title: Measuring Information Processing Speed in Mild Cognitive Impairment: Clinical Versus Research Dichotomy.
abstract: A substantial body of research evidence is indicative of disproportionately slowed information processing speed in a wide range of multi-trial, computer-based, neuroimaging- and electroencephalography-based reaction time (RT) tests in Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). However, in what is arguably a dichotomy between research evidence and clinical practice, RT associated with different brain functions is rarely assessed as part of their diagnosis. Indeed, often only the time taken to perform a single, specific task, commonly the Trail making test (TMT), is measured. In clinical practice therefore, there can be a failure to assess adequately the integrity of the rapid, serial information processing and response, necessary for efficient, appropriate, and safe interaction with the environment. We examined whether a typical research-based RT task could at least match the TMT in differentiating amnestic MCI (aMCI) from cognitively healthy aging at group level. As aMCI is a heterogeneous group, typically containing only a proportion of individuals for whom aMCI represents the early stages of dementia, we examined the ability of each test to provide intra-group performance variation. The results indicate that as well as significant slowing in performance of the operations involved in TMT part B (but not part A), individuals with aMCI also experience significant slowing in RT compared to controls. The results also suggest that research-typical RT tests may be superior to the TMT in differentiating between cognitively healthy aging and aMCI at group level and in revealing the performance variability one would expect from an etiologically heterogeneous disorder such as aMCI.
authors.affiliation: Southmead Hospital, North Bristol Trust, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Haworth
authors.affiliation: University of Bristol, Centre of Academic Mental Health, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.affiliation: Brain Centre, Elgar House, Southmead Hospital, North Bristol Trust, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Newson
authors.affiliation: School of Experimental Psychology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Swansea University, Swansea, Wales, UK.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Torrens-Burton
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Swansea University, Swansea, Wales, UK.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tales
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008606:Mental Processes / Q000502:physiology*; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D008875:Middle Aged; D059906:Neuroimaging; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology*; D012111:Residence Characteristics
keywords: Dementia; information processing speed; mild cognitive impairment; reaction time
references.citation: Neurocase. 2005 Feb;11(1):80-4
references.pmid: 15804928
references.citation: Dement Geriatr Cogn Dis Extra. 2014 Aug 27;4(2):322-34
references.pmid: 25298776
references.citation: Psychol Aging. 2006 Mar;21(1):62-73
references.pmid: 16594792
references.citation: Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2000 Jan-Feb;11(1):46-52
references.pmid: 10629362
references.citation: Intelligence. 2011 Jul;39(4):222-232
references.pmid: 21789028
references.citation: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2010 Jul;65(4):405-15
references.pmid: 20478901
references.citation: Neuropsychologia. 2014 Apr;56:271-9
references.pmid: 24524911
references.citation: J Exp Psychol Learn Mem Cogn. 1994 Nov;20(6):1486-503
references.pmid: 7983473
references.citation: Psychol Assess. 2013 Dec;25(4):1361-6
references.pmid: 23815111
references.citation: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2009 Dec;64(12):1262-7
references.pmid: 19726665
references.citation: Dev Psychol. 2012 Sep;48(5):1262-76
references.pmid: 22390656
references.citation: Neuroimage. 2014 Jan 15;85 Pt 1:583-91
references.pmid: 24045079
references.citation: Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2005;20(6):375-80
references.pmid: 16244479
references.citation: J Clin Exp Neuropsychol. 2002 Sep;24(6):745-54
references.pmid: 12424649
references.citation: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2014 Dec;69(12):1503-10
references.pmid: 24706441
references.citation: J Psychiatr Res. 1975 Nov;12(3):189-98
references.pmid: 1202204
references.citation: PLoS One. 2012;7(11):e50425
references.pmid: 23185621
references.citation: Behav Brain Res. 2015 May 1;284:11-8
references.pmid: 25639542
references.citation: J Aging Health. 2010 Sep;22(6):691-712
references.pmid: 20495152
references.citation: Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2008 Jul-Aug;47(1):139-49
references.pmid: 17854924
references.citation: Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2002 Feb;17(2):164-9
references.pmid: 11813280
references.citation: Brain Cogn. 2005 Mar;57(2):127-30
references.pmid: 15708202
references.citation: Neuropsychologia. 2008 Apr;46(5):1193-200
references.pmid: 18067929
references.citation: Brain Cogn. 2013 Feb;81(1):131-8
references.pmid: 23195704
references.citation: J Alzheimers Dis. 2013;34(2):537-46
references.pmid: 23254631
references.citation: Neurobiol Aging. 2010 Sep;31(9):1554-62
references.pmid: 18926601
references.citation: J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1995 Feb;58(2):174-9
references.pmid: 7876847
references.citation: Arch Clin Neuropsychol. 2006 Jan;21(1):15-21
references.pmid: 16125364
references.citation: J Alzheimers Dis. 2011;24(1):151-60
references.pmid: 21187582
references.citation: PLoS One. 2013 Jun 10;8(6):e65712
references.pmid: 23762413
references.citation: Neurobiol Aging. 2014 May;35(5):1086-94
references.pmid: 24239436
references.citation: J Neurol Sci. 2012 Nov 15;322(1-2):102-6
references.pmid: 22819353
references.citation: Neuroimage Clin. 2013 Jun 19;2:854-61
references.pmid: 24179837
references.citation: Med Sci Monit. 2014 Feb 03;20:173-81
references.pmid: 24487781
references.citation: Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2004 Jun;62(2B):379-84
references.pmid: 15273830
references.citation: J Clin Psychol. 1987 Jul;43(4):402-9
references.pmid: 3611374
references.citation: Hum Brain Mapp. 2013 Jan;34(1):77-95
references.pmid: 21954054
references.citation: Brain Cogn. 2009 Apr;69(3):592-9
references.pmid: 19185407
references.citation: J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1998 May;64(5):588-94
references.pmid: 9598672
references.citation: Arch Clin Neuropsychol. 2002 Apr;17(3):273-81
references.pmid: 14589727
references.citation: J Epidemiol. 2014;24(1):52-9
references.pmid: 24240629
references.citation: J Neurol Sci. 2009 Aug 15;283(1-2):73-8
references.pmid: 19264326
references.citation: Age Ageing. 1996 Mar;25(2):113-20
references.pmid: 8670538
references.citation: Brain Cogn. 1997 Jul;34(2):301-10
references.pmid: 9220093
references.citation: Q J Exp Psychol A. 2001 Nov;54(4):981-1003
references.pmid: 11765745
references.citation: Percept Mot Skills. 1985 Dec;61(3 Pt 2):1283-9
references.pmid: 4094872
references.citation: Psychol Rev. 1996 Jul;103(3):403-28
references.pmid: 8759042
references.citation: Psychol Aging. 2002 Dec;17(4):690-695
references.pmid: 12507364
references.citation: Arch Clin Neuropsychol. 2005 Jan;20(1):33-65
references.pmid: 15620813
references.citation: Psychol Aging. 2013 Jun;28(2):515-21
references.pmid: 23276218
references.citation: Arch Clin Neuropsychol. 2008 Mar;23(2):129-37
references.pmid: 18178372
references.citation: Arch Clin Neuropsychol. 2004 Mar;19(2):203-14
references.pmid: 15010086
references.citation: Am J Occup Ther. 2013 Jan-Feb;67(1):108-16
references.pmid: 23245789
references.citation: J Clin Exp Neuropsychol. 2011 Dec;33(10):1059-68
references.pmid: 22133139
references.citation: Biol Psychiatry. 2007 Dec 15;62(12):1380-7
references.pmid: 17659264
references.citation: Clin Neuropsychol. 2014;28(6):926-40
references.pmid: 25131004
references.citation: Appl Neuropsychol. 2001;8(4):211-7
references.pmid: 11989724
references.citation: BMJ. 1992 Aug 15;305(6850):397
references.pmid: 1392921
references.citation: Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2006 Sep;21(9):844-52
references.pmid: 16955436
references.citation: Gerontologist. 2010 Jun;50(3):393-9
references.pmid: 19726733
references.citation: Neuroradiology. 2012 Sep;54(9):929-38
references.pmid: 22246242
references.citation: Neuroimage. 2010 Jan 15;49(2):1190-9
references.pmid: 19796691
references.citation: Neurology. 2014 Jun 3;82(22):1946-50
references.pmid: 24793184
references.citation: PLoS One. 2013 May 01;8(5):e61624
references.pmid: 23650501
references.citation: Arch Clin Neuropsychol. 2012 Dec;27(8):906-14
references.pmid: 23027441