Neuropsychological Performance & Mold Exposure

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1: Appl Neuropsychol. 2002;9(4):193-202. Related Articles, Links

Neuropsychological performance of patients following mold exposure.

Baldo JV, Ahmad L, Ruff R.

Veterans Affairs Northern California Health Care System, ez,

California 91711-3948, USA.

This study investigated the effects of mold exposure (ME) on human

cognition by analyzing neuropsychological data from patients who

were exposed to mold in their homes or workplaces. Compared to

normative data, ME patients were impaired (<10th percentile) on a

number of cognitive measures, with the most consistent deficits in

visuospatial learning, visuospatial memory, verbal learning, and

psychomotor speed. We also examined emotional functioning and found

that a number of ME patients showed evidence of both Axis I and Axis

II pathology. Interestingly, there was a significant correlation

among patients' scores on the Beck Depression Inventory-Second

Edition and the number of neuropsychological tests falling within

the impaired range. Given the limited understanding of ME and its

effect on the human central nervous system, we provide a working

model that attempts to capture the complex interactions of impaired

cognition, psychosocial stressors, poor physical health, and

emotional functioning in patients following ME. Keywords: mold

exposure, mild traumatic brain injury, toxic exposure

PMID: 12584073 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?

cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_uids=12584073 & dopt=Abstract