Early Indicators of Cognitive Dysfunction: The Role of Mild Behavioral Impairment Lead Investigator: Hillary Rouse Institution : University of South Florida E-Mail : hrouse@usf.edu Proposal ID : 1516 Proposal Description: Across a series of studies, the current dissertation examines cognitive deficits, MBI presence, and neurostructural changes as early indicators and risk factors for ADRD. First, cross-sectional differences and longitudinal changes in cognition in older adults with or without MBI will be evaluated. Specifically, this study will investigate how MBI influences the cognitive domains of attention, executive function, language, memory, and visuospatial abilities in older adults who are cognitively healthy or have MCI. In the second study, the neuroanatomical correlates of the cognitive deficits in relation to MBI are evaluated. In particular, results from structural imaging will allow for an analysis of the differences within the frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital lobes, as well as the hippocampus and anterior cingulate cortex, in relation to the presence or absence of MBI and MCI. In the third study, a risk index for ADRD using the cognitive, neuropsychiatric, and neurostructural symptoms will be developed. Here, risk for ADRD will be assessed in relation to how many people converted, as well as to what type of ADRD they converted to. Further, the risk for ADRD will be examined in relation to how lifestyle moderates the risk for this disease. Question 2: Research question 1. Does MBI differentially influence the cognitive abilities (attention, executive function, language, memory, visuospatial abilities) of older adults who are cognitively healthy or have MCI? Research question 1, part a. Is there an overall effect of MBI on cross-sectional differences in older adults??? cognitive performance? How does a concomitant MBI and MCI diagnosis differentially influence older adults??? cognitive performance?