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Everyday problem solving among individuals with Alzheimer's disease
S L Willis1, R Allen-Burge, M M Dolan
1Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802, USA. slw@psu.edu
The Gerontologist
|November 6, 1998
Summary
Early dementia detection is possible through assessing daily living tasks. Alzheimer's patients showed significant decline in complex task performance, particularly executive functions, correlating with disease severity.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Loss of function in daily living tasks is an early sign of dementia.
- Alzheimer's disease (AD) significantly impacts cognitive abilities and daily functioning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the performance of older adults with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease on complex daily living tasks.
- To determine the relationship between performance on the Everyday Problems Test for the Cognitively Challenged Elderly (EPCCE) and global cognitive functioning, disease severity, and executive functions.
Main Methods:
- Sixty-five older adults with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease were assessed.
- Utilized the Everyday Problems Test for the Cognitively Challenged Elderly (EPCCE) to measure complex daily living task performance.
- Administered self-report inventories and a comprehensive battery of clinical and neuropsychological measures.
Main Results:
- Participants with Alzheimer's disease solved an average of 45% of EPCCE tasks.
- Performance on the EPCCE was significantly related to global cognitive functioning and Alzheimer's disease severity.
- Executive functions explained significant additional variance in task performance beyond global cognitive measures.
Conclusions:
- The EPCCE is a valuable tool for assessing functional decline in individuals with Alzheimer's disease.
- Executive functions play a critical role in the ability to perform complex daily living tasks in Alzheimer's patients.
- Assessing complex daily living tasks can aid in early detection and understanding of functional impairments in dementia.