Innovation on Neuropsychological and Cognitive Changes in Aging: Assessment and Intervention

A special issue of Brain Sciences (ISSN 2076-3425). This special issue belongs to the section "Neuropsychology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 May 2026) | Viewed by 2420

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Hospital Moinhos de Vento, Porto Alegre 90560-032, Brazil
Interests: neuropsychology; cognitive psychology; learning and memory; aging; dementia

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Guest Editor
Medical School, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 01246-903, Brazil
Interests: neuropsychology; cognitive psychology; learning and memory; aging; dementia

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Guest Editor
Department of Psychology, Universidad de Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
Interests: neuropsychology; learning and memory; aging; dementia; non-pharmacological interventions

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The increasingly aging population is expected to cause significant health challenges, particularly with the rising prevalence of dementia. Are we prepared to address the complexities of evaluating and managing dementia on a large scale, or is a greater innovation required to meet these demands?

Innovations entail introducing novel ideas, methods, or products to improve established practices. During the COVID-19 pandemic, innovation became essential (such as remote neuropsychological assessments and intervention), with many of those solutions now being integrated into everyday life. To advance this field, we have launched this Special Issue, focusing on innovative approaches to evaluating neuropsychological and cognitive changes in aging and improving interventions for these conditions.

We invite research articles, case reports, and short communications that highlight advancements in this area. Submissions should clearly explain their innovative contributions and their potential impact on the field, paving the way for more effective strategies to address the challenges posed by dementia and cognitive aging.

Dr. Renata Kochhann
Dr. Laiss Bertola
Dr. Bernardino Fernández-Calvo
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • aging
  • dementia
  • neuropsychology
  • neuropsychological test
  • non-pharmacological interventions

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

10 pages, 548 KB  
Article
Performance-Based Functional Status Predicts Diffuse Cortical Atrophy in Alzheimer’s Disease
by Renata Kochhann, Patricia Ferreira da Silva, Eelco van Duinkerken, Maila Rossato Holz, Marcia Lorena Fagundes Chaves, Wyllians Vendramini Borelli and Rochele Paz Fonseca
Brain Sci. 2026, 16(3), 295; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci16030295 - 6 Mar 2026
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Abstract
Objectives: We aimed to compare performance-based functional ability and cognitive screening performance to determine the cortical thickness relationship in cognitively unimpaired (CN) elders, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia patients, as well as to compare performance-based and proxy-evaluated functional ability and to determine [...] Read more.
Objectives: We aimed to compare performance-based functional ability and cognitive screening performance to determine the cortical thickness relationship in cognitively unimpaired (CN) elders, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia patients, as well as to compare performance-based and proxy-evaluated functional ability and to determine its cerebral white and gray matter correlates. Methods: In total, 22 CN, 32 MCI, and 21 dementia patients were included in this study. They underwent clinical, cognitive, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) assessment. Individuals were evaluated with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning test (RAVLT), the Activities of Daily Living Questionnaire (ADL-Q) and the Direct Assessment of Functional Status-Revised (DAFS-R). Results: Higher ADL-Q scores were significantly associated with lower cortical thickness (bilateral temporoparietal regions, including the inferior temporal lobes and precuneus), p < 0.05. The DAFS-R scale showed a relationship with greater cortical thickness across extensive regions of the bilateral frontal, parietal, and temporal cortices (p < 0.05). MMSE presented a more focal association, primarily in canonical memory-related areas, including the medial and lateral temporal lobes and inferior parietal regions (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Functional independence measured by ADL-Q was associated with frontal and parietal cortical thickness, while DAFS-R scores demonstrated a more diffuse evaluation of cortical atrophy. Additionally, performance-based functional abilities according to the DAFS-R appear to be a stronger marker of cortical thickness than ADL-Q and MMSE. Full article
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16 pages, 491 KB  
Article
Lightening the Load: The Relationship Between Gait and Cognition for Persons Living with Dementia Engaged in a Non-Pharmacological Intervention
by Nicholas Tamburri, Cynthia McDowell, Francesca Berthiaume, Carren Dujela, Jodie R. Gawryluk, Denise Cloutier, Mariko Sakamoto, André P. Smith, Debra J. Sheets and Stuart W. S. MacDonald
Brain Sci. 2025, 15(11), 1214; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15111214 - 11 Nov 2025
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Abstract
Objectives: Relatively little research has explored whether gait and cognition are systematically associated within-persons across time, especially in persons living with dementia (PLwD). Understanding a shared mechanism between gait and cognition may help elucidate effective intervention strategies for promoting cognitive and physiological [...] Read more.
Objectives: Relatively little research has explored whether gait and cognition are systematically associated within-persons across time, especially in persons living with dementia (PLwD). Understanding a shared mechanism between gait and cognition may help elucidate effective intervention strategies for promoting cognitive and physiological health in PLwD simultaneously. Methods: 33 PLwD enrolled in an 18-month choral intervention employing a measurement-burst design that facilitated up to 9 assessments per person. Three-level multilevel models investigated the time-varying covariation between cognition and gait velocity (indexed using a GAITRite computerized walkway) under both a walk-only and dual-task condition. Results: Significant coupling was observed between gait velocity and MMSE (mini-mental state examination) under the dual-task condition, indicating that, on occasions when an individual’s MMSE was one-unit greater than their personal average, there was a corresponding increase in dual-task gait velocity. Conclusions: This study highlights a shared within-person mechanism through which improvements in cognition may facilitate physiological advantages. Full article
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