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NIH Toolbox for assessment of neurological and behavioral function
March 11, 2013

NIH Toolbox for Assessment of Neurological and Behavioral Function

March 12, 2013 issue
80 (11_supplement_3) S2-S6

Abstract

At present, there are many studies that collect information on aspects of neurologic and behavioral function (cognition, sensation, movement, emotion), but with little uniformity among the measures used to capture these constructs. Further, available measures are generally expensive, normed on homogenous nondiverse populations, not easily administered, do not cover the lifespan (or have easily linked pediatric and adult counterparts for the purposes of longitudinal comparison), and not based on the current thinking in the neuroscience community. There is also a paucity of measurement tools to gauge normal children in the motor and sensation domain areas, and many of these measures rely heavily on proxy reporting. Investigators have expressed the need for brief assessment tools that could address these issues and be used as a form of “common currency” across diverse study designs and populations. This ability to assess functionality along a common metric and “crosswalk” across measures is essential to the process of being able to pool data, which is often necessary when a large and diverse sample is needed. When individual studies employ unique assessment batteries, comparisons between studies and combining data from multiple studies can be problematic. The contract for the NIH Toolbox for the Assessment of Neurological and Behavioral Function (www.nihtoolbox.org) was initiated by the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research (www.neuroscienceblueprint.nih.gov) to develop a set of state-of-the-art measurement tools to enhance collection of data in large cohort studies and to advance the biomedical research enterprise.

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Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Neurology®
Volume 80Number 11_supplement_3March 12, 2013
Pages: S2-S6
PubMed: 23479538

Publication History

Received: June 6, 2012
Accepted: July 6, 2012
Published online: March 11, 2013
Published in print: March 12, 2013

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Disclosure

R. Gershon has received personal compensation for activities as a speaker and consultant with Sylvan Learning, Rockman, and the American Board of Podiatric Surgery. He has several grants awarded by NIH: N01-AG-6-0007, 1U5AR057943-01, HHSN260200600007, 1U01DK082342-01, AG-260-06-01, HD05469, NINDS: U01 NS 056 975 02, NHLBI K23: K23HL085766, NIA: 1RC2AG036498-01, NIDRR: H133B090024, OppNet: N01-AG-6-0007. M. Wagster reports no disclosures. H. Hendrie currently receives research funding from NIH/NIA grants #R01AG009956, R24MH080827, 5R01AG026096-05, UF20303/U01AG022376, R01AG031222, R01AG019181, and R01AG029884. N. Fox is funded by NIH grants R37HD017899, MH074454, U01MH080759, R01MH091363, P50MH078105, and P01HD064653. He serves on the scientific board of the National Scientific Council for the Developing Child. K. Cook has received financial support from Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation Boston University, InvivoData, Xenoport, BrightOucome, the NIH, Veteran's Affairs Research and Development, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDDR), and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). In addition to NIH Toolbox, Dr. Cook receives other funding from NIH (5RC1NR011804-02 and 1U5AR057943-01). She also is currently supported by grants from NIDDR (H133B090024) and AHRQ (1R03HS020700-01). C. Nowinski receives or has received research support from the NIH (contracts HHSN265200423601C, HHSN260200600007C, and HHSN267200700027C), the Department of Veteran's Affairs, the Analysis Group, Novartis, and Teva Pharmaceuticals. She has also received honoraria for writing an article for Medlink. Go to Neurology.org for full disclosures.

Study Funding

This study is funded in whole or in part with Federal funds from the Blueprint for Neuroscience Research, NIH, under Contract No. HHS-N-260-2006-00007-C.

Authors

Affiliations & Disclosures

Richard C. Gershon, PhD
From the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine (R.C.G., K.F.C., C.J.N.), Chicago, IL; National Institute on Aging (M.V.W.), Bethesda, MD; Center for Aging Research (H.C.H.), Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis; and University of Maryland (N.A.F.), College Park.
Disclosure
Scientific Advisory Boards:
1.
NONE
Gifts:
1.
NONE
Funding for Travel or Speaker Honoraria:
1.
NONE
Editorial Boards:
1.
NONE
Patents:
1.
NONE
Publishing Royalties:
1.
NONE
Employment, Commercial Entity:
1.
NONE
Consultancies:
1.
American Board of Podiatric Surgery Rockman et al. Sylvan Learning
Speakers' Bureaus:
1.
NONE
Other Activities:
1.
NONE
Clinical Procedures or Imaging Studies:
1.
NONE
Research Support, Commercial Entities:
1.
NONE
Research Support, Government Entities:
1.
National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, HHSN 265200436, Co-Investigator, 2004-2009; National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, U01 AR 052 177, Co-Investigator, 2004-2009; Heart, Lung and Blood Institute R01HL81485-03, Co-Investigator, 2005-2008; National Institutes of Health, U01 AR052177-01S1, Co-Investigator, 2005-2009; National Institutes of Health, CA 60068-11, Co-Investigator, 2005-2009; Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), “Post-Acute Care: Patient-Assessment Instrument Development”, Site Principal Investigator, 2006-2008; National Institutes of Health, AG-260-06-01, Principal Investigator, 2006-2011; National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, U01 NS 056 975 02, Co-Investigator, 2006-2011; National Institutes of Health,5U01AR052171-04, Site Principal Investigator, 2007-2008; NIDRR, H133B040032, Site Principal Investigator, 2007-2009; NIDRR, “Quality of Life in Traumatic Brain Injury Research and Practice: Development of the TBI-QO,” Site Principal Investigator, 2007-2010; National Institutes of Health, HD05469, Site Principal Investigator, 2007-2012; National Institutes of Health, NHLBI K23 Award, Co-Investigator, 2007-2012; National Cancer Institute, CA 60068-13, Co-Investigator, 2007-2009; National Institutes of Health, “Interactive Mechanisms of Pelvic Pain,” Site Principal Investigator, 2008-2013;National Institutes of Health. Modification No 005, HHSN260200600007, N01-AG-6-0007, Principal Investigator, 2008-2011; National Institutes of Health, Modification No 005, HHSN260200600007, N01-AG-6-0007, Principal Investigator, 2008-2011; National Institutes on Aging, 1RC2AG036498-01, Principal Investigator, 2009-2011; National Institutes of Health Roadmap Initiative, “PROMIS Technical Center”, Principal Investigator, 2009-2013; NIDRR, “RRTC Measuring Rehabilitation Outcomes and Effectiveness“, Site Principal Investigator, 2010-2014; National Institutes of Health, “OMB Extension for NIH Toolbox for Assessment of Neurological and Behavioral Function”, Principal Investigator, 2011; OppNet, the NIH Basic Behavioral and Social Science Opportunity Network Principal Investigator, “Extended Norming for the NIH Toolbox for Assessment of Neurological and Behavioral Function”, 2011-2012; A Community Health Applied Research Network (CHARN) funded under the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA-10-154), Co-Investigator, 2010-2013
Research Support, Academic Entities:
1.
NONE
Research Support, Foundations and Societies:
1.
American Cancer Society, RSG-01-221-01-PBP, Co-Investigator, 2003-2006
Stock/stock Options/board of Directors Compensation:
1.
NONE
License Fee Payments, Technology or Inventions:
1.
NONE
Royalty Payments, Technology or Inventions:
1.
NONE
Stock/stock Options, Research Sponsor:
1.
NONE
Stock/stock Options, Medical Equipment & Materials:
1.
NONE
Legal Proceedings:
1.
NONE
Molly V. Wagster, PhD
From the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine (R.C.G., K.F.C., C.J.N.), Chicago, IL; National Institute on Aging (M.V.W.), Bethesda, MD; Center for Aging Research (H.C.H.), Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis; and University of Maryland (N.A.F.), College Park.
Disclosure
Scientific Advisory Boards:
1.
NONE
Gifts:
1.
NONE
Funding for Travel or Speaker Honoraria:
1.
NONE
Editorial Boards:
1.
NONE
Patents:
1.
NONE
Publishing Royalties:
1.
NONE
Employment, Commercial Entity:
1.
NONE
Consultancies:
1.
NONE
Speakers' Bureaus:
1.
NONE
Other Activities:
1.
NONE
Clinical Procedures or Imaging Studies:
1.
NONE
Research Support, Commercial Entities:
1.
NONE
Research Support, Government Entities:
1.
NONE
Research Support, Academic Entities:
1.
NONE
Research Support, Foundations and Societies:
1.
NONE
Stock/stock Options/board of Directors Compensation:
1.
NONE
License Fee Payments, Technology or Inventions:
1.
NONE
Royalty Payments, Technology or Inventions:
1.
NONE
Stock/stock Options, Research Sponsor:
1.
NONE
Stock/stock Options, Medical Equipment & Materials:
1.
NONE
Legal Proceedings:
1.
NONE
Hugh C. Hendrie, MB, ChB, DSc
From the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine (R.C.G., K.F.C., C.J.N.), Chicago, IL; National Institute on Aging (M.V.W.), Bethesda, MD; Center for Aging Research (H.C.H.), Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis; and University of Maryland (N.A.F.), College Park.
Disclosure
Scientific Advisory Boards:
1.
NONE
Gifts:
1.
NONE
Funding for Travel or Speaker Honoraria:
1.
NONE
Editorial Boards:
1.
NONE
Patents:
1.
NONE
Publishing Royalties:
1.
NONE
Employment, Commercial Entity:
1.
NONE
Consultancies:
1.
NONE
Speakers' Bureaus:
1.
NONE
Other Activities:
1.
NONE
Clinical Procedures or Imaging Studies:
1.
NONE
Research Support, Commercial Entities:
1.
NONE
Research Support, Government Entities:
1.
NIH
Research Support, Academic Entities:
1.
NONE
Research Support, Foundations and Societies:
1.
NONE
Stock/stock Options/board of Directors Compensation:
1.
NONE
License Fee Payments, Technology or Inventions:
1.
NONE
Royalty Payments, Technology or Inventions:
1.
NONE
Stock/stock Options, Research Sponsor:
1.
NONE
Stock/stock Options, Medical Equipment & Materials:
1.
NONE
Legal Proceedings:
1.
NONE
Nathan A. Fox, PhD
From the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine (R.C.G., K.F.C., C.J.N.), Chicago, IL; National Institute on Aging (M.V.W.), Bethesda, MD; Center for Aging Research (H.C.H.), Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis; and University of Maryland (N.A.F.), College Park.
Disclosure
Scientific Advisory Boards:
1.
National Scientific Council for the Developing Child (non profit entity)
Gifts:
1.
NONE
Funding for Travel or Speaker Honoraria:
1.
Penn State University speaker honorarium
Editorial Boards:
1.
International Journal of Behavioral Development Associate Editor, 2009-2012
Patents:
1.
NONE
Publishing Royalties:
1.
NONE
Employment, Commercial Entity:
1.
NONE
Consultancies:
1.
NIH Toolbox, Executive Committee
Speakers' Bureaus:
1.
NONE
Other Activities:
1.
NONE
Clinical Procedures or Imaging Studies:
1.
NONE
Research Support, Commercial Entities:
1.
NONE
Research Support, Government Entities:
1.
NIMH MH093349, PI, 2011-2016
Research Support, Academic Entities:
1.
NONE
Research Support, Foundations and Societies:
1.
NONE
Stock/stock Options/board of Directors Compensation:
1.
NONE
License Fee Payments, Technology or Inventions:
1.
NONE
Royalty Payments, Technology or Inventions:
1.
NONE
Stock/stock Options, Research Sponsor:
1.
NONE
Stock/stock Options, Medical Equipment & Materials:
1.
NONE
Legal Proceedings:
1.
NONE
Karon F. Cook, PhD
From the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine (R.C.G., K.F.C., C.J.N.), Chicago, IL; National Institute on Aging (M.V.W.), Bethesda, MD; Center for Aging Research (H.C.H.), Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis; and University of Maryland (N.A.F.), College Park.
Disclosure
Scientific Advisory Boards:
1.
1. Focus on Therapeutic Outcomes (FOTO), Scientific Advisory Board
Gifts:
1.
NONE
Funding for Travel or Speaker Honoraria:
1.
NONE
Editorial Boards:
1.
Quality of Life Research, Associate Editor
Patents:
1.
NONE
Publishing Royalties:
1.
NONE
Employment, Commercial Entity:
1.
NONE
Consultancies:
1.
Invivodata XenoPort Focus on Therapeutic Outcomes (FOTO) Boston University University of Buffalo
Speakers' Bureaus:
1.
NONE
Other Activities:
1.
NONE
Clinical Procedures or Imaging Studies:
1.
NONE
Research Support, Commercial Entities:
1.
NONE
Research Support, Government Entities:
1.
NONE
Research Support, Academic Entities:
1.
NONE
Research Support, Foundations and Societies:
1.
NONE
Stock/stock Options/board of Directors Compensation:
1.
NONE
License Fee Payments, Technology or Inventions:
1.
NONE
Royalty Payments, Technology or Inventions:
1.
NONE
Stock/stock Options, Research Sponsor:
1.
NONE
Stock/stock Options, Medical Equipment & Materials:
1.
NONE
Legal Proceedings:
1.
NONE
Cindy J. Nowinski, MD, PhD
From the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine (R.C.G., K.F.C., C.J.N.), Chicago, IL; National Institute on Aging (M.V.W.), Bethesda, MD; Center for Aging Research (H.C.H.), Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis; and University of Maryland (N.A.F.), College Park.
Disclosure
Scientific Advisory Boards:
1.
NONE
Gifts:
1.
NONE
Funding for Travel or Speaker Honoraria:
1.
NONE
Editorial Boards:
1.
I am a guest editor of the special Neurology issue of which this paper is going to be part of (if the paper is accepted).
Patents:
1.
NONE
Publishing Royalties:
1.
NONE
Employment, Commercial Entity:
1.
NONE
Consultancies:
1.
NONE
Speakers' Bureaus:
1.
NONE
Other Activities:
1.
NONE
Clinical Procedures or Imaging Studies:
1.
NONE
Research Support, Commercial Entities:
1.
1) Teva Neurosciences, Inc 2) Novartis 3) Analysis Group
Research Support, Government Entities:
1.
1) NIH, HHSN 2652004236-01C, co-I, 9/30/04-9/29/10;HHSN 260200600007C, co-I, 9/30/06-9/29/11;3U01AR052177-06S1, co-I, 09/28/04-4/29/11; HHSN 26720070027C, co-I, 6/01/11-9/30/12;1R01CA174452-01, co-I, 9/24/12-9/29/17 2) Department of Veteran Affairs, B6237R, co-I, 3/31/09-4/1/11.
Research Support, Academic Entities:
1.
NONE
Research Support, Foundations and Societies:
1.
National Quality Forum
Stock/stock Options/board of Directors Compensation:
1.
NONE
License Fee Payments, Technology or Inventions:
1.
NONE
Royalty Payments, Technology or Inventions:
1.
NONE
Stock/stock Options, Research Sponsor:
1.
NONE
Stock/stock Options, Medical Equipment & Materials:
1.
NONE
Legal Proceedings:
1.
NONE

Notes

Correspondence to Dr. Gershon: [email protected]
Go to Neurology.org for full disclosures. Funding information and disclosures deemed relevant by the authors, if any, are provided at the end of the article.
This article was written in part by authors in their capacity as NIH employees, but the views expressed in the article do not necessarily represent those of the NIH.

Author Contributions

Richard Gershon: drafting/revising the manuscript, analysis or interpretation of data, contribution of vital reagents/tools/patients. Molly Wagster: drafting/revising the manuscript, study concept or design, study supervision. Hugh Hendrie: drafting/revising the manuscript, study concept or design. Nathan Fox: drafting/revising the manuscript, study concept or design, analysis or interpretation of data, study supervision. Karon Cook: drafting/revising the manuscript. Cindy Nowinski: drafting/revising the manuscript.

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