Executive Control Functioning and Functional Ability in Older Adults

Abstract

The manner in which executive control functioning exerts its influence on functional tasks was investigated. Sixty older adults were administered neuropsychological tasks tapping into four domains of executive control function, including working memory, planning, fluency, and flexibility. A test of performance-based functional ability also was administered. Correlational analyses demonstrated that working memory was most strongly associated with performance-based functional ability; however, impairment in planning appeared to best predict performance-based functional decrement in simultaneous regression models. Results highlight the role of planning in the maintenance of functional ability, as measured by performance-based functional measures.

Memory for Intentions is Uniquely Associated with Instrumental Activities of Daily Living in Healthy Older Adults

“…We also extend Smits et al (1997) by incorporating comparison tests of executive functions, which prior studies show are among the most reliable cognitive predictors of IADL in older adults (e.g., Lewis & Miller, 2007). Importantly, PM was predictive of IADL above and beyond executive dysfunction (e.g., complex attention, verbal fluency, and cognitive control), as well as a widely-used cognitive screening battery.…”

Adequate proverb interpretation is associated with performance on the Independent Living Scales

“…Therefore, as mentioned earlier, it is important to assess both cognitive and functional abilities within the geriatric population. Nevertheless, previous research has found that functional decline is strongly linked with executive decline (Bell-McGinty, Podell, Franzen, Baird, & Williams, 2002;Cahn-Weiner, Malloy, Boyle, Marran, & Salloway, 2000;Lewis & Miller, 2007;Mitchell & Miller, 2008;Sherod et al, 2009).…”

“…In particular, executive function and IADLs were found to be significantly associated across normal controls, those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and those with Alzheimer's disease (Marshall et al, 2011). It is important to note that although there is an association between cognitive and functional decline, research shows that cognitive decline does not completely account for all of the loss in functional ability (Baird, 2006;Lewis & Miller, 2007;Sherod et al, 2009). Therefore, as mentioned earlier, it is important to assess both cognitive and functional abilities within the geriatric population.…”

Cognitive Correlates of Functional Abilities in Individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment: Comparison of Questionnaire, Direct Observation, and Performance-Based Measures

“…Research suggests that many cognitive factors contribute to functional impairment in older adult populations, including global cognitive functioning (Farias, Harrell, Neumann, & Houtz, 2003; Inzarti & Basile, 2003), memory (Farias, Mungas, Reed, Harvey, Cahn-Weiner, & DeCarli, 2006; McCue, Rogers, & Goldstein, 1990), processing speed (Tuokko, Morris, & Ebert, 2005; Teng, Becker, Woo, Knopman, Cummings, & Lu, 2010), visuoperceptual abilities (Glosser, Gallo, Duda, de Vries, Clark, & Grossman, 2002; Jefferson, Barakat, Giovannetti, Paul, & Glosser, 2006), and executive functioning (Bell-McGinty, Podell, Franzen, Baird, & Williams, 2002; Cahn-Weiner et al, 2000; Lewis & Miller, 2007). Within the older adult population, executive functioning (e.g., Mariani et al, 2008; Rapp & Reischies, 2005; Cahn-Weiner et al, 2000) and memory (e.g., Farias et al, 2006; Jefferson et al, 2008; Koehler et al, 2011; Teng et al, 2010) have been identified as the two cognitive domains most consistently related to everyday functioning.…”