Cognition assessment using the NIH Toolbox.

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Sandra Weintraub, Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine; Sureyya S. Dikmen, University of Washington; Robert K. Heaton, University of California San Diego; David S. Tulsky, University of Michigan; Philip D. Zelazo, University of Minnesota; Patricia Bauer, Emory University; Noelle E. Carlozzi, University of Michigan; Jerry Slotkin, Northwestern University; David Blitz, Northwestern University; Kathleen Wallner-Allen, Westat Corp; Nathan A. Fox, University of Maryland; Jennifer L. Beaumont, Northwestern University; Dan Mungas, University of California Davis; Cindy J. Nowinski, Northwestern University; Jennifer Richler, Indiana University; Joanne A. Deocampo, Emory University; Jacob E. Anderson, University of Minnesota; Jennifer J. Manly, Columbia University; Beth Borosh, Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine; Richard Havlik, Westat Corp; Kevin Conway, National Institute on Drug Abuse; Emmeline Edwards, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine; Lisa Freund, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; Jonathan W. King, National Institute on Aging; Claudia Moy, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; Ellen Witt, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism; Richard C. Gershon, Northwestern University
• Language: English
• Date: 2013-01-01
• Publisher: American Academy of Neurology (AAN)
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2013 American Academy of Neurology
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0b013e3182872ded
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Neurology
• ISSN: 0028-3878
• Volume: 80
• Issue: 11 Suppl 3
• Start Page: S54
• End Page: S64
• Grant/Funding Information: This study is funded in whole or in part with Federal funds from the Blueprint for Neuroscience Research, NIH, under contract no. HHS-N-260-2006-00007-C.
• Keywords: Young Adult; Cognition; Language; Attention; Child; Neuropsychological Tests; United States; Reproducibility of Results; Aged; Middle Aged; Adolescent; Humans; Child, Preschool; Adult; Aged, 80 and over; Cognition Disorders; National Institutes of Health (U.S.)
• Research Categories: Biology, Neuroscience; Psychology, Cognitive

Abstract

Cognition is 1 of 4 domains measured by the NIH Toolbox for the Assessment of Neurological and Behavioral Function (NIH-TB), and complements modules testing motor function, sensation, and emotion. On the basis of expert panels, the cognition subdomains identified as most important for health, success in school and work, and independence in daily functioning were Executive Function, Episodic Memory, Language, Processing Speed, Working Memory, and Attention. Seven measures were designed to tap constructs within these subdomains. The instruments were validated in English, in a sample of 476 participants ranging in age from 3 to 85 years, with representation from both sexes, 3 racial/ethnic categories, and 3 levels of education. This report describes the development of the Cognition Battery and presents results on test-retest reliability, age effects on performance, and convergent and discriminant construct validity. The NIH-TB Cognition Battery is intended to serve as a brief, convenient set of measures to supplement other outcome measures in epidemiologic and longitudinal research and clinical trials. With a computerized format and national standardization, this battery will provide a "common currency" among researchers for comparisons across a wide range of studies and populations.