NEUROPSYCHOLOGIC PREDICTION OF PERFORMANCE-MEASURES OF DAILY LIVING SKILLS IN GERIATRIC-PATIENTS

The current study examined the capacity of an abbreviated neuropsychol ogic (NP) battery to predict performance-based activities of daily liv ing (ADLs) in a psychogeriatric sample. Inpatients of a geriatric eval uation unit (34 men and 74 women), mean age 74, underwent neuropsychol ogic assessment and performance assessment of ADLs. Results revealed a strong overall relation (canonical R(2) = .43, p < .001) between NP a ssessment and ADL performance. Multiple regressions were significant ( p < .01) for 4 of 5 instrumental ADLs, with the NP battery accounting for 14% to 32% of the variance in ADL performance. Visuospatial abilit y was the best predictor of functional dependence across each ADL doma in, followed by memory performance. The findings provide validation fo r the use of specific NP tests in making judgments about dependence in instrumental ADLs.