Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is a preclinical condition between healthy and pathological aging, which is characterized by impairments in executive functions (EFs), including cognitive flexibility. According to Diamond\'s model, cognitive flexibility is a core executive function, along with working memory and inhibition, but it requires the development of these last EFs to reach its full potential. In this model, planning and fluid intelligence are considered higher-level EFs. Given their central role in enabling individuals to adapt their daily life behavior efficiently, the goal is to gain valuable insight into the functionality of cognitive flexibility in a preclinical form of cognitive decline. This study aims to investigate the role of cognitive flexibility and its components, set-shifting and switching, in MCI. The hypotheses are as follows: (I) healthy participants are expected to perform better than those with MCI on cognitive flexibility and higher-level EFs tasks, taking into account the mediating role of global cognitive functioning; (II) cognitive flexibility can predict performance on higher-level EFs (i.e., planning and fluid intelligence) tasks differently in healthy individuals and those diagnosed with MCI.
METHODS: Ninety participants were selected and divided into a healthy control group (N = 45; mean age 64.1 ± 6.80; 66.6% female) and an MCI group (N = 45; mean age 65.2 ± 8.14; 40% female). Cognitive flexibility, fluid intelligence, planning, and global cognitive functioning of all participants were assessed using standardized tasks.
RESULTS: Results indicated that individuals with MCI showed greater impairment in global cognitive functioning and EFs performance. Furthermore, the study confirms the predictive role of cognitive flexibility for higher EFs in individuals with MCI and only partially in healthy older adults.
摘要:
背景:轻度认知障碍(MCI)是介于健康和病理性衰老之间的临床前状况,其特征是执行功能(EF)受损,包括认知灵活性。根据戴蒙德的模型,认知灵活性是一种核心执行功能,连同工作记忆和抑制,但它需要开发这些最后的EF才能充分发挥其潜力。在这个模型中,规划和流体智能被认为是更高级别的EF。鉴于他们在使个人有效适应日常生活行为方面的核心作用,我们的目标是获得有价值的洞察认知灵活性的功能在认知衰退的临床前形式.本研究旨在探讨认知灵活性及其组成部分的作用,设定换档和切换,在MCI。假设如下:(I)预期健康的参与者在认知灵活性和更高水平的EF任务上比MCI的参与者表现更好,考虑到整体认知功能的中介作用;(II)认知灵活性可以预测更高水平EF的表现(即计划和流体智能)在健康个体和被诊断患有MCI的个体中的任务不同。
方法:选择了90名参与者,并将其分为健康对照组(N=45;平均年龄64.1±6.80;66.6%女性)和MCI组(N=45;平均年龄65.2±8.14;40%女性)。认知灵活性,流体智能,规划,使用标准化任务评估所有参与者的整体认知功能.
结果:结果表明,MCI患者在整体认知功能和EF表现方面表现出更大的损害。此外,该研究证实了认知灵活性对MCI患者和部分健康老年人较高EF的预测作用.