Karlene Ball
Biographic Data
| ID | 6637129 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Karlene Ball |
| GIVEN NAMES | Karlene |
| FAMILY NAME | Ball |
| SIGNATURE | BALL K |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Alabama at Birmingham |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-1811-9870 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 29 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 90 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 29 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1998 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 5 |
Culturally Relevant Heart Health Program for Older African American Women of Rural Areas
INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a major public health issue, with the highest rates in the United States found among African Americans (AA) in rural areas like Alabama's Black Belt. In this pilot study, we evaluated the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a culturally relevant heart health program for older AA women in rural Alabama. METHODS: We recruited 30 AA women aged 65 years and older from Alabama's rural Black Belt w…
A 2-Year Longitudinal Randomized Control Trial of Speed of Processing Cognitive Training in Aging Adults with HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder: Results of the Think Fast Study
Nearly 40% of people with HIV (PWH) experience HIV-associated Neurocognitive Disorder (HAND). In this 3-group efficacy study, 216 PWH 40 + years with HAND or borderline HAND were randomized to either: (1) 10 h of SOP training (n = 70); (2) 20 h of SOP training (n = 73), or (3) 10 h of Internet navigation training (n = 73; contact control group). Participants were administered a measure of SOP [i.e., the Useful Field of View Test (UFOV®)] at basel…
Does Cognitive Training Reduce Falls across Ten Years: Data from the Active Trial
The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of cognitive training on the risk of experiencing a fall across 10 years. The study used data from the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly (ACTIVE) randomized controlled trial. Older adults aged 65-94 were randomly assigned to speed of processing, memory, or reasoning training or to a no-contact control group ( n = 2802). The experience of a fall in the prior two months…
Social and Neighborhood Context Moderates the Associations Between Processing Speed and Driving Mobility: A 10-year Analysis of the Active Study
Objectives: Processing speed is essential to functional independence in later life, such as driving a vehicle. Few studies have examined processing speed and driving mobility in the context of racial differences and social determinants of health (SDoH). This study characterized the longitudinal association between processing speed and driving mobility, and how it varied by race and SDoH. Methods: Using data from the control arm of the Advanced Co…
Effects of Cognitive Training on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias: The Moderating Role of Social Determinants of Health
Objective: We examined whether social determinants of health (SDoH) are associated with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) risk and the effects of cognitive training over a 20-year follow-up period. Methods: Data were obtained from 1605 participants in ACTIVE. SDoH measures were created using baseline data at the individual and neighborhood level. Incident ADRD was defined using administrative claims data (1999-2019). Cause-specific…
Evaluating Social Determinants of Health Domains and Their Predictive Validity Within Black/African American and White Older Adults From the Active Trial
This investigation uses baseline data from individuals participating in the ACTIVE trial ( n = 2505) to reproduce the SDoH domains described in Healthy People 2030 (economic stability, health care, education, neighborhood and built environment, and social and community context). Results: Results support using data from the ACTIVE trial to assess all five SDoH domains, and the ability of the composites to predict baseline performance on measures o…
Rural-Urban Differences in Cognition: Findings From the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly Trial
ObjectivesWe examined associations between three geographic areas (urban, suburban, rural) and cognition (memory, reasoning, processing speed) over a 10-year period. Methods: Data were obtained from 2539 participants in the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly (ACTIVE) trial. Multilevel, mixed-effects linear regression was used to estimate cognitive trajectories by geographical areas over 10 years, after adjusting for soc…
Can Individualized-Targeted Computerized Cognitive Training Benefit Adults with HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder? The Training on Purpose Study (Tops)
Indicators of Crash Risk in Older Adults: A Longitudinal Analysis From the Active Study
Objective: This study aims to examine indicators of crash risk longitudinally in older adults ( n = 486). Method: This study applied secondary data analyses of the 10 years of follow-up for the ACTIVE study combined with state-recorded crash records from five of the six participating sites. Cox proportional hazards models were first used to examine the effect of each variable of interest at baseline after controlling for miles driven and then to …
A Longitudinal Investigation of Falls and Motor Vehicle Crashes in Older Drivers
Objective: To assess the longitudinal association between fall history reported at a driver's license screening visit and the likelihood of subsequent vehicle crashes. Method: A total of 1,127 older adults were recruited from Maryland State Motor Vehicle Administration sites and interviewed annually over 15 years. Results: Individuals who reported a previous fall were more likely to be female, perform worse on physical functioning and divided att…
The Transfer of Cognitive Speed of Processing Training to Older Adults’ Driving Mobility Across 5 Years
These results and prior research indicate that cognitive SPT transfers to prolonged driving mobility among older adults. Future research should investigate the mechanisms behind transfer effects to real-world activities, such as driving
Ten‐Year Effects of the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly Cognitive Training Trial on Cognition and Everyday Functioning in Older Adults
OBJECTIVES: To determine the effects of cognitive training on cognitive abilities and everyday function over 10 years. DESIGN: Ten-year follow-up of a randomized, controlled single-blind trial (Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly (ACTIVE)) with three intervention groups and a no-contact control group. SETTING: Six U.S. cities. PARTICIPANTS: A volunteer sample of 2,832 persons (mean baseline age 73.6; 26% African American…
Speed of Processing Training in the Active Study: How Much Is Needed and Who Benefits
Cognitive performance improved by 2.5 standard deviations for participants who attended all 10 initial sessions and all 8 booster sessions compared to randomized participants who attended none. Implications for the broader application of cognitive training interventions are discussed
Race-Related Disparities in 5-Year Cognitive Level and Change in Untrained Active Participants
Race-related results in the current study are consistent with previous research suggesting that social advantage factors such as education have a stronger influence on the level of performance than the rate of change. The small remaining effects of being African American on performance levels likely reflect uncontrolled variation in factors like literacy and financial advantage
The Active Cognitive Training Interventions and Trajectories of Performance Among Older Adults
Training can appear to accelerate age-related change, because change over time is coupled with loss of training gains. Our analysis is limited by follow-up that is short for precisely characterizing aging-related change
The Relationship Between Computer Experience and Computerized Cognitive Test Performance Among Older Adults
Findings suggest that computer experience is not uniquely related to performance on computerized cognitive measures compared with paper-and-pencil measures. Because the relationship between computer experience and UFOV was fully attenuated by computer attitudes, this may imply that motivational factors are more influential to UFOV performance than computer experience. Our findings support the hypothesis that computer use is related to cognitive p…
Visual Function and Cognitive Speed of Processing Mediate Age-Related Decline in Memory Span and Fluid Intelligence
The findings support both the sensory degradation and speed of processing accounts of age-related, cognitive decline. Furthermore, the findings highlight positive aspects of normal cognitive aging in that older age may not be associated with a loss of fluid intelligence if visual sensory functioning and processing speed can be maintained
The Active Cognitive Training Interventions and the Onset of and Recovery from Suspected Clinical Depression
We evaluated the effects of the 3 cognitive interventions fielded in the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly study on 2 subsets of participants-1,606 without and 424 with suspected clinical depression at baseline. In the former group, only the speed of processing (vs. no-contact control) intervention had a significant effect, with its participants being 38% less likely to develop suspected clinical depression at 1 year (…
Does Cognitive Training Improve Internal Locus of Control Among Older Adults
Cognitive training that targets reasoning and speed of processing can improve the cognitive-specific sense of personal control over one's life in older adults
Do Older Drivers At-Risk for Crashes Modify Their Driving Over Time
Five-year driving habit trajectories among older adults (n = 645) at-risk for crashes were examined. Performance measures included Useful Field of View (UFOV). Motor-Free Visual Perception Test, Rapid Walk, and Foot Tap. Self-report measures included demographics and the Driving Habits Questionnaire. Longitudinal random-effects models revealed that drivers at-risk for subsequent crashes, based upon UFOV, regulated their driving more than the lowe…
Longitudinal Predictors of Driving Cessation Among Older Adults From the Active Clinical Trial
We examined the physical, visual, health, and cognitive abilities of 1,656 older adults as prospective predictors of self-reported driving cessation over a 5-year period. We examined the time to driving cessation across 5 years after we controlled for days driven per week at baseline and any cognitive intervention participation. Older age, congestive heart failure, and poorer physical performance (according to the Turn 360 Test) were statisticall…
The Impact of Speed of Processing Training on Cognitive and Everyday Functions
We combined data from six studies, all using the same speed of processing training program, to examine the mechanisms of training gain and the impact of training on cognitive and everyday abilities of older adults. Results indicated that training produces immediate improvements across all subtests of the Useful Field of View test, particularly for older adults with initial speed of processing deficits. Age and education had little to no impact on…
Long-term Effects of Cognitive Training on Everyday Functional Outcomes in Older Adults
CONTEXT: Cognitive training has been shown to improve cognitive abilities in older adults but the effects of cognitive training on everyday function have not been demonstrated. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of cognitive training on daily function and durability of training on cognitive abilities. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Five-year follow-up of a randomized controlled single-blind trial with 4 treatment groups. A volunteer sample o…
Is availability of public open space equitable across areas
Why do women of low socioeconomic status have poorer dietary behaviours than women of higher socioeconomic status? A qualitative exploration
Why do women of low socioeconomic status have poorer dietary behaviours than women of higher socioeconomic status? A qualitative exploration
Longitudinal Predictors of Driving Cessation Among Older Adults From the Active Clinical Trial
We examined the physical, visual, health, and cognitive abilities of 1,656 older adults as prospective predictors of self-reported driving cessation over a 5-year period. We examined the time to driving cessation across 5 years after we controlled for days driven per week at baseline and any cognitive intervention participation. Older age, congestive heart failure, and poorer physical performance (according to the Turn 360 Test) were statisticall…
Is availability of public open space equitable across areas
Does Cognitive Training Improve Internal Locus of Control Among Older Adults
Cognitive training that targets reasoning and speed of processing can improve the cognitive-specific sense of personal control over one's life in older adults
The Active Cognitive Training Interventions and the Onset of and Recovery from Suspected Clinical Depression
We evaluated the effects of the 3 cognitive interventions fielded in the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly study on 2 subsets of participants-1,606 without and 424 with suspected clinical depression at baseline. In the former group, only the speed of processing (vs. no-contact control) intervention had a significant effect, with its participants being 38% less likely to develop suspected clinical depression at 1 year (…
The Relationship Between Computer Experience and Computerized Cognitive Test Performance Among Older Adults
Findings suggest that computer experience is not uniquely related to performance on computerized cognitive measures compared with paper-and-pencil measures. Because the relationship between computer experience and UFOV was fully attenuated by computer attitudes, this may imply that motivational factors are more influential to UFOV performance than computer experience. Our findings support the hypothesis that computer use is related to cognitive p…
The Transfer of Cognitive Speed of Processing Training to Older Adults’ Driving Mobility Across 5 Years
These results and prior research indicate that cognitive SPT transfers to prolonged driving mobility among older adults. Future research should investigate the mechanisms behind transfer effects to real-world activities, such as driving
Do Older Drivers At-Risk for Crashes Modify Their Driving Over Time
Five-year driving habit trajectories among older adults (n = 645) at-risk for crashes were examined. Performance measures included Useful Field of View (UFOV). Motor-Free Visual Perception Test, Rapid Walk, and Foot Tap. Self-report measures included demographics and the Driving Habits Questionnaire. Longitudinal random-effects models revealed that drivers at-risk for subsequent crashes, based upon UFOV, regulated their driving more than the lowe…
Speed of Processing Training in the Active Study: How Much Is Needed and Who Benefits
Cognitive performance improved by 2.5 standard deviations for participants who attended all 10 initial sessions and all 8 booster sessions compared to randomized participants who attended none. Implications for the broader application of cognitive training interventions are discussed
Race-Related Disparities in 5-Year Cognitive Level and Change in Untrained Active Participants
Race-related results in the current study are consistent with previous research suggesting that social advantage factors such as education have a stronger influence on the level of performance than the rate of change. The small remaining effects of being African American on performance levels likely reflect uncontrolled variation in factors like literacy and financial advantage
Evaluating Social Determinants of Health Domains and Their Predictive Validity Within Black/African American and White Older Adults From the Active Trial
This investigation uses baseline data from individuals participating in the ACTIVE trial ( n = 2505) to reproduce the SDoH domains described in Healthy People 2030 (economic stability, health care, education, neighborhood and built environment, and social and community context). Results: Results support using data from the ACTIVE trial to assess all five SDoH domains, and the ability of the composites to predict baseline performance on measures o…
Indicators of Crash Risk in Older Adults: A Longitudinal Analysis From the Active Study
Objective: This study aims to examine indicators of crash risk longitudinally in older adults ( n = 486). Method: This study applied secondary data analyses of the 10 years of follow-up for the ACTIVE study combined with state-recorded crash records from five of the six participating sites. Cox proportional hazards models were first used to examine the effect of each variable of interest at baseline after controlling for miles driven and then to …
Attention and Driving Performance in Alzheimer's Disease
The present study examined the relationship between visual attention measures and driving performance in healthy older adults and individuals with very mild and mild dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT). Subjects were administered an on-road driving assessment and three visual attention tasks (visual search, visual monitoring, and useful field of view). The results indicated that error rate and reaction time during visual search were the best pre…
Attention and Driving Performance in Alzheimer's Disease
The present study examined the relationship between visual attention measures and driving performance in healthy older adults and individuals with very mild and mild dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT). Subjects were administered an on-road driving assessment and three visual attention tasks (visual search, visual monitoring, and useful field of view). The results indicated that error rate and reaction time during visual search were the best pre…
Active
Effects of Cognitive Training Interventions With Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial
CONTEXT: Cognitive function in older adults is related to independent living and need for care. However, few studies have addressed whether improving cognitive functions might have short- or long-term effects on activities related to living independently. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether 3 cognitive training interventions improve mental abilities and daily functioning in older, independent-living adults. DESIGN: Randomized, controlled, single-blind…
Association of Physical Activity and Visual Attention in Older Adults
The preservation of visual attention skills across the life span may be more highly correlated with regular participation in exercise training activities than it is with more general occupational and leisure-related physical activity
Why do women of low socioeconomic status have poorer dietary behaviours than women of higher socioeconomic status? A qualitative exploration
Long-term Effects of Cognitive Training on Everyday Functional Outcomes in Older Adults
CONTEXT: Cognitive training has been shown to improve cognitive abilities in older adults but the effects of cognitive training on everyday function have not been demonstrated. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of cognitive training on daily function and durability of training on cognitive abilities. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Five-year follow-up of a randomized controlled single-blind trial with 4 treatment groups. A volunteer sample o…
Is availability of public open space equitable across areas
The Impact of Speed of Processing Training on Cognitive and Everyday Functions
We combined data from six studies, all using the same speed of processing training program, to examine the mechanisms of training gain and the impact of training on cognitive and everyday abilities of older adults. Results indicated that training produces immediate improvements across all subtests of the Useful Field of View test, particularly for older adults with initial speed of processing deficits. Age and education had little to no impact on…
Longitudinal Predictors of Driving Cessation Among Older Adults From the Active Clinical Trial
We examined the physical, visual, health, and cognitive abilities of 1,656 older adults as prospective predictors of self-reported driving cessation over a 5-year period. We examined the time to driving cessation across 5 years after we controlled for days driven per week at baseline and any cognitive intervention participation. Older age, congestive heart failure, and poorer physical performance (according to the Turn 360 Test) were statisticall…
Visual Function and Cognitive Speed of Processing Mediate Age-Related Decline in Memory Span and Fluid Intelligence
The findings support both the sensory degradation and speed of processing accounts of age-related, cognitive decline. Furthermore, the findings highlight positive aspects of normal cognitive aging in that older age may not be associated with a loss of fluid intelligence if visual sensory functioning and processing speed can be maintained
The Active Cognitive Training Interventions and the Onset of and Recovery from Suspected Clinical Depression
We evaluated the effects of the 3 cognitive interventions fielded in the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly study on 2 subsets of participants-1,606 without and 424 with suspected clinical depression at baseline. In the former group, only the speed of processing (vs. no-contact control) intervention had a significant effect, with its participants being 38% less likely to develop suspected clinical depression at 1 year (…
Does Cognitive Training Improve Internal Locus of Control Among Older Adults
Cognitive training that targets reasoning and speed of processing can improve the cognitive-specific sense of personal control over one's life in older adults
Do Older Drivers At-Risk for Crashes Modify Their Driving Over Time
Five-year driving habit trajectories among older adults (n = 645) at-risk for crashes were examined. Performance measures included Useful Field of View (UFOV). Motor-Free Visual Perception Test, Rapid Walk, and Foot Tap. Self-report measures included demographics and the Driving Habits Questionnaire. Longitudinal random-effects models revealed that drivers at-risk for subsequent crashes, based upon UFOV, regulated their driving more than the lowe…
The Active Cognitive Training Interventions and Trajectories of Performance Among Older Adults
Training can appear to accelerate age-related change, because change over time is coupled with loss of training gains. Our analysis is limited by follow-up that is short for precisely characterizing aging-related change
The Relationship Between Computer Experience and Computerized Cognitive Test Performance Among Older Adults
Findings suggest that computer experience is not uniquely related to performance on computerized cognitive measures compared with paper-and-pencil measures. Because the relationship between computer experience and UFOV was fully attenuated by computer attitudes, this may imply that motivational factors are more influential to UFOV performance than computer experience. Our findings support the hypothesis that computer use is related to cognitive p…
Speed of Processing Training in the Active Study: How Much Is Needed and Who Benefits
Cognitive performance improved by 2.5 standard deviations for participants who attended all 10 initial sessions and all 8 booster sessions compared to randomized participants who attended none. Implications for the broader application of cognitive training interventions are discussed
Race-Related Disparities in 5-Year Cognitive Level and Change in Untrained Active Participants
Race-related results in the current study are consistent with previous research suggesting that social advantage factors such as education have a stronger influence on the level of performance than the rate of change. The small remaining effects of being African American on performance levels likely reflect uncontrolled variation in factors like literacy and financial advantage
Ten‐Year Effects of the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly Cognitive Training Trial on Cognition and Everyday Functioning in Older Adults
OBJECTIVES: To determine the effects of cognitive training on cognitive abilities and everyday function over 10 years. DESIGN: Ten-year follow-up of a randomized, controlled single-blind trial (Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly (ACTIVE)) with three intervention groups and a no-contact control group. SETTING: Six U.S. cities. PARTICIPANTS: A volunteer sample of 2,832 persons (mean baseline age 73.6; 26% African American…
The Transfer of Cognitive Speed of Processing Training to Older Adults’ Driving Mobility Across 5 Years
These results and prior research indicate that cognitive SPT transfers to prolonged driving mobility among older adults. Future research should investigate the mechanisms behind transfer effects to real-world activities, such as driving
A Longitudinal Investigation of Falls and Motor Vehicle Crashes in Older Drivers
Objective: To assess the longitudinal association between fall history reported at a driver's license screening visit and the likelihood of subsequent vehicle crashes. Method: A total of 1,127 older adults were recruited from Maryland State Motor Vehicle Administration sites and interviewed annually over 15 years. Results: Individuals who reported a previous fall were more likely to be female, perform worse on physical functioning and divided att…
Can Individualized-Targeted Computerized Cognitive Training Benefit Adults with HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder? The Training on Purpose Study (Tops)
Indicators of Crash Risk in Older Adults: A Longitudinal Analysis From the Active Study
Objective: This study aims to examine indicators of crash risk longitudinally in older adults ( n = 486). Method: This study applied secondary data analyses of the 10 years of follow-up for the ACTIVE study combined with state-recorded crash records from five of the six participating sites. Cox proportional hazards models were first used to examine the effect of each variable of interest at baseline after controlling for miles driven and then to …
Evaluating Social Determinants of Health Domains and Their Predictive Validity Within Black/African American and White Older Adults From the Active Trial
This investigation uses baseline data from individuals participating in the ACTIVE trial ( n = 2505) to reproduce the SDoH domains described in Healthy People 2030 (economic stability, health care, education, neighborhood and built environment, and social and community context). Results: Results support using data from the ACTIVE trial to assess all five SDoH domains, and the ability of the composites to predict baseline performance on measures o…
Rural-Urban Differences in Cognition: Findings From the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly Trial
ObjectivesWe examined associations between three geographic areas (urban, suburban, rural) and cognition (memory, reasoning, processing speed) over a 10-year period. Methods: Data were obtained from 2539 participants in the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly (ACTIVE) trial. Multilevel, mixed-effects linear regression was used to estimate cognitive trajectories by geographical areas over 10 years, after adjusting for soc…
Does Cognitive Training Reduce Falls across Ten Years: Data from the Active Trial
The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of cognitive training on the risk of experiencing a fall across 10 years. The study used data from the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly (ACTIVE) randomized controlled trial. Older adults aged 65-94 were randomly assigned to speed of processing, memory, or reasoning training or to a no-contact control group ( n = 2802). The experience of a fall in the prior two months…
Medicine (26 works) · Psychology (22 works) · Cognition (20 works) · Psychiatry (19 works) · Gerontology (14 works) · Older Adults Driving Studies (12 works) · Cognitive Training (10 works) · Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research (10 works) · Urban Transport and Accessibility (10 works) · Effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance (9 works)