1 Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
2 Department of Psychology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.
Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2018 May;33(3):184-191. doi: 10.1177/1533317517753361. Epub 2018 Jan 23.
BACKGROUND/RATIONALE: Compensation strategies may contribute to greater resilience among older adults, even in the face of cognitive decline. This study sought to better understand how compensation strategy use among older adults with varying degrees of cognitive impairment impacts everyday functioning.
In all, 125 older adults (normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment, dementia) underwent neuropsychological testing, and their informants completed questionnaires regarding everyday compensation and cognitive and functional abilities.
Cognitively normal and mild cognitive impairment older adults had greater levels of compensation use than those with dementia. Higher levels of neuropsychological functioning were associated with more frequent compensation use. Most importantly, greater frequency of compensation strategy use was associated with higher levels of independence in everyday function, even after accounting for cognition.
Use of compensation strategies is associated with higher levels of functioning in daily life among older adults. Findings provide strong rational for development of interventions that directly target such strategies.
背景/理由:补偿策略可能有助于老年人更具韧性,即使面对认知能力下降也是如此。本研究旨在更好地了解认知能力不同程度下降的老年人使用补偿策略如何影响日常功能。
共有 125 名老年人(正常认知、轻度认知障碍、痴呆)接受了神经心理学测试,他们的知情人完成了关于日常补偿以及认知和功能能力的问卷。
认知正常和轻度认知障碍的老年人比痴呆症患者使用补偿的频率更高。神经心理学功能水平越高,补偿使用越频繁。最重要的是,即使考虑到认知能力,补偿策略使用频率的增加也与日常功能的独立性水平更高相关。
在日常生活中使用补偿策略与老年人更高水平的功能相关。这些发现为直接针对这些策略的干预措施的发展提供了强有力的理由。