NIH Toolbox Cognition Performance in Older Adults with Normal Cognition, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Mild Dementia of the Alzheimer's Type: Results from the ARMADA Study

Abstract

Objective: Efficient and early detection of cognitive impairment may be facilitated using the NIH Toolbox (NIHTB), a computerized suite of assessments measuring multiple aspects of neurological functioning. Methods: The Advancing Reliable Measurement in Alzheimer's Disease and cognitive Aging study validated the NIHTB across a geographically diverse cognitive aging sample. Participants aged >64 with normal cognition (NC), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) across nine research sites completed the NIHTB. One-way ANOVAs captured differences in performance on the Cognition Battery and effect sizes were calculated. Results: Groups differed substantially across all cognition measures, with large differences in Total and Fluid Cognition, after demographic adjustment. The largest differentiators were in fluid measures, particularly for working and episodic memory. Conclusions: NIHTB-CB differentiates NC, MCI, and DAT groups. Future studies will examine longitudinal differences and performance in enriched samples (African American participants, Spanish NIHTB, 85+ years old).