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Salazar-Frías D, Rodríguez-Bailón M, Ricchetti G, Navarro-Egido A, de Los Santos M, Funes MJ. Training to deal with distractions and conflicting situations in activities of daily living after traumatic brain injury (TBI): Preliminary evidence from a single-case experimental design study. Neuropsychol Rehabil 2024:1-36. [PMID: 39010748 DOI: 10.1080/09602011.2024.2375495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03958487.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Salazar-Frías
- Mind, Brain and Behaviour Research Centre (CIMCYC), Experimental Psychology Department, School of Psychology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - María Rodríguez-Bailón
- Physiotherapy (Occupational Therapy) Department, Health Science School, University of Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - Giorgia Ricchetti
- Mind, Brain and Behaviour Research Centre (CIMCYC), Experimental Psychology Department, School of Psychology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Alba Navarro-Egido
- Mind, Brain and Behaviour Research Centre (CIMCYC), Experimental Psychology Department, School of Psychology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Macarena de Los Santos
- Mind, Brain and Behaviour Research Centre (CIMCYC), Methodology of Behavioural Sciences Department, School of Psychology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - María Jesús Funes
- Mind, Brain and Behaviour Research Centre (CIMCYC), Experimental Psychology Department, School of Psychology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
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Júlio F, Ribeiro MJ, Simões MR, Castelo-Branco M, Januário C. Assessing the impact of age on everyday cognitive function with a virtual environment task: The EcoKitchen. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY. ADULT 2023:1-11. [PMID: 37847996 DOI: 10.1080/23279095.2023.2265521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
More realistic assessment tools are imperative for a better understanding of the impact of age-related cognitive deficits on functional status. With this in mind, we probed the ability of the EcoKitchen, a non-immersive virtual environment task with increasing executively demanding kitchen chores, to detect the effects of aging on the simulated everyday functioning of healthy adults. Fifty-three adults (age between 23 and 77 years) were assessed with the EcoKitchen and a set of conventional paper-and-pencil neuropsychological tests. The associations between the baseline features of study participants and each of the two different assessment methods were examined. The associations between the EcoKitchen variables and an executive composite score were also explored. Our results showed that older individuals present deficits in the performance of both the EcoKitchen task and standard assessment methods. Notably, we found that, unlike conventional tests, accuracy in the EcoKitchen task was not related to the education level and IQ score of participants. Moreover, the EcoKitchen performance time was significantly correlated with executive tests. We have demonstrated that the EcoKitchen task, an ecologically relevant computerized neuropsychological assessment tool, might be more suitable than classic paper-and-pencil tests to capture the impact of aging on everyday cognitive function, as it proved to be less prone to the influence of confounding factors. Additionally, we have shown that executive function plays an important role in the timely performance of cognitively challenging virtual environment tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipa Júlio
- Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Maria J Ribeiro
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute of Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Mário R Simões
- Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive Behavioural Intervention (CINEICC), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Miguel Castelo-Branco
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute of Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Cristina Januário
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Coimbra University Hospital, Coimbra, Portugal
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Palombi T, Galli F, Giancamilli F, D'Amico M, Alivernini F, Gallo L, Neroni P, Predazzi M, De Pietro G, Lucidi F, Giordano A, Chirico A. The role of sense of presence in expressing cognitive abilities in a virtual reality task: an initial validation study. Sci Rep 2023; 13:13396. [PMID: 37591908 PMCID: PMC10435488 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40510-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
There is a raised interest in literature to use Virtual Reality (VR) technology as an assessment tool for cognitive domains. One of the essential advantages of transforming tests in an immersive virtual environment is the possibility of automatically calculating the test's score, a time-consuming process under natural conditions. Although the characteristics of VR can deliver different degrees of immersion in a virtual environment, the sense of presence could jeopardize the evolution of these practices. The sense of presence results from a complex interaction between human, contextual factors, and the VR environment. The present study has two aims: firstly, it contributes to the validation of a virtual version of the naturalistic action test (i.e., virtual reality action test); second, it aims to evaluate the role of sense of presence as a critical booster of the expression of cognitive abilities during virtual reality tasks. The study relies on healthy adults tested in virtual and real conditions in a cross-over research design. The study's results support the validity of the virtual reality action test. Furthermore, two structural equation models are tested to comprehend the role of sense of presence as a moderator in the relationship between cognitive abilities and virtual task performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tommaso Palombi
- Department of Psychology of Developmental and Socialization Processes, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Via Dei Marsi, 78, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Galli
- Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome, Foro Italico, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Giancamilli
- Department of Psychology of Developmental and Socialization Processes, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Via Dei Marsi, 78, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Monica D'Amico
- Department of Clinical Psychology, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabio Alivernini
- Department of Psychology of Developmental and Socialization Processes, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Via Dei Marsi, 78, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Luigi Gallo
- Institute for High-Performance Computing and Networking, National Research Council, Naples, Italy
| | - Pietro Neroni
- Institute for High-Performance Computing and Networking, National Research Council, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppe De Pietro
- Institute for High-Performance Computing and Networking, National Research Council, Naples, Italy
| | - Fabio Lucidi
- Department of Psychology of Developmental and Socialization Processes, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Via Dei Marsi, 78, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Giordano
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Andrea Chirico
- Department of Psychology of Developmental and Socialization Processes, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Via Dei Marsi, 78, 00185, Rome, Italy.
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Characterizing older adults’ real world memory function using ecologically valid approaches. PSYCHOLOGY OF LEARNING AND MOTIVATION 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.plm.2022.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Arora C, Frantz C, Toglia J. Awareness of Performance on a Functional Cognitive Performance-Based Assessment Across the Adult Lifespan. Front Psychol 2021; 12:753016. [PMID: 34803834 PMCID: PMC8602564 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.753016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
As people age, their cognitive skills and ability to complete complex instrumental activities of daily living often decline in subtle ways. Older adults who are aware of these slight cognitive and functional changes spontaneously adapt and implement strategies to maximize performance. On the other hand, older adults with limited self-awareness are less likely to adjust performance or initiate compensatory strategies as they may not recognize the need to do so. This places them at higher risk of functional decline and loss of independence. Research on awareness of functional performance in healthy adults is, however, limited, and there is a paucity of assessment tools available to address questions of awareness and strategy use in functional tasks. We used the Weekly Calendar Planning Activity (WCPA) - a performance-based assessment of functional cognition including measures of awareness and strategy use - to investigate differences in performance, awareness, and strategy use across the adult lifespan. The WCPA requires examinees to schedule appointments into a weekly calendar while following rules designed to increase task demands. Healthy adults (n=342) from ages 18-92 were observed for strategy use and error recognition, while a post-test interview probed participants' reported strategy use and estimation of accuracy. The discrepancy between participant estimation and actual accuracy provided a measure of online awareness of performance where a larger estimation discrepancy indicated over-estimation of performance. Performance on the WCPA declined across the adult lifespan. Older adults were less likely to use self-monitoring strategies and used less effective strategies overall. Overestimation was associated with use of fewer strategies and lower accuracy in all age groups. Importantly, twice as many older adults overestimated compared to younger adults. Furthermore, the subset of older adults who had good awareness of performance was more likely to use effective strategies, to recognize errors, and achieved accuracy on par with their younger counterparts. Our results emphasize the importance of examining self-awareness of performance and analyzing the strategies used to perform a complex functional task. This information can provide a foundation for early detection of functional decline in aging and for designing interventions to maximize functional independence in aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Arora
- Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health and Natural Sciences, Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, NY, United States
| | - Carina Frantz
- Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health and Natural Sciences, Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, NY, United States
| | - Joan Toglia
- School of Health and Natural Sciences, Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, NY, United States
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Mis R, Giovannetti T. Similarities between Cognitive Models of Language Production and Everyday Functioning: Implications for Development of Interventions for Functional Difficulties. Top Cogn Sci 2021; 14:295-310. [PMID: 34128585 DOI: 10.1111/tops.12550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The loss of the ability to independently complete activities of daily living, such as meal preparation and household chores, is a defining characteristic of clinical dementia; however, minor difficulties in completing everyday activities emerge in the mild cognitive impairment stage, and even healthy older adults exhibit subtle functional difficulties compared to younger adults. These functional difficulties are associated with an array of negative outcomes, including decreased quality of life, higher costs of care, and increased frustration, depression, caregiver burden, and institutionalization. While cognitive models have been proposed to explain the functional deficits seen in dementia and subtler forms of cognitive decline, in contrast to other cognitive disorders such as aphasia, there are essentially no theoretically motivated interventions to address difficulties in everyday functioning. Proposed models of functional impairment share features with cognitive processing models of language, including hierarchical organization of representations and interactive, spreading activation; thus, an examination of aphasia interventions has the potential to inform the development of theoretically motivated interventions for everyday activities. This review first addresses the shared characteristics of cognitive models of everyday function and language, with a focus on linguistic production. Next, we will present aphasia interventions that target single-word production, sentence production, short-term memory, and semantics, and discuss their implications for everyday functioning interventions. We conclude with a discussion of limitations of the language-everyday functioning comparison as well as areas of future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Mis
- Department of Psychology, Temple University
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Giovannetti T, Mis R, Hackett K, Simone SM, Ungrady MB. The goal-control model: An integrated neuropsychological framework to explain impaired performance of everyday activities. Neuropsychology 2021; 35:3-18. [PMID: 33393796 DOI: 10.1037/neu0000714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This review describes the relatively small body of neuropsychological and cognitive research conducted over the past 100 years focused on theoretical models explaining the neurocognitive processes that support everyday functioning and the breakdown of functional abilities in the face of neurological damage or disease. METHOD The historical roots of the theories of everyday activities based on direct observation of behavior in neurology and diary reports of everyday errors in cognitive psychology are presented, followed by a review of the empirical findings and resulting theoretical conceptualizations from case studies and group studies of various clinical populations in neuropsychology. RESULTS We conclude with a new framework (the goal-control model) that integrates the most recent empirical findings in neuropsychology with mechanisms proposed by cognitive models. CONCLUSIONS The goal-control model offers empirically supported solutions to understanding and predicting functioning in the real world. This new model generates testable predictions for future research and provides guidance for clinical assessment and interventions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
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Camp N, Lewis M, Hunter K, Johnston J, Zecca M, Di Nuovo A, Magistro D. Technology Used to Recognize Activities of Daily Living in Community-Dwelling Older Adults. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 18:E163. [PMID: 33379319 PMCID: PMC7795436 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18010163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The use of technology has been suggested as a means of allowing continued autonomous living for older adults, while reducing the burden on caregivers and aiding decision-making relating to healthcare. However, more clarity is needed relating to the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) recognised, and the types of technology included within current monitoring approaches. This review aims to identify these differences and highlight the current gaps in these systems. A scoping review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA-ScR, drawing on PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Articles and commercially available systems were selected if they focused on ADL recognition of older adults within their home environment. Thirty-nine ADL recognition systems were identified, nine of which were commercially available. One system incorporated environmental and wearable technology, two used only wearable technology, and 34 used only environmental technologies. Overall, 14 ADL were identified but there was variation in the specific ADL recognised by each system. Although the use of technology to monitor ADL of older adults is becoming more prevalent, there is a large variation in the ADL recognised, how ADL are defined, and the types of technology used within monitoring systems. Key stakeholders, such as older adults and healthcare workers, should be consulted in future work to ensure that future developments are functional and useable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Camp
- Department of Sport Science, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG11 8NS, UK; (N.C.); (K.H.); (J.J.)
| | - Martin Lewis
- Department of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Derby, Derby DE22 1GB, UK;
| | - Kirsty Hunter
- Department of Sport Science, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG11 8NS, UK; (N.C.); (K.H.); (J.J.)
| | - Julie Johnston
- Department of Sport Science, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG11 8NS, UK; (N.C.); (K.H.); (J.J.)
| | - Massimiliano Zecca
- Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK;
| | | | - Daniele Magistro
- Department of Sport Science, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG11 8NS, UK; (N.C.); (K.H.); (J.J.)
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Jarry C, Osiurak F, Baumard J, Lesourd M, Coiffard C, Lucas C, Merck C, Etcharry-Bouyx F, Chauviré V, Belliard S, Moreaud O, Croisile B, Le Gall D. Daily life activities in patients with Alzheimer's disease or semantic dementia: Multitasking assessment. Neuropsychologia 2020; 150:107714. [PMID: 33285188 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2020.107714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to compare patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) or semantic dementia (SD) on their cognitive processes and the severity of their daily life activity impairments. Three types of tasks were administered to patients (SD = 15; AD = 31) and 30 healthy controls (HC): 1) informant-based scales and questionnaires, 2) a neuropsychological assessment exploring executive functions, episodic and semantic memory, and 3) a new original test featuring multi-step naturalistic actions and multitasking: the Sequential Daily Life Multitasking (SDLM). We predicted that patients with AD would mainly exhibit task perplexity, associated with episodic and executive deficits on the SDLM, while the behavior of patients with SD would mostly be characterized by object perplexity, associated with semantic memory deficits. Results showed that patients with AD or SD were impaired across all neuropsychological tests, particularly episodic memory in AD and semantic memory in SD. General performance on the SDLM also appeared dramatically impaired in both patient groups, and correlated with results of questionnaires about instrumental activities and memory impairments. However, specific qualitative measurements on the SDLM did not allow us to pinpoint different patterns of errors and behavior in patients with AD versus SD. We suggest that the inability of patients in both groups to perform the SDLM may derive from a constellation of disorders or else from more subtle impairment of cognitive and conative processes that requires further exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christophe Jarry
- Laboratoire de Psychologie des Pays de La Loire, LPPL EA 4638, SFR Confluences, UNIV Angers, Nantes Université, Maison de La Recherche Germaine Tillion, 5 Bis Boulevard Lavoisier, 49045 Angers, Cedex 01, France.
| | - François Osiurak
- Laboratoire d'Etude des Mécanismes Cognitifs (EA 3082), Université de Lyon, France; Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France
| | | | - Mathieu Lesourd
- Laboratoire de Psychologie (EA3188), Université Bourgogne Franche Comté, France
| | - Clémence Coiffard
- Laboratoire de Psychologie des Pays de La Loire, LPPL EA 4638, SFR Confluences, UNIV Angers, Nantes Université, Maison de La Recherche Germaine Tillion, 5 Bis Boulevard Lavoisier, 49045 Angers, Cedex 01, France
| | - Charlène Lucas
- Laboratoire de Psychologie des Pays de La Loire, LPPL EA 4638, SFR Confluences, UNIV Angers, Nantes Université, Maison de La Recherche Germaine Tillion, 5 Bis Boulevard Lavoisier, 49045 Angers, Cedex 01, France
| | - Catherine Merck
- Service de Neurologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Pontchaillou, CMRR, Rennes, France
| | - Frédérique Etcharry-Bouyx
- Laboratoire de Psychologie des Pays de La Loire, LPPL EA 4638, SFR Confluences, UNIV Angers, Nantes Université, Maison de La Recherche Germaine Tillion, 5 Bis Boulevard Lavoisier, 49045 Angers, Cedex 01, France; Unité de Neuropsychologie, Département de Neurologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire d'Angers, France
| | - Valérie Chauviré
- Unité de Neuropsychologie, Département de Neurologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire d'Angers, France
| | - Serge Belliard
- Service de Neurologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Pontchaillou, CMRR, Rennes, France; Laboratoire de Neuropsychologie, Unité INSERM U 1077, Caen, France
| | - Olivier Moreaud
- CMRR Grenoble Arc Alpin, Pôle de Psychiatrie et Neurologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Grenoble, France; Laboratoire de Psychologie et Neurocognition CNRS UMR 5105, Grenoble, France
| | - Bernard Croisile
- Service de Neuropsychologie, Hôpital Neurologique Pierre Wertheimer, Bron, France
| | - Didier Le Gall
- Laboratoire de Psychologie des Pays de La Loire, LPPL EA 4638, SFR Confluences, UNIV Angers, Nantes Université, Maison de La Recherche Germaine Tillion, 5 Bis Boulevard Lavoisier, 49045 Angers, Cedex 01, France; Unité de Neuropsychologie, Département de Neurologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire d'Angers, France
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Divers R, Ham L, Matchanova A, Hackett K, Mis R, Howard K, Rycroft SS, Roll E, Giovannetti T. When and how did you go wrong? Characterizing mild functional difficulties in older adults during an everyday task. AGING NEUROPSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITION 2020; 28:308-326. [PMID: 32352347 DOI: 10.1080/13825585.2020.1756210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Mild functional difficulties associated with cognitive aging may be reliably measured by coding "micro-errors" during everyday tasks, like meal preparation. Micro-errors made by 25 older adult and 48 younger adults were coded on four dimensions to evaluate the influence of: 1) poor error monitoring; 2) goal decay; 3) competition for response selection when switching to a new subtask; and 4) interference from distractor objects. Micro-errors made by young adults under a dual task load also were analyzed to determine the influence of overall performance level. Older adults' micro-errors were observed when switching to a new subtask and to unrelated distractors. Slowed error monitoring and goal decay also influenced micro-errors in older adults, but not significantly more so than younger adults under the dual task. Interventions to reduce interference from distractors and to increase attention at critical choice points during tasks may optimize everyday functioning and preclude decline in older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ross Divers
- Department of Psychology, Temple University , Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Lillian Ham
- Department of Psychology, Temple University , Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | | | - Rachel Mis
- Department of Psychology, Temple University , Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kia Howard
- Department of Psychology, Temple University , Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Emily Roll
- Department of Psychology, Temple University , Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Chirico A, Giovannetti T, Neroni P, Simone S, Gallo L, Galli F, Giancamilli F, Predazzi M, Lucidi F, De Pietro G, Giordano A. Virtual Reality for the Assessment of Everyday Cognitive Functions in Older Adults: An Evaluation of the Virtual Reality Action Test and Two Interaction Devices in a 91-Year-Old Woman. Front Psychol 2020; 11:123. [PMID: 32116928 PMCID: PMC7029745 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Performance-based functional tests for the evaluation of daily living activities demonstrate strong psychometric properties and solve many of the limitations associated with self- and informant-report questionnaires. Virtual reality (VR) technology, which has gained interest as an effective medium for administering interventions in the context of healthcare, has the potential to minimize the time-demands associated with the administration and scoring of performance-based assessments. To date, efforts to develop VR systems for assessment of everyday function in older adults generally have relied on non-immersive systems. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility of an immersive VR environment for the assessment of everyday function in older adults. We present a detailed case report of an elderly woman who performed an everyday activity in an immersive VR context (Virtual Reality Action Test) with two different types of interaction devices (controller vs. sensor). VR performance was compared to performance of the same task with real objects outside of the VR system (Real Action Test). Comparisons were made on several dimensions, including (1) quality of task performance (e.g., order of task steps, errors, use and speed of hand movements); (2) subjective impression (e.g., attitudes), and (3) physiological markers of stress. Subjective impressions of performance with the different controllers also were compared for presence, cybersickness, and usability. Results showed that the participant was capable of using controllers and sensors to manipulate objects in a purposeful and goal-directed manner in the immersive VR paradigm. She performed the everyday task similarly across all conditions. She reported no cybersickness and even indicated that interactions in the VR environment were pleasant and relaxing. Thus, immersive VR is a feasible approach for function assessment even with older adults who might have very limited computer experience, no prior VR exposure, average educational experiences, and mild cognitive difficulties. Because of inherent limitations of single case reports (e.g., unknown generalizability, potential practice effects, etc.), group studies are needed to establish the full psychometric properties of the Virtual Reality Action Test.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Chirico
- Department of Psychology of Developmental and Socialization Processes, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Tania Giovannetti
- Psychology Department, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Pietro Neroni
- Institute for High Performance Computing and Networking, National Research Council, Naples, Italy.,Department of Engineering, Parthenope University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Stephanie Simone
- Psychology Department, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Luigi Gallo
- Institute for High Performance Computing and Networking, National Research Council, Naples, Italy
| | - Federica Galli
- Department of Psychology of Developmental and Socialization Processes, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Giancamilli
- Department of Psychology of Developmental and Socialization Processes, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Fabio Lucidi
- Department of Psychology of Developmental and Socialization Processes, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe De Pietro
- Institute for High Performance Computing and Networking, National Research Council, Naples, Italy
| | - Antonio Giordano
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.,Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
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12
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Cholerton B, Poston KL, Tian L, Quinn JF, Chung KA, Hiller AL, Hu SC, Specketer K, Montine TJ, Edwards KL, Zabetian CP. Participant and Study Partner Reported Impact of Cognition on Functional Activities in Parkinson's Disease. Mov Disord Clin Pract 2019; 7:61-69. [PMID: 31970213 DOI: 10.1002/mdc3.12870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Revised: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Cognitive dysfunction is common in Parkinson's disease (PD) and associated with reduced functional abilities and increased dependence. To date, however, little is known about the relationship between performance of instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) and cognitive stages in PD, and there are conflicting reports as to whether declines in specific cognitive domains predict IADL impairment. Methods Participants with PD were drawn from the Pacific Udall Center and included in the study if both participant and study partner IADL ratings and cognitive tests were completed (n = 192). Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine whether participant and/or study partner rating predicted mild cognitive impairment or dementia. Correlations are reported for the relationship between participant/study partner IADL reports as well as for specific cognitive tests. Results Although both participant and study partner ratings of IADL performance were associated with a diagnosis of PD with dementia, only participant self-rating of functional ability was significantly associated with a diagnosis of PD with mild cognitive impairment. Functional ability correlated most strongly with measures of processing speed, auditory working memory, and immediate verbal recall for both the participant and study partner ratings. Conclusion For participants with PD in the early stages of cognitive decline, self-rating may be more sensitive to the impact of cognitive changes on IADL function than ratings made by a knowledgeable study partner. Changes in executive function, processing speed, and learning may indicate a higher likelihood of IADL impairment. Careful assessment of cognition and IADL performance is recommended to permit individualized interventions prior to significant disability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenna Cholerton
- Department of Pathology Stanford University School of Medicine Palo Alto California USA
| | - Kathleen L Poston
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences Stanford School of Medicine Palo Alto California USA
| | - Lu Tian
- Department of Biomedical Data Science Stanford University School of Medicine Palo Alto CA USA
| | - Joseph F Quinn
- Parkinson's Disease Research, Education, and Clinical Center Portland Veterans Affairs Health Care System Portland Oregon USA.,Department of Neurology Oregon Health and Science University Portland Oregon USA
| | - Kathryn A Chung
- Parkinson's Disease Research, Education, and Clinical Center Portland Veterans Affairs Health Care System Portland Oregon USA.,Department of Neurology Oregon Health and Science University Portland Oregon USA
| | - Amie L Hiller
- Parkinson's Disease Research, Education, and Clinical Center Portland Veterans Affairs Health Care System Portland Oregon USA.,Department of Neurology Oregon Health and Science University Portland Oregon USA
| | - Shu-Ching Hu
- Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System Seattle Washington USA.,Department of Neurology University of Washington School of Medicine Seattle Washington USA
| | - Krista Specketer
- Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System Seattle Washington USA
| | - Thomas J Montine
- Department of Pathology Stanford University School of Medicine Palo Alto California USA
| | - Karen L Edwards
- Department of Epidemiology University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine Irvine California USA
| | - Cyrus P Zabetian
- Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System Seattle Washington USA.,Department of Neurology University of Washington School of Medicine Seattle Washington USA
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13
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Rycroft SS, Giovannetti T, Shipley TF, Hulswit J, Divers R, Reilly J. Windows to functional decline: Naturalistic eye movements in older and younger adults. Psychol Aging 2019; 33:1215-1222. [PMID: 30550335 DOI: 10.1037/pag0000320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Subtle changes in everyday tasks precede and predict future disability in older adults. Eye tracking may provide a sensitive tool for detecting subtle disruption of everyday task performance and informing the mechanism(s) of breakdown. We tracked eye movements of healthy older adults (OA, n = 24) and younger adults (YA, n = 25) while they passively viewed a naturalistic scene (Passive Viewing condition) and then verbally reported the necessary steps for achieving a task goal (e.g., pack a lunch; Verbalize Goal condition). Participants also completed a performance-based task of packing a lunch using real objects as well as neuropsychological tests. Group (young vs. old) by Condition (Passive Viewing vs. Verbalize Goal) ANOVAs were conducted to analyze eye tracking variables (i.e., fixation rate, number/duration of fixations to target/distractor objects and off objects). Both the younger and older adults made significantly fewer fixations to distractors during Verbalize Goal than Passive Viewing. Also, significant Group × Condition interactions were observed, indicating that younger adults, but not older adults, spent significantly more time viewing targets and less time off-objects in the goal driven, Verbalize Goal condition than the Passive Viewing condition. Goal-directed eye movements correlated with everyday action errors and tests of executive functioning. Taken together, results support theories of age-related decline in top-down cognitive control and indicate the potential utility of this eye tracking paradigm in detecting subtle age-related functional changes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Jamie Reilly
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Temple University
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14
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Giovannetti T, Yamaguchi T, Roll E, Harada T, Rycroft SS, Divers R, Hulswit J, Tan CC, Matchanova A, Ham L, Hackett K, Mis R. The Virtual Kitchen Challenge: preliminary data from a novel virtual reality test of mild difficulties in everyday functioning. AGING NEUROPSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITION 2018; 26:823-841. [DOI: 10.1080/13825585.2018.1536774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Takehiko Yamaguchi
- Department of Applied Information Engineering, Suwa University of Science, Nagano, Japan
| | - Emily Roll
- Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Tetsuya Harada
- Department of Applied Electronics, Tokyo University of Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Ross Divers
- Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jacob Hulswit
- Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Chiu C. Tan
- Department of Computer and Information Science, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Lillian Ham
- Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Rachel Mis
- Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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15
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Self-perceived Difficulties in Everyday Function Precede Cognitive Decline among Older Adults in the ACTIVE Study. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2018; 24:104-112. [PMID: 28797312 PMCID: PMC5750129 DOI: 10.1017/s1355617717000546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Careful characterization of how functional decline co-evolves with cognitive decline in older adults has yet to be well described. Most models of neurodegenerative disease postulate that cognitive decline predates and potentially leads to declines in everyday functional abilities; however, there is mounting evidence that subtle decline in instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) may be detectable in older individuals who are still cognitively normal. METHODS The present study examines how the relationship between change in cognition and change in IADLs are best characterized among older adults who participated in the ACTIVE trial. Neuropsychological and IADL data were analyzed for 2802 older adults who were cognitively normal at study baseline and followed for up to 10 years. RESULTS Findings demonstrate that subtle, self-perceived difficulties in performing IADLs preceded and predicted subsequent declines on cognitive tests of memory, reasoning, and speed of processing. CONCLUSIONS Findings are consistent with a growing body of literature suggesting that subjective changes in everyday abilities can be associated with more precipitous decline on objective cognitive measures and the development of mild cognitive impairment and dementia. (JINS, 2018, 24, 104-112).
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16
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The clinical importance of understanding and improving everyday cognition in older adults. JOURNAL OF APPLIED RESEARCH IN MEMORY AND COGNITION 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jarmac.2017.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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