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Heterogeneity of congnitive profiles in aging: successful aging, normal aging, and individuals at risks for cognitive decline
Author(s) -
Ylikoski Raija,
Ylikoski Ari,
Keskivaara Pertti,
Tilvis Reijo,
Sulkava Raimo,
Erkinjuntti Timo
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
european journal of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.881
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1468-1331
pISSN - 1351-5101
DOI - 10.1046/j.1468-1331.1999.660645.x
Subject(s) - cognition , recall , verbal fluency test , medicine , neuropsychology , cluster (spacecraft) , homogeneous , dementia , cognitive decline , brain aging , audiology , clinical psychology , psychology , gerontology , psychiatry , cognitive psychology , disease , physics , computer science , thermodynamics , programming language
Neuropsychological clinical decision‐making is complicated by the fact that variability in test performance increases with advancing age. The research explores the presences of homogeneous subgroups in 120 neurologically healthy individuals, from 55 to 85 years of age. Subjects at risk for dementing diseases were diagnosed as Aging‐Associated Cognitive Decline (AACD) and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Cluster analysis was applied on 11 neuropsychological variables assessing logical memory immediate recall and retention percentage, visual memory immediate recall and retention, conceptual thinking, naming verbal fluency, constructional functions, motor speed, flexibility and finger tapping. Five clusters were extracted, one representing cognitively successfully aged, and two consisting of individuals with normal or average level performance. One cluster was characterized by older subjects with difficulties in visual memory, visuoconstructional functions, and speed and attention, most of the younger subjects in the same cluster had a diagnosis of AACD or MCI. The fifth cluster represented individuals at risk for dementing diseases; most of them were diagnosed having AACD and more than half had a diagnosis of MCI. Age, activity and intellectual levels, and to a lesser degree education, were significantly related to the cluster solution. The present findings caution against treating samples of elderly individuals as homogeneous.