Homelessness has frequently been associated with
neuropsychological impairment. This has been observed using general screening
tests for dementia as well as tests of more focal abilities, particularly
executive function. Most studies have been of homeless individuals from North
America with none reported from Japan.
In this exploratory study we interviewed a sample of 16
homeless adults from Tokyo, Japan, and performed tests of cognitive function,
assessed head injury, addictive behaviours (drug use, gambling, alcohol abuse),
and recorded details of homelessness history. The cognitive examination
involved the Japanese Adult Reading Test to estimate premorbid intelligence
quotient, the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test to measure frontal lobe-related
cognitive function, and the Mini-Mental State Examination to measure global
cognitive impairment associated with dementia.
Among the 16 homeless individuals, 7 (44%) displayed global
cognitive impairment. In addition, executive function tended to be poor. In
contrast, estimated premorbid intelligence quotient was within the normal
range. Substance abuse in general was not at a level to cause clinical concern,
although a high level of pathological gambling was observed. There were no
associations between cognitive function and clinical and addictive behaviour
variables, although associations were noted between cognitive scores and time
spent homeless.
The results suggest high levels of neuropsychological
impairment in this sample of homeless adults in Japan. Furthermore, cognitive
impairment is acquired rather than developmental in origin, and is proportional
to the length of time spent homeless.
Full article at:
By:
- 1Quito Brain and Behavior Laboratory, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Ecuador; Faculty of Policy Studies, Chuo University, Tokyo, Japan.
- 2Faculty of Policy Studies, Chuo University, Tokyo, Japan.
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