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Updated: Sep 11, 2025

Assessment of Age-related Changes in Cognitive Functions Using EmoCogMeter, a Novel Tablet-computer Based Approach
Published on: February 14, 2014
Executive functioning and processing speed as predictors of global cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease
John P Haran1,2,3, A M Barrett4, YuShuan Lai2,3
1Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
Background:
Better cognitive tools to predict disease progression in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are needed.
Objective:
In this prospective longitudinal cohort, we are testing if changes in the cognitive domains of executive functioning and processing speed can predict global cognitive decline.
Methods:
We assessed patients with MCI, AD, and cognitively healthy controls (cHC) using NIH toolbox assessments for processing speed and executive functioning and overall cognitive decline by the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive (ADAS-Cog).
Results:
Among 184 participants over a median follow-up of 540 days, both between- and within-subjects variance in NIH toolbox and ADAS-Cog assessments increased from cHC to MCI to AD patients. Among patients with AD (n = 24), pattern comparison processing speed (PCPS) and dimensional change card sort tests (DCCS) declined at 3 and 6 months prior to global cognitive decline (p = 0.008 and 0.0012). A 5-point decrease in either PCPS or DCCS increased risk of global cognitive decline (HR 1.32 (1.08-1.60) and 1.62 (1.16-2.26)).
Conclusions:
Testing for cognitive domains of processing speed and executive functioning may predict subsequent global cognitive.
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