Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 2, 2026

The 4 Mountains Test: A Short Test of Spatial Memory with High Sensitivity for the Diagnosis of Pre-dementia Alzheimer's Disease
06:23

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

34.0K

Longitudinal Trajectories of Informant-Reported Daily Functioning in Empirically Defined Subtypes of Mild Cognitive

Kelsey R Thomas1, Emily C Edmonds1, Lisa Delano-Wood1

  • 11Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System,San Diego,California.

Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society : JINS
|May 11, 2017
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Executive dysfunction significantly predicts functional decline in older adults. Some mild cognitive impairment diagnoses may be inaccurate, as indicated by better functional trajectories in certain subgroups.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Gerontology
  • Cognitive Science

Background:

  • The Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) identified mild cognitive impairment (MCI) subtypes and individuals with normal profiles despite MCI diagnosis.
  • Functional changes over time in these empirically derived MCI subgroups require investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the functional change over time in empirically derived MCI subgroups within the ADNI cohort.
  • To assess the predictive value of executive dysfunction on functional decline in at-risk elders.
  • To evaluate the accuracy of MCI diagnostic criteria by examining functional trajectories.

Main Methods:

  • ADNI MCI participants (n=654) were classified via cluster analysis into Amnestic MCI, Dysnomic MCI, Dysexecutive/Mixed MCI, or Cluster-Derived Normal (CDN) groups.
  • Normal control participants (NCs; n=284) were also included.
  • The Functional Activities Questionnaire (FAQ) was administered from baseline to 48-month follow-up, with multilevel modeling analyzing FAQ trajectories by cognitive subgroup.

Main Results:

  • The Dysexecutive/Mixed MCI group showed the most rapid functional decline.
  • Amnestic and Dysnomic MCI groups exhibited steeper functional decline rates compared to CDNs.
  • CDNs displayed more functional difficulty than NCs, but both remained below the FAQ cutoff.

Conclusions:

  • Executive dysfunction is crucial for predicting functional decline in at-risk elders.
  • ADNI's MCI criteria may lead to false-positive diagnoses, as evidenced by the CDN group's better functional trajectory compared to impaired MCI groups.
Keywords:
Alzheimer’s diseaseDementiaExecutive functioningFunctional activities questionnaireInstrumental activities of daily livingMCIlongitudinal

More Related Videos

Assessment of Dependence in Activities of Daily Living Among Older Patients in an Acute Care Unit06:52

Assessment of Dependence in Activities of Daily Living Among Older Patients in an Acute Care Unit

Published on: September 30, 2020

10.8K
Dual-Task Stroop Paradigm for Detecting Cognitive Deficits in High-Functioning Stroke Patients07:42

Dual-Task Stroop Paradigm for Detecting Cognitive Deficits in High-Functioning Stroke Patients

Published on: December 16, 2022

3.8K

Related Concept Videos

Cognitive Development During Adulthood01:30

Cognitive Development During Adulthood

Cognitive development continues throughout adulthood, undergoing significant shifts across early, middle, and late stages. Individual transition occurs from adolescent idealism to pragmatic and adaptable thinking in early adulthood. During this period, individuals learn to integrate personal beliefs with the recognition that other perspectives are equally valid. Exposure to the complexities of modern society, diverse experiences, and higher education contribute to this adaptive thought process,...
999
Longitudinal Research02:20

Longitudinal Research

Sometimes we want to see how people change over time, as in studies of human development and lifespan. When we test the same group of individuals repeatedly over an extended period of time, we are conducting longitudinal research. Longitudinal research is a research design in which data-gathering is administered repeatedly over an extended period of time. For example, we may survey a group of individuals about their dietary habits at age 20, retest them a decade later at age 30, and then again...
13.5K
Alzheimer's Disease: Overview01:26

Alzheimer's Disease: Overview

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a continually advancing neurodegenerative disorder, distinguished by escalating memory loss, cognitive dysfunction, and dementia. The disease unfolds in three stages: preclinical, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia. Its onset is insidious, and the progression gradual, with the cause not well explained by other disorders.
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ...
1.9K
Longitudinal Studies01:26

Longitudinal Studies

Longitudinal studies are also widely used in other medical and social science fields. For instance, in cardiovascular research, they can monitor patients' health over decades to identify risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol or smoking, and evaluate the long-term effectiveness of preventive measures. Similarly, in mental health studies, researchers might follow individuals from adolescence into adulthood to understand the development and progression of conditions like...
583
Intellectual Disability01:29

Intellectual Disability

Intellectual disability (ID) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by deficits in intellectual and adaptive functioning that manifest during the developmental period. This condition encompasses challenges in reasoning, memory, problem-solving, and learning, accompanied by impairments in everyday life skills, such as communication, self-care, and social interactions. Intellectual disability affects approximately 1% of the population in the United States, impacting an estimated 5...
891
Information Processing Approach01:30

Information Processing Approach

The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is...
668