Lesley A. Ross

The Impact of Speed of Processing Training on Cognitive and Everyday Functions

We combined data from six studies, all using the same speed of processing training program, to examine the mechanisms of training gain and the impact of training on cognitive and everyday abilities of older adults. Results indicated that training produces immediate improvements across all subtests of the Useful Field of View test, particularly for older adults with initial speed of processing deficits. Age and education had little to no impact on training gain. Participants maintained benefits of training for at least 2 years, which translated to improvements in everyday abilities, including efficient performance of instrumental activities of daily living and safer driving performance.

Cognitive training decreases motor vehicle collision involvement of older drivers.

OBJECTIVES: To test the effects of cognitive training on subsequent motor vehicle collision (MVC) involvement of older drivers.

The Longitudinal Impact of Cognitive Speed of Processing Training on Driving Mobility

PURPOSE To examine how cognitive speed of processing training affects driving mobility across a 3-year period among older drivers. DESIGN AND METHODS Older drivers with poor Useful Field of View (UFOV) test performance (indicating greater risk for subsequent at-fault crashes and mobility declines) were randomly assigned to either a speed of processing training or a social and computer contact control group. Driving mobility of these 2 groups was compared with a group of older adults who did not score poorly on the UFOV test (reference group) across a 3-year period. RESULTS Older drivers with poor UFOV test scores who did not receive training experienced greater mobility declines as evidenced by decreased driving exposure and space and increased driving difficulty at 3 years. Those at risk for mobility decline who received training did not differ across the 3-year period from older adults in the reference group with regard to driving exposure, space, and most aspects of driving difficulty. IMPLICATIONS Cognitive speed of processing training can not only improve cognitive performance but also protect against mobility declines among older drivers. Scientifically proven cognitive training regimens have the potential to enhance the everyday lives of older adults.

Driving Status and Three-Year Mortality Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults

BACKGROUND Driving cessation can lead to myriad negative consequences for older adults. The purpose of these analyses was to examine driving status as a predictor of mortality among community-dwelling older adults. METHODS This prospective cohort study included 660 community-dwelling adults ranging in age between 63 and 97 years. Between 2000 and 2004, participants completed performance-based assessments of vision, cognition, and physical abilities and indexes of health, depression, self-efficacy, and driving habits. Follow-up telephone interviews were completed approximately 3 years later. RESULTS Among community-dwelling older adults, older age, health, poor near visual acuity, depressive symptoms, compromised cognitive status, and being a nondriver are associated with increased risk for a 3-year mortality. Nondrivers were four to six times more likely to die than drivers during the subsequent 3-year period. CONCLUSIONS The ability to drive represents both a sign of cherished independence and underlying health and well-being for older adults. Retaining this ability is an important health concern in the United States.

Do Older Drivers At-Risk for Crashes Modify Their Driving Over Time?

Five-year driving habit trajectories among older adults (n = 645) at-risk for crashes were examined. Performance measures included Useful Field of View (UFOV). Motor-Free Visual Perception Test, Rapid Walk, and Foot Tap. Self-report measures included demographics and the Driving Habits Questionnaire. Longitudinal random-effects models revealed that drivers at-risk for subsequent crashes, based upon UFOV, regulated their driving more than the lower-risk participants. Restricted driving was present at baseline for the at-risk group and was observed in longitudinal trajectories that controlled for baseline differences. Results indicate that persons at-risk for subsequent crashes increasingly limit their driving over time. Despite this self-regulation, a larger sample of such older drivers was twice as likely to incur subsequent at-fault crashes. Results suggest that self-regulation among older drivers at-risk for crashes is an insufficient compensatory approach to eliminating increased crash risk. UFOV is a registered trademark of Visual Awareness, Inc.

Visual function and cognitive speed of processing mediate age-related decline in memory span and fluid intelligence.

Objectives: To evaluate the relationship between sensory and cognitive decline, particularly with respect to speed of processing, memory span, and fluid intelligence. In addition, the common cause, sensory degradation and speed of processing hypotheses were compared. Method: Structural equation modeling was used to investigate the complex relationships among age-related decrements in these areas. Results: Cross-sectional data analyses included 842 older adult participants (M = 73 years). After accounting for age-related declines in vision and processing speed, the direct associations between age and memory span and between age and fluid intelligence were nonsignificant. Older age was associated with visual decline, which was associated with slower speed of processing, which in turn was associated with greater cognitive deficits. Discussion: The findings support both the sensory degradation and speed of processing accounts of age-related, cognitive decline. Furthermore, the findings highlight positive aspects of normal cognitive aging in that older age may not be associated with a loss of fluid intelligence if visual sensory functioning and processing speed can be maintained.

Cohort profile: The Dynamic Analyses to Optimize Ageing (DYNOPTA) project

National Health and Medical Research Council (410215); NHMRC Fellowships (#366756 to K.J.A. and #316970 to P.B.)

Speed of Processing Training With Middle-Age and Older Adults With HIV: A Pilot Study

&NA; Adults with HIV are at risk for deficits in speed of processing that can interfere with performing instrumental activities of daily living. In this pilot study, 46 middle‐age and older adults with HIV were assigned to 10 hours of computerized speed of processing training (n = 22) or to a no‐contact control condition (n = 24). ANCOVAs were used to examine treatment effects on a neurocognitive battery and the Timed Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (TIADL) Test. Treatment effects were detected on the Useful Field of View Test, F(1, 43) = 4.29, p = .04 and the TIADL Test, F(1, 43) = 5.02, p = .03; those in the experimental condition improved on these measures. Many of the participants also indicated that they felt the training improved their cognitive functioning. This study demonstrated that speed of processing training may improve cognitive and everyday functioning in this growing population.

Older Drivers in Australia: Trends in Driving Status and Cognitive and Visual Impairment

OBJECTIVES: To investigate self‐reported driving status within three Australian states; associations between demographic, health, and functional factors and driving status; and the extent to which remaining a driver in spite of cognitive and visual impairments varies as a function of sex.

The relationship between computer experience and computerized cognitive test performance among older adults.

OBJECTIVE This study compared the relationship between computer experience and performance on computerized cognitive tests and a traditional paper-and-pencil cognitive test in a sample of older adults (N = 634). METHOD Participants completed computer experience and computer attitudes questionnaires, three computerized cognitive tests (Useful Field of View (UFOV) Test, Road Sign Test, and Stroop task) and a paper-and-pencil cognitive measure (Trail Making Test). Multivariate analysis of covariance was used to examine differences in cognitive performance across the four measures between those with and without computer experience after adjusting for confounding variables. RESULTS Although computer experience had a significant main effect across all cognitive measures, the effect sizes were similar. After controlling for computer attitudes, the relationship between computer experience and UFOV was fully attenuated. DISCUSSION Findings suggest that computer experience is not uniquely related to performance on computerized cognitive measures compared with paper-and-pencil measures. Because the relationship between computer experience and UFOV was fully attenuated by computer attitudes, this may imply that motivational factors are more influential to UFOV performance than computer experience. Our findings support the hypothesis that computer use is related to cognitive performance, and this relationship is not stronger for computerized cognitive measures. Implications and directions for future research are provided.