NEUROPSYCHOLOGIC PREDICTION OF PERFORMANCE-MEASURES OF DAILY LIVING SKILLS IN GERIATRIC-PATIENTS

The current study examined the capacity of an abbreviated neuropsychologic (NP) battery to predict performance-based activities of daily living (ADLs) in a psychogeriatric sample. Inpatients of a geriatric evaluation unit (34 men and 74 women), mean age 74, underwent neuropsychologic assessment and performance assessment of ADLs. Results revealed a strong overall relation (canonical R(2) = .43, p < .001) between NP assessment and ADL performance. Multiple regressions were significant (p < .01) for 4 of 5 instrumental ADLs, with the NP battery accounting for 14% to 32% of the variance in ADL performance. Visuospatial ability was the best predictor of functional dependence across each ADL domain, followed by memory performance. The findings provide validation for the use of specific NP tests in making judgments about dependence in instrumental ADLs.