# WANDERING--COGNTITION AND ENVIRONMENT

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 1992 · $97,236

## Abstract

Using rhythm theory as a heuristic device, the goals of this study are to
improve measurement strategy for wandering and to evaluate effects of
various pacers (level of cognitive impairment, agitation, light) upon it.
Large-scale integrated activity (LSI) monitor readings are evaluated as a
proxy for visual observation in estimating daily wandering.  Wandering
rhythm (cycle frequency, duration) and pattern (lapping, pacing, random)
are compared for various levels of cognitive impairment and agitation.
Finally, twilight and red light are evaluated for effects on wandering at
various levels of cognitive impairment and agitation.

In stage 1, a comparative descriptive design is used to obtain LSI
monitor readings and to time and code wandering rhythm over a twenty-four
hour period and two subsequent two hour periods for twenty-four subjects
in two residential care units.  Subjects are categorized by level of
cognitive impairment using the Folstein Mini-Mental State Exam and the
Mattis Dementia Rating Scale and rated as agitated or nonagitated using
the Cohen- Mansfield Agitation Inventory.  T-tests, ANOVAs, proposed to
evaluate stability of LSI monitor readings and wandering rhythm variables
between two hour epochs on subsequent days, the extent to which a two
hour epoch represents and entire twenty four hour period, and the extent
to which LSI meter readings can substitute for visually observed rhythm.
Visual inspection of plots, ANOVA, regression, and contingency analyses
are planned to evaluate associations of cognitive impairment and
agitation to wandering rhythm and pattern.

In stage 2, a multiple case study design with an embedded interrupted
time series experiment using nonequivalent dependent variables is
proposed to evaluate the effects of light on wandering rhythm and
pattern.  Controlling for level of cognitive impairment and agitation,
twelve cases are studied over twenty-one two hour periods: three baseline
(average ambient daylight) periods followed by three replications of
three experimental periods (twilight, bright red light, and dim red
light) and three no treatment periods.  Visual inspection,
autoregression, and t and F tests are used to evaluate the impact of
various light levels upon wandering rhythm and pattern.  Though wandering
poses a real problem in the care of cognitively- impaired persons, weak
measurement and conceptual confusion have limited studies of it.  From
the perspective of rhythm theory, this study aims to reduce these
methodological gaps and to evaluate light as one possible intervention
for wandering behavior.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3123422
- **Project number:** 1R01AG011501-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **SAM.gov UEI:** GNJ7BBP73WE9
- **Principal Investigator:** Donna L. Algase
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1992
- **Award amount:** $97,236
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 1992-09-30 → 1995-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3123422

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3123422, WANDERING--COGNTITION AND ENVIRONMENT (1R01AG011501-01). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3123422. Licensed CC0.

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