Evaluating the subject-performed task effect in healthy older adults: relationship with neuropsychological tests

Figures & data

Table 1 Demographic and general cognitive characteristics of participants

N=60	Younger adults N=30	Older adults N=30
Age	M=41.43 (DP=2.72; A=35–45)	M=72.30 (DP=1.62; A=70–75)
Gender	Female=23 (76.7%) Male=7 (23.3%)	Female=24 (80%) Male=6 (20%)
Education	4 years=20 (66.7%) 6 years=10 (33.3%)	4 years=23 (76.6%) 6 years=7 (23.3%)
Dwelling area	Urban=2 (6.7%) Rural=28 (93.3%)	Urban=5 (16.7%) Rural=25 (83.3%)
Vocabulary (estimated IQ measure)	M=31.00 (DP=5.68)	M=33.13 (DP=7.39)
MMSE (0–30)		M=28.53 (DP=.97)
ACE-R (0–100)		M=84.87 (DP=5.67)
GDS (0–30)		M=6.40 (DP=2.896)
BDI (0–63)	M= 5.33 (DP=2.26)

Table 2 Means and statistical tests for young and older adult groups, neuropsychological measures

	Younger adults		Older adults
	Mean	SD	Mean	SD	t	Sig.	Cohen's D
Symbol Search (WAIS-III)	17.37	3.94	11.40	3.49	6.206	.000*	1.60
Digit Symbol Coding – codification	48.77	8.42	25.13	4.73	13.398	.000*	3.46
Digit Symbol Coding – incidental learning	11.03	3.62	10.20	4.30	.812	.420	.20
Coding – free memory task (WAIS-III)	7.93	.98	7.37	.85	2.392	.020	.61
Coding – copy (WAIS-III)	78.53	20.79	52.87	13.64	5.653	.000*	1.46
Letter–Number Sequencing (WMS-III)	10.60	1.87	7.03	1.33	8.528	.000*	2.20
Visual Patterns Test	5.04	.69	3.74	.41	8.918	.000*	2.29
WMS Paired Associates Test – immediate	13.50	4.62	10.00	3.52	3.299	.002*	.85
WMS Paired Associates Test – delayed	6.10	1.49	4.17	1.21	5.516	.000*	1.42

*sig<.001.

Table 3 Correlation matrix between VT and SPT Conditions and the Neuropsychological tests, for the young and older adult groups

		WMS Paired Associates Test – immediate	WMS Paired Associates Test – delayed	Letter–Number Sequencing	Visual Patterns Test	Digit Symbol Coding – codification	Symbol Search
Younger adults	VT Condition – Memory for Actions	.735	.304	.780	.311	.292	.469
		p=.01	p=.17	p=.02	p=.17	p=.18	p=.04
	SPT Condition – Memory for Actions	.335	−.066	.416	.473	.376	.571
		p=.14	p=.86	p=.08	p=.04	p=.11	p=.02
Older adults	VT Condition – Memory for Actions	.446	.407	.410	−.047	.486	.028
		p=.05	p=.13	p=.13	p=.86	p=.04	p=.89
	SPT condition – Memory for Actions	.236	.135	.041	.045	.212	−.333
		p=.25	p=.61	p=.86	p=.86	p=.35	p=.14

Table 4 Partial correlations between VT and SPT Conditions and the Neuropsychological tests, controlled for age groups

	WMS Paired Associates Test – immediate	WMS Paired Associates Test – delayed	Letter–Number Sequencing	Visual Patterns Test	Digit Symbol Coding - codification	Symbol Search
VT Condition – Memory for Actions	.649	.581	.588	.151	.325	.280
	p=.01	p=.01	p=.01	p=.26	p=.02	p=.05
SPT Condition – Memory for Actions	.404	.267	.355	.371	.385	.260
	p=.01	p=.05	p=.02	p=.01	p=.01	p=.06