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Closing-in behavior in mild cognitive impairment: an executive deficit
Elisabetta Ambron1, Robert D McIntosh, Sara Finotto
1Human Cognitive Neuroscience, Psychology, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom. eambron@staffmail.ed.ac.uk
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society : JINS
|December 17, 2011
Summary
Closing-in behavior (CIB), a drawing tendency, was studied in mild cognitive impairment (MCI). CIB was linked to executive function deficits, not memory impairment, in MCI patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Clinical Psychology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Closing-in behavior (CIB) is a drawing phenomenon observed in neurological conditions.
- Its precise cognitive underpinnings in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) require further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and cognitive correlates of CIB in individuals with MCI.
- To differentiate the association of CIB with memory versus executive functions in MCI.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 154 mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patient files to identify CIB.
- Comparison of CIB frequency across MCI subtypes (amnestic vs. non-amnestic).
- Assessment of cognitive functions (executive, visuo-constructional, memory) in MCI patients with and without CIB.
Main Results:
- Closing-in behavior (CIB) was identified in 21% of the MCI sample.
- CIB was more frequent in multidomain non-amnestic MCI than amnestic MCI.
- MCI patients with CIB exhibited significantly poorer executive function compared to those without CIB, with similar visuo-constructional and memory performance.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest that CIB in MCI is not primarily linked to memory deficits.
- Executive dysfunction appears to be the primary cognitive correlate of Closing-in behavior in mild cognitive impairment.
- This research supports executive impairment as a key factor in understanding CIB within the MCI spectrum.
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