Neuropsychological performance and substance use disorders: insights from a memory disorders clinic
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Citation
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Substance use disorders (SUDs) have been associated with cognitive impairments, but the specific impact of different substances on neuropsychological performance remains relatively unclear. Understanding the impact of SUDs on cognitive function is essential for developing targeted interventions and improving outcomes for patients with SUDs.This study aimed to examine the relationship between SUDs and cognitive function in a sample of veterans evaluated at a memory disorders clinic.METHODS: A total of 664 patients were evaluated at the VA Boston Memory Disorders Clinic for cognitive complaints in an eleven month period. Demographics, substance use history, and neuropsychological testing results were collected. Patients were categorized based on their history of SUDs and cognitive performance on the standardized neuropsychological battery was compared between groups.
RESULTS: Patients with SUDs were, on average, younger and had a higher prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity compared to those without SUDs. Neuropsychological testing showed significant differences in performance on tests of memory, executive function, and processing speed between patients with and without SUDs. However, after controlling for age as a confounding factor, some of these differences were no longer significant.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that while there are associations between SUDs and cognitive dysfunction, these associations may influenced by age and other confounding factors. Further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms and clinical implications of these findings.
Description
2024
License
Attribution 4.0 International