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Worse executive function in Alzheimer's disease patients is associated with more severe impairment in activities of daily living

This study found that Alzheimer's disease patients showed significant deficits in executive control as measured by the stop-signal task and event-related potentials compared to healthy controls. Specifically, Go accuracy and overall accuracy in the AD group were negatively correlated with activities of daily living scores (r = -0.603 and r = -0.624, respectively), indicating that poorer executive function relates to greater ADL impairment.

Last updated: Aug 5, 2026•0 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score32/100
Human RCT☆☆☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Relationship between executive function and activities of daily living in Alzheimer's disease: a study based on the stop-signal task.

observational

Gao M, Yan Y, Wu Y, Geng Z, Wang L, Zhou S, Hu P, Wu X, Wang K · Frontiers in aging neuroscience (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: N/A
Intervention: Stop-signal task (SST) with EEG recording
Outcome: Executive function indicators (Go accuracy, Go omissions, Go errors, Go error reaction time, failed stop RT, all accuracies, N300 amplitude and latency) and activities of daily living (ADL) scores
Effect Size: N/A
Population: 36 patients with Alzheimer's disease and 36 sex- and age-matched healthy controls

Result:

PubMed: 42499555DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2026.1837948

Mechanism Graph

AD patients show reduced Go accuracy and increased errors on the stop-signal task
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AD patients exhibit abnormal N300 ERP components (reduced amplitude, prolonged latency)
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These executive function deficits correlate with worse performance on activities of daily living
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Result: Worse executive function predicts greater ADL impairment in AD

Limitations

  • ⚠Sample size is relatively small (36 per group), limiting generalizability
  • ⚠Cross-sectional design prevents establishing causality between executive function decline and ADL impairment

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the stop-signal task and how does it measure executive function?▼

The stop-signal task is a cognitive test that measures inhibitory control by requiring participants to respond to a 'go' signal but inhibit their response when a 'stop' signal appears. Performance metrics like Go accuracy and reaction times reflect executive function.

What is the N300 component in EEG?▼

N300 is an event-related potential (ERP) component that occurs around 300 milliseconds after a stimulus and is associated with cognitive processes such as attention and inhibitory control. In this study, AD patients showed reduced amplitude and longer latency of N300.

How were activities of daily living measured in this study?▼

The abstract does not specify the exact scale used, but activities of daily living (ADL) typically refer to basic self-care tasks (e.g., bathing, dressing) and instrumental activities (e.g., managing finances, medication). The study found a negative correlation between executive function and ADL scores.

Can these EEG and SST indicators be used to diagnose Alzheimer's disease?▼

Yes, the study reported that SST- and EEG-related indicators had an Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.771 and 0.831, respectively, suggesting they could be useful for diagnosing AD when combined.

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References

  1. 1.Gao M, Yan Y, Wu Y, Geng Z, Wang L, Zhou S, Hu P, Wu X, Wang K. "Relationship between executive function and activities of daily living in Alzheimer's disease: a study based on the stop-signal task.." Frontiers in aging neuroscience, 2026. PMID: 42499555 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2026.1837948
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.