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Ascending digits task as a measure of executive function in geriatric depression
Haris I Sair1, Kathleen A Welsh-Bohmer, H Ryan Wagner
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center Box 3903 Durham, NC 27710, USA.
The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences
|March 10, 2006
Summary
Older adults with depression performed worse on the Ascending Digits Task (ADT), a new measure of executive function. This finding suggests the ADT may effectively assess cognitive abilities in the elderly population.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neuropsychology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Executive function deficits are common in older adults.
- Depression in older adults is associated with cognitive impairment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the performance of older adults with depression on the Ascending Digits Task (ADT).
- To evaluate the ADT as a measure of executive function in the elderly.
Main Methods:
- 129 older adults diagnosed with depression were compared to 129 non-depressed elderly individuals.
- Performance was assessed using the novel Ascending Digits Task (ADT).
- Statistical analyses controlled for demographic variables.
Main Results:
- Older depressed patients scored significantly lower on the ADT compared to the non-depressed control group.
- These differences remained significant after controlling for demographic factors.
Conclusions:
- The Ascending Digits Task (ADT) appears to be a sensitive measure for detecting executive function deficits in older adults.
- The ADT may serve as a valuable tool in the neuropsychological assessment of elderly individuals, particularly those with depression.
