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Physical and Cognitive Function in Older Men: Is Longitudinal Study Participation Related to Better Functioning?
Author(s) -
Burridge Andrea Backscheider,
Hawley Karri S.,
Spiro Avron,
Echt Katharina V.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2011.03793.x
Subject(s) - medicine , gerontology , cognition , longitudinal study , cognitive skill , psychiatry , pathology
To the Editor: Longitudinal studies, the criterion standard for measuring intraindividual trajectories of change over time, provide crucial information about human aging through the repeated observation of developmental trends. Knowing the extent to which cross-sectional data from a longitudinal sample relate to data from a one-time measurement sample is essential for data interpretation and application in clinical trials, treatment decisions, and health policy for older adults, but when participants are rigorously screened at enrollment and attrition is high, longitudinal participants may become increasingly select over time, limiting the generalizability of findings. Individuals who are enrolled with exceptional health or who received repeated health evaluations while continuing in a study may have better physical and cognitive function than individuals who lack these characteristics and experiences.