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Pathological risk-propensity typifies Mafia members' cognitive profile.

ABSTRACT: Since the recruitment process, Italian Mafias impose on their members a strict code of conduct. These rigid rules regulate their private and public behavior, implying a total adhesion to the group's values. Such juridical and social aspects substantially distinguish organized crime (OC) from ordinary crime. It is still unknown whether these two categories of offenders also show distinctive cognitive traits. Here we investigated the frontal lobe cognitive functions of 50 OC prisoners from the Mafia and 50 non-OC prisoners based on the performance of 50 non-prisoner controls. We found that OC members were more likely to show pathological risk-propensity than non-OC prisoners. We interpret this finding as the result of the internal dynamics of Mafia groups. OC is a worldwide threat, and the identification of cognitive traits behind criminal behavior will help in devising focused prevention policies.

SUBMITTER: Salvato G

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7244520 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Pathological risk-propensity typifies Mafia members' cognitive profile.

Salvato Gerardo G Fiorina Maria Laura ML De Maio Gabriele G Francescon Elisa E Ovadia Daniela D Bernardinelli Luisa L Santosuosso Amedeo A Paulesu Eraldo E Bottini Gabriella G

Scientific reports 20200522 1

Since the recruitment process, Italian Mafias impose on their members a strict code of conduct. These rigid rules regulate their private and public behavior, implying a total adhesion to the group's values. Such juridical and social aspects substantially distinguish organized crime (OC) from ordinary crime. It is still unknown whether these two categories of offenders also show distinctive cognitive traits. Here we investigated the frontal lobe cognitive functions of 50 OC prisoners from the Maf ...[more]

PMID: 32444792

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Project description:ImportanceIndicators of early-life cognitive enrichment (ELCE) have been associated with slower cognitive decline and decreased dementia in late life. However, the mechanisms underlying this association have not been elucidated.ObjectiveTo examine the association of ELCE with late-life Alzheimer disease (AD) and other common dementia-related pathological changes.Design, setting, and participantsThis clinical-pathological community-based cohort study, the Rush Memory and Aging Project, followed up participants before death for a mean (SD) of 7.0 (3.8) years with annual cognitive and clinical assessments. From January 1, 1997, through June 30, 2019, 2044 participants enrolled, of whom 1018 died. Postmortem data were leveraged from 813 participants. Data were analyzed from April 12, 2019, to February 20, 2020.ExposuresFour indicators of ELCE (early-life socioeconomic status, availability of cognitive resources at 12 years of age, frequency of participation in cognitively stimulating activities, and early-life foreign language instruction) were obtained by self-report at the study baseline, from which a composite measure of ELCE was derived.Main outcomes and measuresA continuous global AD pathology score derived from counts of diffuse plaques, neuritic plaques, and neurofibrillary tangles.ResultsThe 813 participants included in the analysis had a mean (SD) age of 90.1 (6.3) years at the time of death, and 562 (69%) were women. In a linear regression model controlled for age at death, sex, and educational level, a higher level of ELCE was associated with a lower global AD pathology score (estimate, -0.057; standard error, 0.022; P = .01). However, ELCE was not associated with any other dementia-related pathological changes. In addition, a higher level of ELCE was associated with less cognitive decline (mean [SD], -0.13 [0.19] units per year; range, -1.74 to 0.85). An indirect effect through AD pathological changes constituted 20% of the association between ELCE and the rate of late-life cognitive decline, and 80% was a direct association.Conclusions and relevanceThese findings suggest that ELCE was associated with better late-life cognitive health, in part through an association with fewer AD pathological changes.

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Pathological risk-propensity typifies Mafia members' cognitive profile.

Publications

Pathological risk-propensity typifies Mafia members' cognitive profile.

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