Affiliations: [a] Department of Education and Psychology, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland | [b] Institute of Clinical Medicine, Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland | [c] NeuroCenter, Neurology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
Correspondence:
[1]
These authors contributed equally to this work
Correspondence:
[*]
Correspondence to: Ilona Hallikainen, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Neurology, University of Eastern Finland, Brain Research Unit, Mediteknia, Yliopistonranta 1B, FIN-70210 Kuopio, Finland. Tel.: +358 403553537; Fax: +358 17 163539; E-mail: ilona.hallikainen@uef.fi.
Abstract: Background:Impaired cognition and activities of daily living (ADL) are core symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but their relationship is unclear. Objectives:To explore relationships between cognitive domains and functional ability during 5-year follow-up in persons with AD. Methods:We analyzed ALSOVA study data from 236 individuals with very mild or mild AD at baseline. The CERAD Neuropsychological Battery (CERAD-NB) was used as a cognitive measure and Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study ADL (ADCS-ADL) as a functional measure, analyzing the IADL and BADL sub-scores separately. Annual regression models and linear mixed-effect models (LMMs) covering a 5-year follow-up period were used. Results:Annually, the CERAD-NB total and especially Verbal Fluency, Clock Drawing, and Constructional Praxis were associated with the total ADCS-ADL and IADL scores increasingly yet modestly, and to a lesser extent the BADL score. In the LMMs, the same measures and MMSE were associated with ADL. Conclusion:Measures of executive function and visuoconstructive skills appear to be associated with caregiver-interview based ADL measure during the progression of AD.
