Can the Cognitive Function Index identify cognitive impairment in Latin America?

2026-09-09T16:21:07Z

Can the Cognitive Function Index identify cognitive impairment in Latin America? Sanchez Yossuda, Monica; Crivelli, Lucía; Calandri, Ismael Luis; Kimie Soto, Claudia; Sevlever, Gustavo Emilio; Salinas-Contreras, Rosa María; Caramelli, Paulo; Dozzi Brucki, Sonia Maria; Cançado, Gustavo Henrique; Vigil-Martínez, Ana; Martin, María Eugenia; Surace, Ezequiel Ignacio; Martin, Maria Da Graça Morais; Damian, Andrés; Custodio, Belén; Corvalan, Nicolás; Fernandez Slezak, Diego; Velilla, Lina Marcela; Lima Carreira, Luzia; Studart Neto, Adalberto Background: The Cognitive Function Index (CFI) was developed to identify individuals with Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD), which is defined by the self‐perception of cognitive impairment, not detected in neuropsychological tests. Limited research has been done with this tool in Latin America (LA). We aimed to investigate the association between CFI and global cognition and to investigate whether CFI scores can identify participants with cognitive performance below 1.0 standard deviation (SD) of the sample mean. Method: The LatAm‐FINGERS study is a dementia prevention feasibility study in 12 LA countries. For the present analysis, 815 participants with complete cognitive data (604 women, 74.1%; 436 mestizo 53.5%; mean age=67.5, SD=4.8; mean education = 13.0, SD=3.6; mean GDS=2.7, SD=2.8) were included. The CFI is a 14‐item self‐report measure of cognitive change; higher scores indicate higher concerns. CFI total score was normalized into a z‐score, as some questions were not applicable to all participants and total score differed among them. Cognition was assessed with the Preclinical Alzheimer Cognitive Composite (PACC‐5) ‐ Mini‐Mental State Examination; Logical Memory Delayed Recall; Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test; Digit Symbol Substitution Test; and Animal Category Fluency. Participants were classified into those with PACC‐5 at or above 1 SD from the mean (n = 764) and those below (n = 51). Bivariate and partial correlations (controlling for sex, age, education and GDS score) were used to assess the association b tween the CFI and PACC‐5 scores. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were used to assess CFI accuracy to identify participants with PACC‐5 scores below 1 SD. Result: CFI and PACC‐5 scores were negatively associated with each other (r = ‐0.27; p <0.001; partial r = ‐0.12; p <0.001). ROC analyses indicated an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.71 (sensitivity=0.64; specificity=0.70) with an optimal threshold of 0.36 (Youden Index=0.35) as a suggested cutoff score for the normalized CFI score. Conclusion: The CFI may be added to cognitive screening protocols to identify individuals who may need further assessment. Integrating the CFI into screening strategies in LA could play a pivotal role in reducing cognitive health disparities and advancing tailored dementia prevention initiatives that address the region's specific sociocultural and healthcare challenges.

Cognitive Effects of Cannabis Use: A Comprehensive Review Across Domains

2026-09-09T16:19:38Z

Cognitive Effects of Cannabis Use: A Comprehensive Review Across Domains Pucinelli de Souza Queiroz, Andréia; Pozzolo Pedro, Maria Olivia; Waisman Campos, Marcela; Torales, Julio; Ventriglio, Antonio; Castaldelli-Maia, João Mauricio Cannabis is the most widely consumed illicit substance worldwide, with rising use particularly among adolescents and young adults. Accumulating evidence indicates that chronic cannabis use may negatively impact several domains of cognition, yet findings across studies remain varied and fragmented. This comprehensive review synthesizes current knowledge on the long-term cognitive consequences of cannabis use, focusing on attention, executive functioning, learning, memory, language, motor coordination, and social cognition. Consistent impairments have been observed in domains such as attention, executive function, memory, and learning; however, most evidence derives from studies of acute or residual effects. Evidence of long-lasting deficits after extended abstinence remains more limited and methodologically heterogeneous. Acute motor coordination deficits are well established, but persistent impairments in this domain lack conclusive evidence. Effects on language remain inconclusive, and findings regarding social cognition, though limited, suggest potential deficits in emotion recognition and mental state inference. Early onset and high-frequency use are critical risk factors for more severe and enduring cognitive effects. Some deficits may partially reverse with abstinence, although many persist long after cessation. Overall, cannabis use is associated with widespread and lasting cognitive impairments. These findings underscore the need for targeted prevention strategies, especially among youth, and point to future longitudinal and mechanistic research to better understand the nature, persistence, and potential reversibility of these cognitive effects.

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Can the Cognitive Function Index identify cognitive impairment in Latin America?

Cognitive Effects of Cannabis Use: A Comprehensive Review Across Domains