Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 21, 2026

The 4 Mountains Test: A Short Test of Spatial Memory with High Sensitivity for the Diagnosis of Pre-dementia Alzheimer's Disease
Published on: October 13, 2016
Intraindividual variability in psychometrically defined mild cognitive impairment status in older African Americans
Alyssa A Gamaldo1, Jason C Allaire, Keith E Whitfield
1Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Biomedical Research Center, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA. Alyssa.Gamaldo@nih.gov
Abstract:
This study examines day-to-day variability in psychometrically defined mild cognitive impairment (MCI) status and potential predictors of changes in MCI status in an independent-living sample of urban dwelling older adults in Baltimore, Maryland. The participant sample consisted of 50 older adults, ranging in age from 50 to 80 years. Participants completed health and cognitive measures (i.e., executive function, language, memory, and global cognition) over 8 occasions within a 2-3-week period. After each testing occasion, a post hoc classification of MCI status was determined using psychometrically defined criteria based on cognitive performance. Participants who classified as MCI after one assessment often did not meet MCI criteria at subsequent occasions. Daily fluctuations in sleep duration were associated with an increased risk for MCI classification. These results demonstrate that changes in sleep may explain changes in MCI status, particularly for African Americans.
Related Concept Videos
Cognitive Development During Adulthood
Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction
Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination
Alzheimer's Disease: Overview
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ and tau...

