Impact of Pre-Morbid IQ on Alzheimer's Disease Outcomes
Author Information
Author(s): John M Starr, Jane Lonie
Primary Institution: University of Edinburgh
Hypothesis
Cognitive reserve, as measured by pre-morbid IQ, influences cognitive and functional outcomes in Alzheimer's disease.
Conclusion
Cognitive reserve continues to have a limited influence on cognition after Alzheimer's disease diagnosis and impacts activities of daily living.
Supporting Evidence
- Patients with higher pre-morbid IQ had better cognitive test scores.
- A 10 point increase in NART IQ was associated with a 2% improvement in ADL scores.
- Age and sex significantly affected ADL scores, with women scoring worse than men.
Takeaway
People with higher IQs before getting Alzheimer's may do a little better in thinking and daily activities, but this effect isn't very strong.
Methodology
The study involved 659 patients with Alzheimer's disease assessed on cognitive tests and activities of daily living over 78 weeks.
Potential Biases
Potential attrition bias as patients with lower cognitive scores were less likely to be included in the analysis.
Limitations
The sample may not represent all Alzheimer's patients due to selection bias and limited ethnic diversity.
Participant Demographics
The sample included 195 males and 464 females, with a mean age of 77.4 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p < .001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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