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Everyday Cognition in Older Adults: Associations with Neuropsychological Performance and Structural Brain Imaging

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2013

Sarah Tomaszewski Farias ,
Lovingly Quitania Park ,
Danielle J. Harvey ,
Christa Simon ,
Bruce R. Reed ,
Owen Carmichael  and
Dan Mungas
Sarah Tomaszewski Farias*
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California
Lovingly Quitania Park
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California
Danielle J. Harvey
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, Division of Biostatistics, University of California, Davis, California
Christa Simon
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California
Bruce R. Reed
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California Veterans Affairs Northern California Health Care System, Martinez, California
Owen Carmichael
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California
Dan Mungas
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to: Sarah Tomaszewski Farias, University of California, Davis, Department of Neurology, 4860 Y Street Suite 3700, Sacramento, CA 95817, E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

The recently developed Everyday Cognition scales (ECog) measure multiple cognitively relevant functional domains (e.g., Everyday Memory, Everyday Language, Everyday Visuospatial abilities, and three everyday executive domains). The present study further evaluated the validity of the ECog by examining its relationship with objective measures of neuropsychological function, and neurobiological markers of disease as reflected by structural neuroimaging. Participants included 474 older adults (244 normals, 142 with MCI, 88 with dementia). The neuropsychological domains measured were episodic memory, semantic memory, spatial ability, and executive functioning. Brain MRI volumes included total brain (BV), hippocampus (HC) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Neuropsychological measures of episodic memory and executive function were most consistently related to the ECog domains; spatial abilities had a specific relationship to the Everyday Visuospatial ECog domain. HC and BV volumes were related to most ECog domains, while DLPFC volume was independently related to two everyday executive domains (Everyday Planning and Everyday Organization). The pattern of associations varied somewhat as a function of diagnosis. Episodic memory and HC had more consistent associations with the ECog domains in older adults with MCI/dementia than in cognitively normal elderly. (JINS, 2013, 19, 1–12)

Keywords

Activities of daily livingInstrumental activities of daily livingFunctional abilitiesMCIDementiaNeuroimagingEpisodic memoryExecutive function
Type
Research Articles
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 19 , Issue 4 , April 2013 , pp. 430 - 441
Copyright
Copyright © The International Neuropsychological Society 2013

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