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Longitudinal changes in memory and executive functioning are associated with longitudinal change in instrumental activities of daily living in older adults
Tomaszewski Farias S, Cahn-Weiner DA, Harvey DJ, Reed BR, Mungas D, Kramer JH, Chui H.. The Clinical neuropsychologist, 2008-09-23
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Impaired everyday function is a diagnostic criterion for dementia, and a determinant of healthcare utilization and caregiver burden. Although many previous studies have demonstrated a cross-sectional relationship between cognition (particularly executive functions and memory) and everyday function in older adults, very little is known about longitudinal relationships between these domains. This study examined the association between longitudinal change in episodic memory (MEM) and executive functioning (EXEC) and change in everyday function. Participants were a cognitively heterogeneous group of 100 elderly persons including those with normal cognition, as well as those with mild cognitive impairment and dementia. They were followed for an average of 5 years. Random effects modeling showed that change in both MEM and EXEC were independently associated with rate of change in informant-rated instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), even after controlling for age, education, and gender. Findings indicate that declines in MEM and EXEC over time make unique and independent contributions to declines in older adults' ability to function in daily life.
Key findings
- Although many previous studies have demonstrated a cross-sectional relationship between cognition (particularly executive functions and memory) and everyday function in older adults, very little is known about longitudinal relationships between these domains.
- Random effects modeling showed that change in both MEM and EXEC were independently associated with rate of change in informant-rated instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), even after controlling for age, education, and gender.
- Findings indicate that declines in MEM and EXEC over time make unique and independent contributions to declines in older adults' ability to function in daily life.
Why it matters
In 100 older adults followed for about five years, declines in memory and executive functioning were each independently linked to declines in everyday functioning. This describes how cognitive change relates to daily life over time and does not test any treatment, cure, or prevention.
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Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 50/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a snapshot of people at one point in time. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (The Clinical neuropsychologist) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | The Clinical Neuropsychologist: journal h-index 128 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 4 / 12 | A snapshot of people at one point in time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2009 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 298 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 15.7 citations a year over 19 year(s) since 2009 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 6.3× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 6 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 39 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Helena Chang Chui: h-index 93 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of California, San Francisco: institution h-index 1,915 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 18821181) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 50 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 7 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Tomaszewski Farias, S., Cahn-Weiner, D. A., Harvey, D. J., Reed, B. R., Mungas, D., Kramer, J. H., et al. (2009). Longitudinal changes in memory and executive functioning are associated with longitudinal change in instrumental activities of daily living in older adults. The Clinical neuropsychologist. https://doi.org/10.1080/13854040802360558
Vancouver
Tomaszewski Farias S, Cahn-Weiner DA, Harvey DJ, Reed BR, Mungas D, Kramer JH, et al. Longitudinal changes in memory and executive functioning are associated with longitudinal change in instrumental activities of daily living in older adults. The Clinical neuropsychologist. 2009. doi:10.1080/13854040802360558. PMID: 18821181.
BibTeX
@article{tomaszewskifarias2009-18821181,
author = {Tomaszewski Farias, S. and Cahn-Weiner, D. A. and Harvey, D. J. and Reed, B. R. and Mungas, D. and Kramer, J. H. and Chui, H.},
title = {{Longitudinal changes in memory and executive functioning are associated with longitudinal change in instrumental activities of daily living in older adults}},
journal = {The Clinical neuropsychologist},
year = {2009},
doi = {10.1080/13854040802360558},
pmid = {18821181},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/13854040802360558}
}
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