• Ryan J Piers, Kathryn N Devlin, Boting Ning, Yulin Liu, Ben Wasserman, Joseph M Massaro, Melissa Lamar, Catherine C Price, Rod Swenson, Randall Davis, Dana L Penney, Rhoda Au, and David J Libon.
• Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
• J. Alzheimers Dis. 2017 Jan 1; 60 (4): 1611-1620.

BackgroundDigital Clock Drawing Test (dCDT) technology enables the examination of detailed neurocognitive behavior as behavior unfolds in real time; a capability that cannot be obtained using a traditional pen and paper testing format.ObjectiveParameters obtained from the dCDT were used to investigate neurocognitive constructs related to higher-order neurocognitive decision making and information processing speed. The current research sought to determine the effect of age as related to combined motor and non-motor components of drawing, and higher-order decision making latencies.MethodsA large group of stroke- and dementia- free Framingham Heart Study participants were administered the dCDT to command and copy with hands set for "10 after 11". Six age groups (age range 28-98) were constructed.ResultsDifferences between age groups were found for total time to completion, total pen stroke count, and higher-order decision making latencies in both command and copy test conditions.ConclusionLonger age-related decision making latencies may reflect a greater need for working memory and increased self-monitoring in older subjects. These latency measures have potential to serve as neurocognitive biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease and other insidious neurodegenerative disorders.

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