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Ethics code: IR.TUMS.MEDICINE.REC.1403.058

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Investigation of the Relationship Between Executive Functions with Manual Dexterity and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Among Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment Compared to Those Without Cognitive Impairment: A Case-Control Study
Hamid Dalvand *1 , Kosar Ghanbarian2 , Mahtab Alizadeh khoei3 , Fatemeh Salmany4 , Azar Mehri5
1- Associate professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2- MSc, Department of Aging Health & Geriatric, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3- Professor, Department of Aging Health & Geriatric, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
4- Associate professor, Geriatric Health Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
5- Associate Professor, Department of Speech Therapy, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract:   (128 Views)
Objectives: This study aimed to compare the relationships between Executive Functions (EFs), manual dexterity, and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) in older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and cognitively healthy controls to identify targets for early interventions and slowing cognitive decline. Methods: This case-control study included 64 adults aged ≥60 years (32 with MCI, 32 controls), without depression (GDS-15<9), recruited from a geriatric clinic and a day care center. MCI was diagnosed using the Persian version of the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR). EFs were assessed via the Tower of London (ToL), the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), and the Trail Making Test (TMT-A&B); Manual Dexterity with the Purdue Pegboard Test (PPT); and IADLs with IADLs-Lawton. Data analyzed using SPSS-27. Results: No significant differences in age and gender between MCI (mean age:68.88±5.08) and control groups (70.5±5.42) (p>0.05). The MCI group showed poorer performance in ToL, WCST, and TMT-A&B (p<0.001), and performed worse in PPT (p<0.001), and obtained lower IADL scores (p<0.001). Better executive functions correlated with improved manual dexterity and higher IADL scores (r=0.42to0.53, p<0.05) in the MCI group. Longer ToL/TMT times and WCST errors are linked to poorer PPT/IADLs performance (r=-0.35to-0.69, p<0.05) in the control group. Discussion: Older adults with MCI demonstrated significant declines in EFs, manual dexterity, and IADLs compared to cognitively healthy controls. These results emphasize the importance of assessing cognitive and motor abilities to enable early interventions and support to achieve independence. Combining cognitive and motor education programs and training caregivers could effectively address these challenges.
 
Keywords: Key Words: Older adults, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs), Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), Executive Functions (EFs), Manual dexterity
     
Article type: Original Research Articles | Subject: Occupational therapy
Received: 2025/05/6 | Accepted: 2025/06/11
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