Unobtrusive, in-home assessment of older adults' everyday activities and health events: associations with cognitive performance over a brief observation period. Issue 5 (3rd September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bernstein, John P.K.; Dorociak, Katherine; Mattek, Nora; Leese, Mira; Trapp, Chelsea; Beattie, Zachary; Kaye, Jeffrey; Hughes, Adriana
• Is Part Of: Aging, neuropsychology, and cognition. Volume 29:Issue 5(2022)
• Page Start: 781
• Page End: 798
• Publication Date: 2022-09-03
• Subjects: Home-based clinical assessment -- cognitive assessment -- aging -- computer use; Aging -- Periodicals; Cognition in old age -- Periodicals; Cognition disorders in old age -- Periodicals; Neuropsychology -- Periodicals; Aging -- periodicals; Neuropsychology -- periodicals; Cognition -- periodicals; Mental Disorders -- periodicals; Gerontology -- periodicals; Mental Health -- periodicals; 155.67
• DOI: 10.1080/13825585.2021.1917503
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1382-5585

Abstract

ABSTRACT: In-home assessment of everyday activities over many months to years may be useful in predicting cognitive decline in older adulthood. This study examined whether a comparatively brief data collection period (3 months) may yield similar diagnostic information. A total of 91 community-dwelling older adults without dementia underwent baseline neuropsychological testing and completed weekly computer-based surveys assessing health-related events/activities. A subset of participants wore fitness tracker watches assessing daily sleep and physical activity patterns, used a sensor-instrumented pillbox, and had their computer use frequency recorded on a daily basis. Similar patterns in computer use, sleep and medication use were noted in comparison to prior literature with more extensive data collection periods. Greater computer use and sleep, as well as self-reported pain and independence, were also linked to better cognition. These activities and symptoms may be useful correlates of cognitive function even when assessed over a relatively brief monitoring period.