John P K Bernstein1, Katherine E Dorociak2, Nora Mattek3, Mira Leese4, Zachary T Beattie3, Jeffrey A Kaye3, Adriana Hughes4,5. 1. VA Boston Health Care System, Boston, MA, USA. 2. VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA. 3. Oregon Center for Aging & Technology, Portland, OR, USA. 4. Minneapolis VA Healthcare System, Minneapolis, MN, USA. 5. University of Minnesota, Department of Psychiatry, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Computer use is a cognitively complex instrumental activity of daily living (IADL) that has been linked to cognitive functioning in older adulthood, yet little work has explored its capacity to detect incident mild cognitive impairment (MCI). OBJECTIVE: To examine whether routine home computer use (general computer use as well as use of specific applications) could effectively discriminate between older adults with and without MCI, as well as explore associations between use of common computer applications and cognitive domains known to be important for IADL performance. METHODS: A total of 60 community-dwelling older adults (39 cognitively healthy, 21 with MCI) completed a neuropsychological evaluation at study baseline and subsequently had their routine home computer use behaviors passively recorded for three months. RESULTS: Compared to those with MCI, cognitively healthy participants spent more time using the computer, had a greater number of computer sessions, and had an earlier mean time of first daily computer session. They also spent more time using email and word processing applications, and used email, search, and word processing applications on a greater number of days. Better performance in several cognitive domains, but in particular memory and language, was associated with greater frequency of browser, word processing, search, and game application use. CONCLUSION: Computer and application use are useful in identifying older adults with MCI. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether decreases in overall computer use and specific computer application use are predictors of incident cognitive decline.
BACKGROUND: Computer use is a cognitively complex instrumental activity of daily living (IADL) that has been linked to cognitive functioning in older adulthood, yet little work has explored its capacity to detect incident mild cognitive impairment (MCI). OBJECTIVE: To examine whether routine home computer use (general computer use as well as use of specific applications) could effectively discriminate between older adults with and without MCI, as well as explore associations between use of common computer applications and cognitive domains known to be important for IADL performance. METHODS: A total of 60 community-dwelling older adults (39 cognitively healthy, 21 with MCI) completed a neuropsychological evaluation at study baseline and subsequently had their routine home computer use behaviors passively recorded for three months. RESULTS: Compared to those with MCI, cognitively healthy participants spent more time using the computer, had a greater number of computer sessions, and had an earlier mean time of first daily computer session. They also spent more time using email and word processing applications, and used email, search, and word processing applications on a greater number of days. Better performance in several cognitive domains, but in particular memory and language, was associated with greater frequency of browser, word processing, search, and game application use. CONCLUSION: Computer and application use are useful in identifying older adults with MCI. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether decreases in overall computer use and specific computer application use are predictors of incident cognitive decline.
Authors: Jeffrey Kaye; Nora Mattek; Hiroko H Dodge; Ian Campbell; Tamara Hayes; Daniel Austin; William Hatt; Katherine Wild; Holly Jimison; Michael Pavel Journal: Alzheimers Dement Date: 2013-05-18 Impact factor: 21.566
Authors: Ari J Elliot; Christopher J Mooney; Kathryn Z Douthit; Martin F Lynch Journal: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci Date: 2013-12-04 Impact factor: 4.077