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AGE, HEALTH STATUS AND NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTIONING (ELDERLY, LURIA-NEBRASKA BATTERY)

GRETA JEAN SWENDSEID, University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Abstract

This study explores the interactive effects of age and health status on neuropsychological functioning. The nature of neuropsychological functioning with regard to Cattell's theory of the differential aging of crystallized and fluid abilities is also considered. A group of 45 elderly volunteers with a variety of physical disorders requiring medical attention were given the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery and the Beck Depression Inventory. They were compared with a group of younger individuals hospitalized with a variety of medical conditions, and with groups of optimally healthy (no known history of serious illness) elderly and young individuals. It was found that the unhealthy elderly group performs within normal limits on the Luria-Nebraska. Within the unhealthy elderly group, those over 70 years of age did significantly worse than those under 70, those diagnosed with cardiovascular disease did significantly worse than those diagnosed with other conditions, and depressive symptoms were associated with deficits in neuropsychological functioning. Some support was also seen for Cattell's theory of differential aging in that crystallized abilities were in general, more resistive to the effects of aging than fluid abilities. When comparing the unhealthy elderly with groups of healthy elderly, unhealthy young and healthy young individuals, both age and poor health were shown to have detrimental effects on neuropsychological functioning. In most cases, they produced greater deficits together than from either alone. A model for explaining these results has been proposed outlining the importance of stress, cognitive interpretation, coping mechanisms and physical and emotional condition in determining neuropsychological functioning in the elderly.

Subject Area

Psychotherapy

Recommended Citation

SWENDSEID, GRETA JEAN, "AGE, HEALTH STATUS AND NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTIONING (ELDERLY, LURIA-NEBRASKA BATTERY)" (1985). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI8526605.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI8526605

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