Date of Graduation

5-2019

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Kinesiology (MS)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Health, Human Performance and Recreation

Advisor/Mentor

Gray, Michelle

Committee Member

Greene, Nicholas P.

Second Committee Member

Washington, Tyrone A.

Abstract

The prevalence of cognitive impairments in the older adult population is growing. Finding treatment solutions to impede a cognitive decline can possibly lead to fewer cases of mild cognitive impairment, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease. A Visual Paired Comparison (VPC) could serve as a tool to predict, monitor, and regulate people who are susceptible to a cognitive decline. The purpose of this study was to 1) to determine the validity of the Neurotrack 5-minute VPC test with the Neurotrack 30-minute VPC test, 2) to determine the test-retest reliability of the Neurotrack 5-minute VPC test, 3) to compare Neurotrack 5-minute VPC scores between individuals with cognitive impairment (Mild Cognitive Impairment and/or Alzheimer's Disease) to cognitively intact adults, 4) lastly to compare Neurotrack VPC results with other cognitive tasks (MoCA, NIH toolbox, Dual task) performed within the study. This study included older adults age 60+ split into cognitively intact individuals and cognitively impaired individuals based from the MoCA. Analysis was ran on 28 subject in which 11 were cognitively impaired (mean=.687; Std=.137) and 17 were cognitively intact (mean=.851; Std=.044). The relationship between 5-minute VPC and the 30-minute VPC revealed a positive associations for both the first (r=.504; p=.006) and second (r=.420; p=.019) time points/trials. No significant differences between the 2 time points/trials (p=.212) which indicates a reliable 5-minute VPC test. A significant difference was found between the groups (p=.000). Domain-specific cognitive functions were examined through other assessments, in which the 5-minute VPC test was correlated to each of these tests. This study suggests that VPC to be a potentially reliable tool to assess cognitive function.

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