Executive function deficits in mild cognitive impairment: evidence from saccade tasks
Negin Chehrehnegar1, Mohsen Shati2, Mahdieh Esmaeili3
1Linnaeus Centre HEAD, Swedish Institute for Disability Research, Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
Objectives:
Early detection of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is necessary to prevent irreversible brain damage caused by incipient Alzheimer's disease. It has been showing that amnestic MCI (a-MCI) subjects exhibit subtle deficits in executive function that can be tested using saccade eye movements. Eye-tracking technology is a sensitive method to measure cognitive impairments in dementia and MCI.
Methods:
In this study, we used eye-tracking technology to explore saccade impairments to distinguish between a-MCI and the variants of reference controls. 21 patients with AD, 40 patients with a-MCI, and 59 normal participants were recruited in current study. We measured saccade reaction time, saccade errors, saccade omission, and uncorrected saccades using anti-saccade and pro-saccade tasks with 'gap' and 'overlap' procedures. These parameters were used as markers of executive function and visual attention deficits.Results: The findings revealed that more errors, more omissions, and fewer corrections characterized the saccade behavior of the a-MCI group compared to the reference group. These eye-tracking characteristics can be considered as inhibitory control and working memory deficits in a-MCI subjects. Our results thus demonstrate the applicability of the anti-saccade task as a cognitive marker in a-MCI.
Conclusion:
The work provides further support for eye-tracking as a useful diagnostic biomarker in the assessment of executive function in aging with cognitive impairments.
Insights
Eye-tracking detects executive function deficits in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (a-MCI) by analyzing saccade errors. This technology shows promise as an early diagnostic biomarker for cognitive decline.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Ophthalmology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Early detection of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is crucial to prevent Alzheimer's disease progression.
- Amnestic MCI (a-MCI) patients exhibit subtle executive function deficits detectable via saccade eye movements.
- Eye-tracking is a sensitive tool for assessing cognitive impairments in dementia and MCI.
Purpose of the Study:
- To utilize eye-tracking technology to identify saccade impairments distinguishing a-MCI from controls.
- To evaluate saccade parameters as markers for executive function and visual attention deficits in a-MCI.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 21 Alzheimer's disease patients, 40 a-MCI patients, and 59 controls.
- Employed anti-saccade and pro-saccade tasks with 'gap' and 'overlap' procedures.
- Measured saccade reaction time, errors, omissions, and uncorrected saccades.
Main Results:
- a-MCI subjects displayed significantly more saccade errors and omissions compared to controls.
- Fewer saccade corrections were observed in the a-MCI group.
- These saccade characteristics indicate inhibitory control and working memory deficits in a-MCI.
Conclusions:
- Eye-tracking, particularly the anti-saccade task, serves as a valuable cognitive marker for a-MCI.
- This research supports eye-tracking as a diagnostic biomarker for executive function assessment in aging with cognitive impairment.
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