Intraindividual variability of physical status and affect/beliefs
as well as their relations with cognition were examined in 3
groups of older adults: healthy elderly, individuals with a
nonneurological health-related disturbance (arthritis) and people
with neurological compromise (dementia). The findings showed
that greater inconsistency in physical performance was observed
in groups characterized by central nervous system dysfunction.
By contrast, fluctuations in affect appeared to reflect other
more transient sources, such as pain. In general, increased
inconsistency in non-cognitive domains was associated with poorer
cognitive function. There were cross-domain links between
inconsistency in physical functioning and fluctuations in cognitive
performance, although the nature of the links depended largely
upon the neurological status of the individuals. Considered
together, the result indicated that measures of cognitive as
well as physical variability are important behavioral markers
of neurological integrity. (JINS, 2002, 8,
893–906.)
