Mental State Examination, the digit span test, and the verbal fluency test (animals). We fit four types of regression models for the count variable: Poisson model, negative binomial model, zero-inflated Poisson model, and zero-inflated negative binomial model. RESULTS: The mean digit span and verbal fluency scores were lower in patients with Alzheimer's disease (n = 34) than in patients with major depression (n = 52) or Parkinson's disease (n = 17) (p,0.001). The average number of words listed was much lower for Alzheimer's disease patients (7.2 words) compared to the patients presenting with major depression (14.6 words) or Parkinson's disease (15.7 words) (KW test = 32.4; p,0.01). Major depression and Parkinson's disease groups listed 44% (ROM = 1.44) and 48% (ROM = 1.48) more words, respectively, compared to those patients with Alzheimer's disease; these results were independent of age, education, disease severity and attention. Independently of diagnosis, age, and education, severe disease showed a 26% (ROM = 0.74) reduction in the number of words listed when compared to mild cases. CONCLUSIONS: Verbal fluency provides a better characterization of Alzheimer's disease, major depression, and Parkinson's disease, even at later stages.

Revistas, 2016

O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar um estudo transversal dos pacientes atendidos pelo Serviço... more O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar um estudo transversal dos pacientes atendidos pelo Serviço Integrado de Atendimento Domiciliar, vinculado ao Hospital Naval Marcílio Dias e a necessidade que eles apresentam de tratamento endodôntico. Foram avaliados através de exame clínico (visual-tátil) 275 pacientes. Os resultados mostram um índice alto de edêntulismo (39%). Dos pacientes que possuíam dentes, 51% apresentavam necessidade de intervenção. Esses pacientes foram separados em três grupos de acordo com a intervenção indicada, 64% foi indicada extração, em 25% indicou-se endodontia e posterior restauração e em 11% foi indicada extração e endodontia em elementos dentários diferentes. Dessa forma, cerca de 36% dos pacientes apresentavam indicação para endodontia. Verifica-se assim, um aumento da demanda de tratamento endodôntico para os idosos.

Impaired cognition in depression and Alzheimer (AD): a gradient from depression to depression in AD

Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria, 2014

To assess cognition in major depressed (MD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and depression in AD e... more To assess cognition in major depressed (MD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and depression in AD elderly. Subjects were evaluated by Mini Mental, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, Rey Complex Figure, Digit Span, Similarities, Trail Making A/B, Verbal Fluency and Stroop. One-way ANOVA and multivariate models were used to compare the performance of each group on neuropsychological tests. We evaluated 212 subjects. Compared to MD, attention, working memory, processing speed and recall showed significantly better in controls. Controls showed significantly higher performance in all cognitive measures, except in attention compared to AD. Verbal fluency, memory, processing speed and abstract reasoning in MD was significantly higher compared to AD. AD was significantly better in general cognitive state than depression in AD. All other cognitive domains were similar. A decreasing gradient in cognition appeared from the control to depression in AD, with MD and AD in an intermediate position.