A - 125 Exploring the Relationship between the NIH Toolbox-Cognitive Battery & the Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study-Preclinical Cognitive Composite

Abstract

Abstract Objective The computerized NIH Toolbox–Cognitive Battery (NIHTB-CB) is efficient but has not been widely used clinically. The Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study-Preclinical Alzheimer Cognitive Composite (ADS-PACC) has good sensitivity and correlates with amyloid pathology. This study examined the relationship between the NIHTB-CB and ADS-PACC in an aging adult population. Method Baseline data from the Risk Reduction for Alzheimer’s Disease (rrAD) study were analyzed. Cognitively intact individuals (n = 511, M MMSE = 29) with hypertension and subjective cognitive complaints and/or a first degree relative with dementia were included (M age = 68.73, 63% female; 84% White, M education = 16.24). Multiple regression examined the relationship between the NIHTB-CB subtests and ADS-PACC composite score. Results NIHTB-CB subtests demonstrated small to moderate positive correlations with the ADS-PACC total score (r = 0.19–0.43, p < 0.001). ADS-PACC performance explained 23.5% of the variance for NIHTB-CB Flanker Inhibitory Control/Attention [F, (4, 510) = 40.19, p < 0.001], 18.1% for Pattern Comparison Processing Speed, 13.9% for List Sorting Working Memory [F, (4, 508) = 21.53, p < 0.001], and 13.2% for Dimensional Change Card Sort [F, (4, 510) = 20.43, p < 0.001]. Conclusions The NIHTB-CB and ADS-PACC showed modest correlations, but PACC scores explained a sizeable amount of variance of NIHTB-CB performance. Previous research supports convergent validity of the NIHTB-CB with other commonly used neuropsychological measures; however, results of this study indicate these batteries may assess different aspects of cognitive functioning. Future research may explore the relationship between the two batteries and their components in the assessment of longitudinal changes in neurocognitive function in individuals with cognitive decline/dementia.