Relationship of Executive Functions With Manual Dexterity and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living in Older Adults With and Without Mild Cognitive Impairment Publisher



Ghanbarian K ; Dalvand H ; Alizadehkhoei M ; Salmani F ; Mehri A
Source: Iranian Rehabilitation Journal Published:2025

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the relationships between executive functions (EFs), manual dexterity, and instrumental activities of daily livings (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 (geriatric depression scale [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 using the Tower of London (ToL), Wisconsin card sorting test (WCST), and trail making test (TMT-A&B); manual dexterity with the Purdue Pegboard test (PPT); and IADLs with IADLs-Lawton. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, version 27. Results: No significant differences in age and sex were observed between the MCI (mean age: 68.88±5.08) and control groups (70.5±5.42) (P>0.05). The MCI group showed poorer performance in the ToL, WCST, and TMT-A&B (P<0.001), and performed worse in the PPT (P<0.001). Additionally, they had lower IADL scores (P<0.001). Better EFs correlated with improved manual dexterity and higher IADL scores (r=0.42 to 0.53, P<0.05) in the MCI group. Longer ToL/TMT times and WCST errors were linked to poorer PPT/IADLs performance (r=-0.35 to -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 highlight the importance of assessing cognitive and motor abilities to facilitate early interventions and support independence. Combining cognitive and motor education programs with caregiver training can effectively address these challenges. Copyright © 2025 The Author(s); This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC-By-NC: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/legalcode.en), which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.