TY - JOUR
T1 - Telephone assessment of cognitive function in the late-onset Alzheimer's disease family study
AU - Wilson, Robert S.
AU - Leurgans, Sue E.
AU - Foroud, Tatiana M.
AU - Sweet, Robert A.
AU - Graff-Radford, Neill
AU - Mayeux, Richard
AU - Bennett, David A.
PY - 2010/7
Y1 - 2010/7
N2 - Background: Administration of cognitive test batteries by telephone has been shown to be a valid and costeffective means of assessing cognition, but it remains relatively uncommon in epidemiological research. Objectives: To develop composite cognitive measures and assess how much of the variability in their scores is associated with mode of test administration (ie, in person or by telephone). Design: Cross-sectional cohort study. Setting: Late-Onset Alzheimer's Disease Family Study conducted at 18 centers across the United States. Participants: A total of 1584 persons, 368 with dementia, from 646 families. Main Outcome Measures: Scores on composite measures of memory and cognitive function derived from a battery of 7 performance tests administered in person (69%) or by telephone (31%) by examiners who underwent a structured performance-based training program with annual recertification. Results: Based in part on the results of a factor analysis of the 7 tests, we developed summary measures of working memory, declarative memory, episodic memory, semantic memory, and global cognition. In linear regression analyses, mode of test administration accounted for less than 2% of the variance in the measures. In mixedeffects models, variability in cognitive scores due to center was small relative to variability due to differences between individuals and families. Conclusions: In epidemiologic research on aging and Alzheimer disease, assessment of cognition by telephone has little effect on performance and provides operational flexibility and a means of reducing both costs and missing data.
AB - Background: Administration of cognitive test batteries by telephone has been shown to be a valid and costeffective means of assessing cognition, but it remains relatively uncommon in epidemiological research. Objectives: To develop composite cognitive measures and assess how much of the variability in their scores is associated with mode of test administration (ie, in person or by telephone). Design: Cross-sectional cohort study. Setting: Late-Onset Alzheimer's Disease Family Study conducted at 18 centers across the United States. Participants: A total of 1584 persons, 368 with dementia, from 646 families. Main Outcome Measures: Scores on composite measures of memory and cognitive function derived from a battery of 7 performance tests administered in person (69%) or by telephone (31%) by examiners who underwent a structured performance-based training program with annual recertification. Results: Based in part on the results of a factor analysis of the 7 tests, we developed summary measures of working memory, declarative memory, episodic memory, semantic memory, and global cognition. In linear regression analyses, mode of test administration accounted for less than 2% of the variance in the measures. In mixedeffects models, variability in cognitive scores due to center was small relative to variability due to differences between individuals and families. Conclusions: In epidemiologic research on aging and Alzheimer disease, assessment of cognition by telephone has little effect on performance and provides operational flexibility and a means of reducing both costs and missing data.
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U2 - 10.1001/archneurol.2010.129
DO - 10.1001/archneurol.2010.129
M3 - Article
C2 - 20625093
AN - SCOPUS:77955029767
SN - 0003-9942
VL - 67
SP - 855
EP - 861
JO - Archives of neurology
JF - Archives of neurology
IS - 7
ER -