# LONGITUDINAL ASSESSMENT OF COGNITION IN ADULTS

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · 1993 · $212,601

## Abstract

Contemporary models of memory decline have been unsuccessful in
accounting for the phenomena of memory and aging, probably because they
do not address the complexity of memory change and the heterogeneity of
performance seen in older adults relative to younger ones.  The research
proposed here is based on the notion that a multidimensional approach can
better explain sources of memory variance with age.  Such a model is best
tested with cross-sectional and longitudinal methods, with the role of
individual differences, as well as performance on measures reflecting
different mechanisms of memory change, identified.  The objectives of
this work are to compare patterns of cross-sectional differences an
longitudinal changes in memory in older adults and evaluate hypotheses
regarding memory deficits in older adults.

Capitalizing on data from a 3-year study of memory conducted 15 years
ago, the project will identify long-term changes in memory in adults.
These subjects were 28-36 and 55-84 years old when initially tested.  The
study will compare these longitudinal data with results from a new cross-
sectional sample collected as part of the project.  This will make it
possible to evaluate the external validity of cross sectional designs,
which are the rule in memory research, as it is very likely that such
designs overestimate the extent of memory decline with age.  The role of
individual differences in longitudinal and cross-sectional memory
performance will be investigated through analyses of psychometric
abilities related to fluid and crystallized intelligence, as well as
demographic characteristics including gender, education, health, and
affective status.  Besides th original battery of measures to be
readministered, additional data on cognitive mechanisms hypothesized to
cause age change over and above individual differences will be collected.
These data will test the hypothesis that mechanisms of memory change vary
with the requirements of the memory tasks.  For example, it is expected
that cognitive slowing will best predict problems in retrieving
individual words, whereas working memory deficits will best predict
problems in discourse memory.  The study will also take advantage of the
fact that the sample population was recruited from an HMO and from whom
medical records will be available, to examine covariation in performance
relevant to the development of disease processes.  A second wave of
testing will be included to examine three-year longitudinal change in the
additional measures, and for testing hypotheses about change in age x
cohort designs.

The results of this study will not only provide answers to important
methodological questions regarding the external validity of cross-
sectional studies of memory and aging, but also address a number of
issues related to individual differences in intraindividual change with
age in cognition, and theories about the mechanisms of age change in
memory.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3122471
- **Project number:** 1R01AG010569-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
- **SAM.gov UEI:** G88KLJR3KYT5
- **Principal Investigator:** ELIZABETH M ZELINSKI
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1993
- **Award amount:** $212,601
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 1993-09-30 → 1998-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3122471

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3122471, LONGITUDINAL ASSESSMENT OF COGNITION IN ADULTS (1R01AG010569-01A1). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3122471. Licensed CC0.

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