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Dissertation
The contribution of higher-level visual processes to everyday functional activities in Alzheimer's disease (AD)
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Drexel University
2003
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00007374
Abstract
Declines in functional status (i.e., activities of daily living (ADLs) which include instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) and basic-self care activities of daily living (BADLs) are a necessary feature of a dementia diagnosis. Furthermore, such declines are associated with decreased quality of life, institutionalization risk, and death for patients as well as increased caregiver burden. Thus, understanding the cognitive correlates of functional status in individuals with dementia, and specifically Alzheimer's disease (AD), is important. The present study explored relationships between cognitive capacities and performance of everyday activities among patients with dementia. The contribution of memory and executive dysfunction (two well studied areas) as well as higher level visual perceptual processes (a less well studied domain) to overall ADL functioning was examined in a group of patients diagnosed with probable AD. Contrary to predictions, memory, executive dysfunction, nor visuoperceptual abilities contributed significantly to impairments in ADLs when cognitive status was taken into account. Rather, a global measure of dementia severity was the only significant predictor of overall ADL performance, accounting for 35% of the variance in a regression model. This finding is consistent with the results of a number of other investigations (e.g., Giovannetti et al., 2002). Furthermore, it is consistent with the resource theory (Schwartz et al., 1998), which proposes that naturalistic actions, such as ADLs, demand cognitive resources. A depletion of these resources results in naturalistic action impairments and difficulties. Thus, the more limited the cognitive resources, the more difficulty one will experiencing when performing an ADL task. Given the multi-factorial nature of functions assessed in a composite index of ADLs, it may be that these are best predicted by more global measures of overall cognitive ability, rather than discrete cognitive capacities. Further investigations may examine whether impairments in more specific functional activities are associated with deficits in discrete cognitive domains.
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Details
- Title
- The contribution of higher-level visual processes to everyday functional activities in Alzheimer's disease (AD)
- Creators
- Angela Lee Jefferson
- Contributors
- Lamia Barakat (Advisor) - Drexel University, Drexel University (1970-)Guila Glosser (Advisor) - Drexel University, Drexel University (1970-)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- xi, 121 pages
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- College of Arts and Sciences; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 991021888902304721