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Individual differences in cognitive processes underlying Trail Making Test-B performance in old age: The Lothian Birth Cohort 1936

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  • MacPherson, Sarah E.
  • Allerhand, Michael
  • Cox, Simon R.
  • Deary, Ian J.

Abstract

The Trail Making Test Part B (TMT-B) is commonly used as a brief and simple neuropsychological assessment of executive dysfunction. The TMT-B is thought to rely on a number of distinct cognitive processes that predict individual differences in performance. The current study examined the unique and shared contributions of latent component variables in a large cohort of older people. Five hundred and eighty-seven healthy, community-dwelling older adults who were all born in 1936 were assessed on the TMT-B and multiple tasks tapping cognitive domains of visuospatial ability, processing speed, memory and reading ability. Firstly, a first-order measurement model examining independent contributions of the four cognitive domains was fitted; a significant relationship between TMT-B completion times and processing speed was found (β = −0.610, p < .001). Secondly, a bifactor model examined the unique influence of each cognitive ability when controlling for a general cognitive factor. Importantly, both a general cognitive factor (g; β = −0.561, p < .001) and additional g-independent variance from processing speed (β = −0.464, p < .001) contributed to successful TMT-B performance. These findings suggest that older adults' TMT-B performance is influenced by both general intelligence and processing speed, which may help understand poor performance on such tasks in clinical populations.

Suggested Citation

  • MacPherson, Sarah E. & Allerhand, Michael & Cox, Simon R. & Deary, Ian J., 2019. "Individual differences in cognitive processes underlying Trail Making Test-B performance in old age: The Lothian Birth Cohort 1936," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 23-32.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:intell:v:75:y:2019:i:c:p:23-32
    DOI: 10.1016/j.intell.2019.04.001
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    1. Yiu-Fai Yung & David Thissen & Lori McLeod, 1999. "On the relationship between the higher-order factor model and the hierarchical factor model," Psychometrika, Springer;The Psychometric Society, vol. 64(2), pages 113-128, June.
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    1. Cox, S.R. & Ritchie, S.J. & Fawns-Ritchie, C. & Tucker-Drob, E.M. & Deary, I.J., 2019. "Structural brain imaging correlates of general intelligence in UK Biobank," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 1-1.

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    Keywords

    Trail Making Test; Ageing; g; Speed;
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