PRACTICE EFFECTS ON LIST LEARNING ARE ASSOCIATED WITH LATER SCORES ON GLOBAL COGNITION. (11th November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Atkinson, T; Andel, R
• Is Part Of: Innovation in aging. Volume 2(2018)Supplement 1
• Page Start: 113
• Page End: 114
• Publication Date: 2018-11-11
• Subjects: Aging -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Periodicals; 612.67
• DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igy023.420
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2399-5300

Abstract

Abstract: While often considered a confound in longitudinal studies, practice effects (PEs) can be useful in predicting change in performance. We assessed whether PEs would predict global cognitive scores across three annual (9–15 months) assessments in data from the Florida Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. At baseline, participants (n=160, mean age=73.3 years, 60% women) were diagnosed as having normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment, or dementia. The Mini Mental Status Exam (MMSE) and a test of list recall with immediate memory (IM) and delayed memory (DM) scores were administered. PE were derived using standardized regression-based formulas. We found that smaller PE for MMSE (β=.382), IM (β=.164) and DM (β=.207) were each associated with worse performance on the MMSE at second follow-up (all p<.05). We then assessed these associations by cognitive status. In the cognitively impaired group, smaller PE for MMSE (β=.505), IM (β=.315) and DM (β=.297) were related to worse MMSE at second follow-up (all p<.05). In the cognitively normal group, the associations between PE for MMSE (β=.151), IM (β=.029) or DM (β=.085) and the MMSE at second follow-up did not reach statistical significance (p>.05). PEs were associated with later performance on the MMSE for participants with baseline cognitive impairment. PEs may be a useful tool for clinicians and scientists to characterize future cognitive decline, especially among those with cognitive impairment. PEs may help estimate the trajectory of cognitive decline and, as treatments become available, help design individualized intervention approaches.