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P3‐213: Estimating episodic memory within‐subject decline among nondemented older adults: Results from the einstein aging study (EAS)
Author(s) -
Mowrey Wenzhu,
Grober Ellen,
Zimmerman Molly E.,
Katz Mindy J.,
Hall Charles B.,
Sliwinski Martin J.,
Lipton Richard B.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1016/j.jalz.2015.06.1585
Subject(s) - dementia , psychology , logical address , wechsler adult intelligence scale , recall , episodic memory , free recall , wechsler memory scale , medicine , demography , audiology , gerontology , cognition , psychiatry , disease , physical address , sociology , computer science , programming language , cognitive psychology , overlay
namely Memory, Visuospatial, Executive, Language and Behaviour. We cross-sectionally analyzed the scores within these domains as a function of age and generated ‘cognitive curves’ to estimate which domain shows the most significant age-related decline. Results:Among the five indices, executive functions were the most affected by aging (-0.71%/year), followed by memory (-0.44%/year) and visuospatial skills (0.33%). Language abilities were globally preserved in the different age groups (-0.26%/ year). Within the executive domain the Stroop Color-Word Test (-2.1%/year) was the most affected by aging followed by Verbal fluency (-1.2%/year). Of note, 82% of the 70individuals succeeded at the Stroop (naming correctly 14 colors in 15 seconds), compared to only 42% of 70+ individuals. Conclusions:These results suggest that aging primarily affects executive functions such as interference inhibition and processing speed. Decline in cognitive screening tests over time due to failure in executive tests should therefore be interpreted with caution, as this may merely reflect normal aging.