Abstract
The Attention Network Test (ANT) assesses alerting, orienting, and executive attention. The current study was designed to achieve three main objectives. First, we determined the reliability, effects, and interactions of attention networks in a relatively large cohort of non-demented older adults (n = 184). Second, in the context of this aged cohort, we examined the effect of chronological age on attention networks. Third, the effect of blood pressure on ANT performance was evaluated. Results revealed high-reliability for the ANT as a whole, and for specific cue and flanker types. We found significant main effects for the three attention networks as well as diminished alerting but enhanced orienting effects during conflict resolution trials. Furthermore, increased chronological age and low blood pressure were both associated with significantly worse performance on the executive attention network. These findings are consistent with executive function decline in older adults and the plausible effect of reduced blood flow to the frontal lobes on individual differences in attention demanding tasks. (JINS, 2010, 16, 877-889.)
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 877-889 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Sep 2010 |
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Keywords
- Aging
- Attention
- Blood pressure
- Executive function
- Processing speed
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Neurology
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Clinical Psychology
- Neuroscience(all)
Cite this
Alerting, orienting, and executive attention in older adults. / Mahoney, Jeannette R.; Verghese, Joe; Goldin, Yelena; Lipton, Richard B.; Holtzer, Roee.
In: Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, Vol. 16, No. 5, 09.2010, p. 877-889.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Alerting, orienting, and executive attention in older adults
AU - Mahoney, Jeannette R.
AU - Verghese, Joe
AU - Goldin, Yelena
AU - Lipton, Richard B.
AU - Holtzer, Roee
PY - 2010/9
Y1 - 2010/9
N2 - The Attention Network Test (ANT) assesses alerting, orienting, and executive attention. The current study was designed to achieve three main objectives. First, we determined the reliability, effects, and interactions of attention networks in a relatively large cohort of non-demented older adults (n = 184). Second, in the context of this aged cohort, we examined the effect of chronological age on attention networks. Third, the effect of blood pressure on ANT performance was evaluated. Results revealed high-reliability for the ANT as a whole, and for specific cue and flanker types. We found significant main effects for the three attention networks as well as diminished alerting but enhanced orienting effects during conflict resolution trials. Furthermore, increased chronological age and low blood pressure were both associated with significantly worse performance on the executive attention network. These findings are consistent with executive function decline in older adults and the plausible effect of reduced blood flow to the frontal lobes on individual differences in attention demanding tasks. (JINS, 2010, 16, 877-889.)
AB - The Attention Network Test (ANT) assesses alerting, orienting, and executive attention. The current study was designed to achieve three main objectives. First, we determined the reliability, effects, and interactions of attention networks in a relatively large cohort of non-demented older adults (n = 184). Second, in the context of this aged cohort, we examined the effect of chronological age on attention networks. Third, the effect of blood pressure on ANT performance was evaluated. Results revealed high-reliability for the ANT as a whole, and for specific cue and flanker types. We found significant main effects for the three attention networks as well as diminished alerting but enhanced orienting effects during conflict resolution trials. Furthermore, increased chronological age and low blood pressure were both associated with significantly worse performance on the executive attention network. These findings are consistent with executive function decline in older adults and the plausible effect of reduced blood flow to the frontal lobes on individual differences in attention demanding tasks. (JINS, 2010, 16, 877-889.)
KW - Aging
KW - Attention
KW - Blood pressure
KW - Executive function
KW - Processing speed
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=79451471394&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1017/S1355617710000767
DO - 10.1017/S1355617710000767
M3 - Article
C2 - 20663241
AN - SCOPUS:79451471394
VL - 16
SP - 877
EP - 889
JO - Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society
JF - Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society
SN - 1355-6177
IS - 5
ER -