NIH toolbox episodic memory measure differentiates older adults with exceptional memory capacity from those with average memory

Abstract

AbstractBackground“SuperAgers” are older adults over the age of 80 with exceptional memory abilities, at least as good as cognitively average individuals in their 50s and 60s. The purpose of this study was to compare SuperAgers with their cognitively normal‐for‐age peers on subtests of the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery (NIHTB‐CB), including a test of nonverbal picture sequence memory.MethodParticipants categorized as SuperAgers (n=46) or as cognitively average‐for‐age (n=31) completed standard neuropsychological tests of attention, executive functions, language, and episodic memory. SuperAgers are classified by a delayed recall score on the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test that falls at or above the average score of 50 to 65‐year‐old norms, while scores in non‐memory domains must be at least in the average range for age. Multivariable linear regression models were used to examine differences across subtests between the groups.ResultAfter controlling for IQ, gender, age, and education, Picture Sequence Memory Scores were higher in Super Agers than in the cognitively normal‐for‐age group (p = 0.007). However, the groups did not differ in their scores on all other Cognition measures.ConclusionFindings from this study demonstrated that SuperAgers scored higher on a test of nonverbal memory in the NIHTB‐CB compared to cognitively average‐for‐age peers, while groups scored similarly on non‐memory domains. These findings demonstrate that memory abilities in SuperAgers are strong not only on tests of verbal memory, but on nonverbal measures, as well. These findings extend the potential to identify SuperAgers with more efficient assessment methods.