Mild Cognitive Impairment and Objective Instrumental Everyday Functioning: The Everyday Cognition Battery Memory Test

Abstract

OBJECTIVES Examine the performance MCI and non-MCI participants on an objective measure of everyday or real-world memory and subjective items assessing competency within the same instrumental domains. In addition, determine whether ECB can uniquely predict MCI status. DESIGN Cross-sectional SETTING Independently-living sample of urban dwelling elders in Baltimore MD. PARTICIPANTS The sample consisted of 555 ranging in age from 50 to 95 years (M = 68.75, SD = 9.61) MEASUREMENTS Objective performance in three instrumental domains (i.e., medication use, financial management, nutrition/food preparation) was assessed by the Everyday Cognition Battery ECB Memory Test. Subjective performance with in the same instrumental domains was also assessed. RESULTS No difference was found between MCI and Non-MCI elders on the subjective items of IADL competency. A significant multivariate effect for cognitive status group [F(3, 507) = 21.88, p < .05, 2 =.12] was observed for the objective measure, with MCI participants performing, on average, significantly worse than Non-MCI participants on all thee instrumental domain subscales. The medicine use (OR = .96, 95% CI = .94–.99) and financial management (OR = .93, 95% CI = .91–.96) subscales of the ECB Memory Test were both unique and significant predictors of MCI. CONCLUSION This study adds to the growing body of literature suggesting that cognitively complex instrumental activities of daily living might be compromised in elders with MCI. Moreover, the ECB Memory Test might be a clinically useful tool in evaluating real-world competency.

Cognitive impairment and its consequences in everyday life

“…This is shown in previous studies on MCI (Nygård et al, 1998, Nygård, 2003, Allaire et al, 2009, Wadley et al, 2007, Avlund and Fromholt, 1998, in a cross-sectional study in Belgium (Kurz et al, 2003) and in community-dwelling elders in Japan (Dodge et al, 2005). The results confirm that not only cognition has to be assessed in dementia investigations; ADL and especially IADL should also be considered.…”

“…Problems with these activities together with cognitive deficits can be seen even before individuals develop dementia (Barberger-Gateau et al, 1999). MCI negatively influences an individual's ability to perform complex ADL (Allaire et al, 2009, Aretouli and Brandt, 2009, Burton et al, 2009, Perneczky et al, 2006b) and increases the risk for dementia (Palmer et al, 2003). The ability to perform basic ADL is preserved when the first symptoms of cognitive deterioration occur, whereas the ability to perform complex ADL is more likely to decrease when memory, attention, and executive functions deteriorate (Perneczky et al, 2006a).…”

Cognitive function in COPD

“…In general population studies, cognitive dysfunction has been associated with increased length of stay, mortality, discharge destination [81], instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) [82] and the management of medicines [83].…”

Sleep Complaints in Older Blacks: Do Demographic and Health Indices Explain Poor Sleep Quality and Duration?

“…A thorough description of the BSBA project design and outcome has been previously published. 25,26 Participants were recruited from 29 senior housing facilities that consisted primarily (> 75%) of Blacks living in the West Baltimore area. The BSBA: PCA study broadly sampled community-dwelling adults aged 50 years and older to obtain a heterogeneous and representative sample.…”