Instrumental activities of daily living among community-dwelling older adults: discrepancies between self-report and performance are mediated by cognitive reserve.
The ability to engage in instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) is known to rely on cognitive abilities, primarily executive functioning and memory. There is also evidence that good self-awareness, which facilitates the use of compensatory strategies, may prolong functionality and delay the diagnosis of dementia. However, little is known about the mechanisms that mediate self-awareness among healthy elderly. The present study examined the correlates of discrepancies between self-report and performance-based measures of IADLs in a sample of 75 community-dwelling elderly. The results indicate that even among independently living individuals, there is still variability in functionality (i.e., 35% of the sample made IADL performance errors) and self-awareness (i.e., 38% of the sample demonstrated a discrepancy between IADL self-report and performances). Better awareness of IADL weaknesses was associated with higher levels of cognitive reserve but, unexpectedly, lower levels of executive abilities. Additionally, consistent with prior research, better IADL performances were associated with better cognition.
Suchy
Yana
Y
Department of Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112–0251, USA. yana.suchy@psych.utah.edu
Kraybill
Matthew L
ML
Franchow
Emilie
E
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D058245:Cognitive Reserve / Q000502:physiology*; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000502:physiology*; D003863:Depression / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012649:Self Concept; D013223:Statistics as Topic