Young population with cognitive complaint: neuropsychological performance and neuropsychiatric symptoms

Authors

  • Florencia Deschle Médica especialista en Neurología y en Neuropsicología clínica. Médica de planta del Complejo médico Hospitalario Churruca Visca. Médica de planta del Centro de Neurología Cognitiva Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires, Argentina https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6939-455X
  • Sofía Caporale Médica especialista en Neurología. Jefa de residentes del Servicio de Neurología del Complejo médico Hospitalario Churruca Visca. Buenos Aires, Argentina. https://orcid.org/0009-0007-2733-4333
  • María Cecilia Moreno Licenciada en Psicología especialista en Neuropsicología clínica. https://orcid.org/0009-0007-8994-3767
  • Cecilia Verónica Cervino Doctora en Psicología especialista en Neuropsicología clínica. Psicóloga de planta del Complejo médico Hospitalario Churruca Visca. Buenos Aires, Argentina. Neuropsicóloga de planta Instituto FLENI. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2098-3422
  • María Laura Saglio Licenciada en Psicología especialista en Neuropsicología clínica. Psicóloga de planta del Complejo médico Hospitalario Churruca Visca. Neuropsicóloga en Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas Lanari. Buenos Aires, Argentina. https://orcid.org/0009-0000-7836-0282
  • Guillermo Pablo Povedano Médico especialista en Neurología. Jefe del Servicio de Neurología del Complejo Médico Hospitalario Churruca Visca. Médico de planta de Sección Neurología vascular del instituto FLENI. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1816-4789
  • Waleska Berrio Médica especialista en Neurología. Médica de planta del Complejo médico Hospitalario Churruca Visca. Médica asociada de la Sección Trastornos de Memoria y Conducta del Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires, Argentina. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0119-7074

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53680/vertex.v36i168.833

Keywords:

Cognitive complaint, neurocognitive disorder, dementia, neuropsychiatric symptoms

Abstract

Introduction: Neurocognitive Disorders (NCD), also called Dementia, includes those disorders in which the main clinical deficit is failure in one or more cognitive functions and which are acquired. Early Onset Dementia (EOD) is defined as major NCD that begins before age 65, with diverse etiological causes and a significant impact on health costs and family quality of life. Neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as depression and anxiety, may be non- neurodegenerative causes of cognitive impairment and complaints. This study focuses on describing the performance in the Neurocognitive Assessment (NCA) and the presence of depression, anxiety, and other neuropsychiatric symptoms in young people who consult for cognitive complaints in a neurology service. Materials and methods: descriptive, retrospective study based on Cognitive Tests reports from young patients (≤64 years) who consulted for cognitive complaints between June 2018 and December 2022. Patients with a history of neurodevelopmental disorders were excluded. We classified patients into categories based on their cognitive performance and impairment in activities of daily living. Additionally, demographic data, neurological and psychiatric history were collected, and scales were used to assess neuropsychiatric symptoms. Results: of the 214 Cognitive Tests reports, 54.21 % were normal, while the remaining showed cognitive impairment. No statistically significant differences were found in the presence of depression or anxiety between the groups with normal and pathological NCD. However, 84 % of cases presented neuropsychiatric symptoms according to family reports, with depression and anxiety being the most reported. Conclusions: normal cognitive performance was obtained in more than half of the sample and some degree of cognitive impairment in the rest. A high frequency of neuropsychiatric symptoms was detected. The importance of a complete NCA and the detection of neuropsychiatric symptoms for early intervention in young patients is highlight.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Published

2025-07-10

How to Cite

Deschle, F. ., Caporale, S. ., Moreno, M. C. ., Cervino, C. V. ., Saglio, M. L., Povedano, G. P. ., & Berrio, W. (2025). Young population with cognitive complaint: neuropsychological performance and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Vertex Revista Argentina De Psiquiatría, 36(168, abr.- jun.), 39–44. https://doi.org/10.53680/vertex.v36i168.833

Issue

Section

Artículos

Most read articles by the same author(s)