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Study design and results of the Wave VI Add Health Cognitive Assessment, Physical, and Sensory Function (Add CAPS)
Allison E Aiello1,2, Rebecca C Stebbins1, Cherese N B Parker1
1Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States.
Objectives:
The goal of the Add Health Cognitive Assessment, Physical, and Sensory Function (Add CAPS) protocol was to establish a comprehensive, nationally representative assessment of cognitive, physical, and sensory function in early midlife to support longitudinal and life course Alzheimer's disease risk research. We developed the Add CAPS, a comprehensive and multidimensional assessment battery in Wave VI of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health).
Methods:
We describe protocol implementation and examine the distribution of cognitive, physical, and sensory measures by age, sex, and educational attainment in Add Health Wave VI.
Results:
Among participants who completed the survey, response rates were approximately 85% for digital cognitive assessments and 94% for interviewer-administered cognitive, physical, and hearing measures. Participants with complete Add CAPS data had a mean age of 44.2 years. Cognitive performance varied by age, education, and sex. Younger participants and those with higher educational attainment had better cognitive performance scores across assessments. Participants who were male, older, and had lower educational attainment had poorer hearing. There were no age differences in grip strength, but it did vary by educational attainment. Survey-reported cognitive and physical challenges were common.
Discussion:
The Add CAPS Protocol fills a critical gap by providing robust measures of cognitive, physical, and sensory function earlier in the adult life course than most nationally representative aging studies. These data will support future research on aging trajectories and health in the U.S. population.
