Within-person changes in inspection time predict memory

Abstract

Past studies have demonstrated a link between inspection time (IT) and memory but most have been cross-sectional. This study examined the longitudinal relationship between IT and memory functioning over 3.5 years. Eighty-five elderly adults (70-85 years at baseline) completed IT and the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive subscale (ADAS-Cog) on four occasions over 3.5 years. Participants were subdivided into three groups based on ADAS-Cog performance at wave 4 and IT trajectories over time compared. Groups were equivalent for several moderating variables, including age. Participants with minimal signs of incipient cognitive impairment showed a continuous, gradual increase in IT, whereas IT was stable for those with lower ADAS-Cog scores. Higher ADAS-Cog scores reflected poorer recall and recognition memory. This finding suggests that IT has potential as a biological marker for aging. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.