title: Direct and indirect effects of demographic, medical, and psychological variables on neuropsychological performance in normal geriatric persons: a structural equation model.
abstract: The direct and indirect effects of demographic, medical, and psychological variables on neuropsychological performance in elderly individuals were examined using a LISREL structural equation model. One-hundred fifty-six geriatric subjects were individually administered a comprehensive neuropsychological battery, an extensive medical history and demographics questionnaire, and the Neuropsychology Behavior and Affect Profile (a psychological assessment instrument). The model assessed the effects of five independent latent variables (medical history, psychological functioning, global mental status, education, and gender-related functioning) on two dependent latent variables (nonverbal and verbal neuropsychological functioning). The best fitting model revealed that three latent variables (medical history, global mental status, and gender-related functioning) had direct effects on neuropsychological functioning and that all five independent variables exhibited indirect effects. These findings suggest that the influence of demographic variables on neuropsychological functioning for geriatric persons is complex and that certain variables should not be interpreted independently of each other due to their significant moderating influences.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Neuropsychiatric Institute and Hospital, University of California, Los Angeles 90024, USA.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Uchiyama
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mitrushina
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Satz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schall
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results