Psychology Commons^™

Intraindividual Variability As A Predictor Of Cognitive Decline In Elderly, Wendy S. Ramratan

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is conceptualized as a transitional state between normal aging and fully developed clinical features of dementia. The literature on MCI is notable for varied measurement approaches and lack of stability in the diagnostic entity, with many individuals remaining stable or reverting to normal cognitive status. Researchers agree that multiple neuropsychological domains should be assessed to enhance the assessment and prediction of cognitive decline. In addition, within-person assessments capture trajectories of decline, which are better suited for understanding individual change than simple comparison to group norms. The current study investigated the ability of within-person change on novel …

Emotion Regulation In Relation To Cognitive Functioning In The Preclinical Stages Of Dementia, Erica P. Meltzer

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Emotion regulation (ER) is essential for effective functioning in daily life. Research suggests that ER improves in older adulthood despite concomitant declines in cognition and the presumed neural substrates of ER. The current understanding of ER in older adulthood, and particularly of the relationship between ER and cognition in older adulthood, is limited. This is likely because the construct of ER is challenging to operationalize and, therefore, difficult to study.

The current study investigates ER in relation to cognitive functioning, specifically executive functioning and memory, in individuals with varying degrees of cognitive difficulties (i.e., in the preclinical stages of dementia). …