Date of Graduation
1-2019
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Kinesiology (MS)
Degree Level
Graduate
Department
Health, Human Performance and Recreation
Advisor/Mentor
Michelle Gray
Committee Member
Nicholas Greene
Second Committee Member
Tyrone Washington
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.
Citation
Smith, S. (2019). Validation of a 5-minute VPC Test to Assess and Compare Cognitively Intact Individuals and Individuals with Cognitive Impairments. Graduate Theses and Dissertations Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/3303
Included in
Biomechanics Commons, Geriatrics Commons, Neurosciences Commons