Associations between Visual Acuity and Cognitive Decline in Older Adulthood: A 9-Year Longitudinal Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Ashlyn Runk ◽  
Yichen Jia ◽  
Anran Liu ◽  
Chung-Chou H. Chang ◽  
Mary Ganguli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visual Acuity ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Test Performance ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Neuropsychological Test ◽  
Joint Modeling ◽  
Modifiable Risk Factor ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Cognitive Test Performance

Abstract Objective: Emerging evidence suggests low vision may be a modifiable risk factor for cognitive decline. We examined effects of baseline visual acuity (VA) on level of, and change in, cognitive test performance over 9 years. Method: A population-based sample of 1,621 participants (average age 77 years) completed a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation and VA testing at baseline and reassessed at nine subsequent annual visits. Linear regression modeled the association between baseline VA and concurrent cognitive test performance. Joint modeling of a longitudinal sub-model and a survival sub-model to adjust for attrition were used to examine associations between baseline VA and repeated cognitive test performance over time. Results: Better baseline VA was associated cross-sectionally with younger age, male sex, greater than high school education, and higher baseline neuropsychological test scores on both vision-dependent (B coefficient range −0.163 to −0.375, p = .006 to <.001) and vision-independent tests (−0.187 to −0.215, p = .003 to .002). In longitudinal modeling, better baseline VA was associated with slower decline in vision-dependent tests (B coefficient range −0.092 to 0.111, p = .005 to <.001) and vision-independent tests (−0.107 to 0.067, p = .007 to <.001). Conclusions: Higher VA is associated with higher concurrent cognitive abilities and slower rates of decline over 9 years in both vision-dependent and vision-independent tests of memory, language, and executive functioning. Findings are consistent with emerging literature supporting vision impairment in aging as a potentially modifiable risk factor for cognitive decline. Clinicians should encourage patient utilization of vision assessment and correction with the added aim of protecting cognition.

scholarly journals Association Between Cognitive Test Performance and Subjective Cognitive Decline in a Diverse Cohort of Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 198-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabian W. Corlier ◽  
Crystal Shaw ◽  
Eleanor Hayes-Larson ◽  
Dan Mungas ◽  
Sarah Tomaszewski Farias ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Test Performance ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Subjective Cognitive Decline ◽  
Cognitive Test Performance

scholarly journals Fitness to drive in older drivers with cognitive impairment

2000 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 480-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
FREDERIEC K. WITHAAR ◽  
WIEBO H. BROUWER ◽  
ADRIAAN H. VAN ZOMEREN
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Test Performance ◽  
Traffic Accidents ◽  
Neuropsychological Test ◽  
Driving Performance ◽  
Older Drivers ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Cognitively Impaired ◽  
Fitness To Drive ◽  
Cognitive Test Performance

This paper is a literature review on assessment of fitness to drive in older drivers with cognitive impairment. Early studies on dementia and driving generally failed to distinguish between safe and unsafe drivers on the basis of cognitive test performance. Predictive studies demonstrated that cognitively impaired persons as a group perform significantly worse than controls on both neuropsychological and driving measures. A high prevalence of cognitive impairment was found in groups of older drivers involved in traffic accidents and crashes. However, a large range in neuropsychological test scores has been found. Low to moderate correlations could be established between neuropsychological test results and on-road driving performance, making it difficult to discriminate between cognitively impaired subjects who are fit or unfit to drive. The review concludes with a discussion of methodological difficulties in the field of dementia and driving, including participant selection, the choice of neuropsychological tests, and the operationalization of driving performance. (JINS, 2000, 6, 480–490.)

Cognitive Fluctuations and Cognitive Test Performance Among Institutionalized Persons With Dementia

2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 393-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian J. Mainland ◽  
Nathan Herrmann ◽  
Sasha Mallya ◽  
Alexandra J. Fiocco ◽  
Gwen-Li Sin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Test Performance ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Predictor Variable ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Medical Chart Review ◽  
Severe Impairment ◽  
Primary Nurse ◽  
Clinically Significant ◽  
Cognitive Test Performance ◽  
Cognitive Fluctuations

Objective: To examine the nature and frequency of cognitive fluctuations (CFs) among institutionalized persons with dementia. Method: A clinical interview and a medical chart review were conducted, and 55 patients were assigned a specific dementia diagnosis. The Severe Impairment Battery (SIB) was administered to assess cognitive function, and the Dementia Cognitive Fluctuation Scale (DCFS) was administered to each patient’s primary nurse to determine the presence and severity of CFs. Results: A simple linear regression model was conducted with DCFS as the predictor variable and SIB total score as the dependent variable. The overall model was significant, suggesting that score on the DCFS significantly predicted SIB total score. Additionally, greater severity of CFs predicted poorer performance in the areas of orientation, language, and praxis. Conclusions: Results suggest that CFs exert a clinically significant influence over patients’ cognitive abilities and should be considered as a source of excess disability.

How to Correct for Computer Experience in Online Cognitive Testing?

Assessment ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 107319112091109
Author(s):  
Philippe R. Lee Meeuw Kjoe ◽  
Joost A. Agelink van Rentergem ◽  
Ivar E. Vermeulen ◽  
Sanne B. Schagen
Keyword(s):  
Test Performance ◽  
Neuropsychological Test ◽  
Cognitive Testing ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Computer Experience ◽  
Cognitive Test Performance ◽  
Online Tests ◽  
Report Measure ◽  
A Performance

Objective: Since computerized cognitive test performance may be influenced by computer experience, correction for this measure might be needed. This study examined how to correct for computer experience by examining its influence on online and traditional tests. Method: 248 healthy adults completed an online neuropsychological test battery and 70 adults completed traditional equivalents of the tests. Computer experience was assessed by a performance-based and a self-report measure. Regression analyses were applied to examine their influence on the online and traditional tests. Results: After correction for demographics, the performance-based measure was associated with online and traditional, predominantly speed-based, tests. The self-report measure was also associated with speed-based online tests but not with most traditional tests. Conclusions: Correcting computerized neuropsychological tests using a performance-based measure of computer experience would be unwise, because this measure also seems to tap into cognitive functions. A correction using a self-report measure might be better and is appropriate.

scholarly journals Cognitive profile of mild behavioral impairment in Brain Health Registry participants

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farzeen Kassam ◽  
Hung-Yu Chen ◽  
Rachel L Nosheny ◽  
Alexander McGirr ◽  
Tirzah Williams ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Test Performance ◽  
Test Scores ◽  
Neuropsychological Test ◽  
Behavioral Assessment ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Brain Health ◽  
Behavioral Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Test Performance ◽  
Health Registry

INTRODUCTION: Dementia assessment includes cognitive and behavioral testing with informant validation. Conventional testing is resource intensive, with uneven access. Online unsupervised assessments could reduce barriers to risk assessment. We interrogated the relationship between informant-rated behavioral changes and neuropsychological test performance in older adults in the Brain Health Registry. METHODS: Participants completed online unsupervised cognitive tests, and informants completed the Mild Behavioral Impairment Checklist via a Study Partner portal. Cognitive performance was evaluated in MBI+/- individuals, as was the association between cognitive scores and MBI symptom severity. RESULTS: Mean age of the 499 participants was 67, 61% of which were female. MBI+ participants had lower working memory and executive function test scores. Lower cognitive test scores associated with greater MBI burden. DISCUSSION: Our findings support the feasibility of remote, informant-reported behavioral assessment and support its validity by demonstrating a relationship to cognitive test performance using online unsupervised assessments for dementia risk assessment.

scholarly journals Normal and abnormal aging in bilinguals

2008 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 242-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfredo Ardila ◽  
Eliane Ramos
Keyword(s):  
Protective Effect ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Cognitive Processes ◽  
Social Communication ◽  
Test Performance ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Research Review ◽  
Significant Heterogeneity ◽  
Cognitive Test Performance

Abstract Bilinguals use two different language systems to mediate not only social communication, but also cognitive processes. Potential differences between bilinguals and monolinguals in task-solving strategies and patterns of cognitive decline during normal and abnormal aging have been suggested. Main contribution: A research review of the area suggests that normal aging is associated with increased interference between the two languages and tendency to retreat to a single language. General cognitive functioning has been found to be higher in demented bilingual patients if communication is carried out in L1 rather than in L2. Recent research has reported that bilingualism can have a protective effect during aging, attenuating the normal cognitive decline associated with aging, and delaying the onset of dementia. Conclusions: Regardless of the significant heterogeneity of bilingualism and the diversity of patterns in language use during life-span, current research suggests that bilingualism is associated with preserved cognitive test performance during aging, and potentially can have some protective effect in dementia.

Complaints of cognitive decline in the elderly: a comparison of reports by subjects and informants in a community survey

1994 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 365-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. F. Jorm ◽  
H. Christensen ◽  
A. S. Henderson ◽  
A. E. Korten ◽  
A. J. Mackinnon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Test Performance ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Affective State ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Community Survey ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Cognitive Test Performance

SynopsisIn a community survey, subjects and their informants were asked the same questions about memory and intellectual decline in the subjects. Subjects and informants both commonly reported cognitive decline, although in most cases the decline was not seen as interfering with daily life. However, when responses from subjects and informants were cross-tabulated, agreement was found to be poor. For subjects, reports of cognitive decline were correlated with anxiety and depression symptoms and with trait neuroticism. Subjects' reports were uncorrelated with age and only weakly correlated with cognitive test performance, indicating little validity. By contrast, informants' reports were correlated with the subjects' cognitive test performance and age, but also with the informants' own anxiety and depression symptoms. Although informants' reports have validity, they may also be contaminated by the informants' affective state.

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