title: Working Memory and Cognitive Flexibility Mediates Visuoconstructional Abilities in Older Adults with Heterogeneous Cognitive Ability.
abstract: Previous studies suggest that executive functions influence the performance on visuoconstructional tasks. This study aims to investigate whether the relationship between planning ability and the copy of complex figures is mediated by distinct components of executive functions (i.e., working memory, inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility). We included a 129 older adults with Alzheimer's disease (n=36, AD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI, n=67), and with no evidence of cognitive impairment (controls, n=26). We evaluated the mediation effect of planning abilities, working memory, cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control on visuoconstructional tasks using a multiple mediation models. We found a significant direct effect of planning on visuoconstructional abilities and a partial mediation effect of working memory and cognitive flexibility on visuoconstructional abilities. The present results indicate that the performance on visuoconstructional task is mediated by multiple interrelated executive functions components, in particular working memory and cognitive flexibility.
authors.affiliation: 1Laboratory of Investigation in Clinical Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine,Federal University of Minas Gerais,Belo Horizonte,Minas Gerais.
authors.forename: Rafaela T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Ávila
authors.affiliation: 1Laboratory of Investigation in Clinical Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine,Federal University of Minas Gerais,Belo Horizonte,Minas Gerais.
authors.forename: Jonas J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: de Paula
authors.affiliation: 2Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine,Federal University of Minas Gerais,Belo Horizonte,Minas Gerais.
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bicalho
authors.affiliation: 2Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine,Federal University of Minas Gerais,Belo Horizonte,Minas Gerais.
authors.forename: Edgar N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Moraes
authors.affiliation: 3Department of Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine,Federal University of Minas Gerais,Belo Horizonte,Minas Gerais.
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nicolato
authors.affiliation: 1Laboratory of Investigation in Clinical Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine,Federal University of Minas Gerais,Belo Horizonte,Minas Gerais.
authors.forename: Leandro F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Malloy-Diniz
authors.affiliation: 1Laboratory of Investigation in Clinical Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine,Federal University of Minas Gerais,Belo Horizonte,Minas Gerais.
authors.forename: Breno S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Diniz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
keywords: Alzheimer disease; Elderly; Executive functions; Mild cognitive impairment; Neuropsychological test; Planning