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Self-perceived Difficulties in Everyday Function Precede Cognitive Decline among Older Adults in the ACTIVE Study
Sarah Tomaszewski Farias1, Tania Giovannetti2, Brennan R Payne3
11Department of Neurology,University of California,Sacramento,California.
Subtle declines in everyday activities may precede cognitive impairment in older adults. Self-perceived difficulties in instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) predict future memory, reasoning, and processing speed declines.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Aging
Background:
- Cognitive decline models often suggest cognition precedes functional decline.
- Emerging evidence indicates functional decline may precede cognitive changes in older adults.
- The co-evolution of cognitive and functional decline requires further characterization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between changes in cognition and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) in older adults.
- To investigate if functional decline precedes cognitive decline in cognitively normal individuals.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of neuropsychological and IADL data from 2802 cognitively normal older adults.
- Longitudinal follow-up for up to 10 years within the ACTIVE trial.
Main Results:
- Self-perceived difficulties in IADLs were found to precede declines in cognitive tests.
- These functional declines predicted subsequent decreases in memory, reasoning, and processing speed.
Conclusions:
- Subjective functional changes may precede objective cognitive decline.
- Findings support the association between early functional changes and later cognitive impairment, including mild cognitive impairment and dementia.
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