title: Between-domain cognitive dispersion and functional abilities in older adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Within-person variability in cognitive performance is related to neurological integrity, but the association with functional abilities is less clear. The primary aim of this study was to examine the association between cognitive dispersion, or within-person variability, and everyday multitasking and the way in which these variables may influence performance on a naturalistic assessment of functional abilities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 156 community-dwelling adults, age 50 or older. Cognitive dispersion was calculated by measuring within-person variability in cognitive domains, established through principal components analysis. Path analysis was used to determine the independent contribution of cognitive dispersion to functional ability, mediated by multitasking.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results of the path analysis revealed that the number of subtasks interweaved (i.e., multitasked) mediated the association between cognitive dispersion and task sequencing and accuracy. Although increased multitasking was associated with worse task performance in the path model, secondary analyses revealed that for individuals with low cognitive dispersion, increased multitasking was associated with better task performance, whereas for those with higher levels of dispersion multitasking was negatively correlated with task performance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that cognitive dispersion between domains may be a useful indicator of multitasking and daily living skills among older adults.
authors: a Department of Psychology , Washington State University , Pullman , WA , USA.
authors: Robert P
authors: RP
authors: Fellows
authors: a Department of Psychology , Washington State University , Pullman , WA , USA.
authors: Maureen
authors: M
authors: Schmitter-Edgecombe
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D025341:Principal Component Analysis
keywords: Activities of daily living; Cognitive disorders; Ecological validity; Intraindividual variability; Multitasking; Within-person variability