There are many active research projects accessing and applying shared ADNI data. Use the search above to find specific research focuses on the active ADNI investigations. This information is requested annually as a requirement for data access.
| Principal Investigator | |
| Principal Investigator's Name: | Stephanie Liu |
| Institution: | Hoag Hospital |
| Department: | Neurosciences |
| Country: | |
| Proposed Analysis: | Does cognitive reserve moderate the relationship between depressive symptoms and functional impairment in mild cognitive impairment (MCI)? Individuals with higher levels of cognitive reserve are better able to maintain cognitive function in the presence of brain pathology. In this study, years of education will serve as a proxy for cognitive reserve. In one study of a large memory clinic, older adults with higher levels of education showed less cognitive decline even with more advanced neurodegeneration (Staekenborg et al. 2020). There is evidence for a link between cognitive reserve and functional ability (Puente et al. 2015). Depression has also been shown to be associated with more functional impairment in older adults (Greenglass et al. 2007). The current study will examine whether higher levels of cognitive reserve may serve as a buffer and allow individuals who have depressive symptoms in the context of MCI to retain higher levels of functioning. It is hypothesized that higher levels of cognitive reserve will be associated with a decreased effect of depressive symptoms on functional impairment, while lower levels of cognitive reserve will not have this protective effect. For the purposes of this study, cognitive reserve will be operationalized as years of education (which will be dichotomized as >11 years and <8 years), depressive symptoms will be measured using the Geriatric Depression Scale, and functional impairment will be assessed using the Functional Activities questionnaire. |
| Additional Investigators |
