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Biomedical subjects

Mike Martin

Publications and source records attributed to Mike Martin.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

The Martin and Park Environmental Demands (MPED) Questionnaire: psychometric properties of a brief instrument to measure self-reported environmental demands.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The present study examines the usefulness of a newly developed instrument, the Martin and Park Environmental Demands (MPED) Questionnaire, to measure the level of self-reported environmental demands of day-to-day events faced by adults aged 35 to 84 years, particularly as these demands influence forgetfulness in taking medications. METHODS: The MPED has two scales including Busyness, which addresses the density or pace of daily events to which an individual attends; and Routine, addressing the predictability or routinization of events independent of density. The MPED was administered to a sample of 121 rheumatoid arthritis patients, along with a baseline assessment battery measuring age, education, employment status, household size and other factors that might influence self-perception of Busyness and Routine. RESULTS: The scale showed good internal consistency and external validity. Higher levels of environmental demand were negatively correlated with age and positively correlated with employment, household size and medication-taking errors. There was a significant independent association between Busyness and adherence errors even after controlling for the effects of these sociodemographic variables. CONCLUSIONS: The MPED is recommended when trying to assess the general daily level of environmental demands.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Subjective cognitive complaints, memory performance, and depressive affect in old age: a change-oriented approach.

The question of whether and how subjective cognitive complaints are related to actual cognitive performance represents a central issue in applied cognitive aging research. Until recently, however, many studies have failed to find a strong association between subjective cognitive complaints and actual cognitive performance. In our study, we examine two alternative explanations: a) for methodological reasons, strong associations exist only when latent changes rather than differences are examined, and b) strong associations exist only between changes in depression and complaints, not between changes in cognitive performance and complaints. With 427 participants (M = 63 years) and two measurements, we examine both the relation between functioning, complaints, and depressive affect at each measurement point, and the relation between changes in functioning, changes in complaints, and changes in depressive affect between the measurement points with latent difference variables. The results indicate that there are substantial relations between changes in functioning, changes in depression, and changes in complaints.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Can longitudinal changes in processing speed explain longitudinal age changes in fluid intelligence?

The processing-speed theory of cognitive aging contends tha age-related declines in intellectual function reflect the consequences of age-related slowing of processing speed. Cross-sectional data support this assumption. The association between 4-year changes in processing speed and 4-year changes in fluid intelligence was examined with a sample of 417 older adults. Changes in processing speed correlated .53 with changes in fluid intelligence. The difference in the explanatory power of processing speed regarding age-related differences and age-related changes is discussed with reference to other longitudinal studies and methodological considerations.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Are changes in cognitive functioning in older adults related to changes in subjective complaints?

In many areas of intellectual functioning, age-related declines in older adults' performance and increases in subjective complaints about intellectual performance are observed. However, the literature mostly reports very low relations between functioning and respective complaints. This finding could be the consequence of examining the relation between subjective complaints and the perceived level of functioning. If, however, persons are sensitive to relative changes in performance, they might base their subjective judgment on changes in the level of cognitive functioning. With 202 subjects (mean age=63 years) and two measurements, the authors examine (a) the relation between functioning and complaints at each measurement point, and (b) the relation between changes in functioning and changes in complaints between the measurement points with latent difference variables. The results indicate that there is no relation between level of functioning and level of complaints, but that there is a substantial relation between changes in functioning and complaints.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Intraindividual variability, change, and aging: conceptual and analytical issues.

BACKGROUND: Developmental researchers use a variety of research designs to examine aging-related changes. Most longitudinal studies of aging are based on research designs that feature successive, widely spaced, assessments to estimate changes in cognitive performance. Such designs assume that short-term variations in cognitive performance are small relative to long-term changes or have modeled such phenomena as nuisance parameters. OBJECTIVE: There is now sufficient empirical evidence to establish intraindividual cognitive variability as a systematic source of individual differences and of important predictive value for aging-relevant outcomes. METHODS: After an overview of types of change, potential underlying processes, and adequate analytic designs, we discuss consequences for lifespan aging research. RESULTS: We emphasize that interpretations of both cross-sectional and longitudinal results need to consider and specify theoretical assumptions about short-term and long-term changes. CONCLUSIONS: Above and beyond the analysis of long-term mean changes, short- term changes are an important aspect of aging-related change, and their analysis may help to explain psychological processes of adaptation.

Aging↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Gender differences in level and change in cognitive functioning. Results from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam.

BACKGROUND: Gender differences in level of cognitive functioning are frequently observed, but little is known about gender differences in rate of decline of cognitive functioning. OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to describe variability between and within men and women specified for four different cognitive abilities at baseline, and variability in change in these abilities among men and women over 6 years. METHODS: We started with a study sample of 1132 men and 1175 women, with a measurement interval of 3 years. At wave 3 of the study, 1552 of the respondents from wave 1 were still present. Differences in level and rate of change were estimated with latent change models. RESULTS: Women have higher levels of memory functioning then men, but no gender differences were observed for speed or non-verbal reasoning changes. CONCLUSION: In spite of evidence for a stronger age-related atrophy of the brain structure of men, no gender differences in decline of cognitive functions could be observed.

Aged↗