Sarah Cines1, Meagan Farrell1, Jason Steffener1, Liz Sullo2, Edward Huey3, Jason Karlawish4, Stephanie Cosentino5. 1. Cognitive Neuroscience Division, Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY. 2. The G.H. Sergievsky Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY. 3. Cognitive Neuroscience Division, Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY; Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY; Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY. 4. Departments of Medicine and Medical Ethics, Alzheimer's Disease Center, Institute on Aging, and Center for Health Incentives, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. 5. Cognitive Neuroscience Division, Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY; The G.H. Sergievsky Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY; Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY. Electronic address: sc2460@cumc.columbia.edu.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between awareness of memory loss and psychological well-being in a nonclinically depressed sample of participants with mild to moderate Alzheimer disease (AD). METHODS: Study participants (N = 104) enrolled through Columbia University Medical Center and the University of Pennsylvania completed clinical and cognitive assessments. Participants were rated with regard to their degree of awareness of memory deficits and completed questionnaires relating to their psychological well-being, including mood and quality of life (QOL). Mediating models were used to establish the relationship between awareness, depression, and QOL and to examine potential mediators of awareness and depression, including psychological distress, objective memory deficits, and negative self-ratings. RESULTS: There was a direct association between awareness of memory deficits and depressed mood but not awareness and QOL. However, there was an indirect association between awareness and QOL through depression. Neither psychological distress, memory deficits, nor negative self-ratings mediated the relationship between awareness and depression. CONCLUSION: Awareness is associated with depressed mood in nonclinically depressed participants with mild to moderate AD. However, depressed mood does not appear to reflect the direct psychological reaction to awareness of memory loss. Moreover, awareness has only an indirect association with QOL via depressed mood. These results suggest that preserved awareness does not have a direct negative impact on overall psychological well-being in AD.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between awareness of memory loss and psychological well-being in a nonclinically depressed sample of participants with mild to moderate Alzheimer disease (AD). METHODS: Study participants (N = 104) enrolled through Columbia University Medical Center and the University of Pennsylvania completed clinical and cognitive assessments. Participants were rated with regard to their degree of awareness of memory deficits and completed questionnaires relating to their psychological well-being, including mood and quality of life (QOL). Mediating models were used to establish the relationship between awareness, depression, and QOL and to examine potential mediators of awareness and depression, including psychological distress, objective memory deficits, and negative self-ratings. RESULTS: There was a direct association between awareness of memory deficits and depressed mood but not awareness and QOL. However, there was an indirect association between awareness and QOL through depression. Neither psychological distress, memory deficits, nor negative self-ratings mediated the relationship between awareness and depression. CONCLUSION: Awareness is associated with depressed mood in nonclinically depressed participants with mild to moderate AD. However, depressed mood does not appear to reflect the direct psychological reaction to awareness of memory loss. Moreover, awareness has only an indirect association with QOL via depressed mood. These results suggest that preserved awareness does not have a direct negative impact on overall psychological well-being in AD.
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Authors: R Migliorelli; A Tesón; L Sabe; G Petracca; M Petracchi; R Leiguarda; S E Starkstein Journal: J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci Date: 1995 Impact factor: 2.198
Authors: Rachel L Nosheny; Rebecca Amariglio; Sietske A M Sikkes; Carol Van Hulle; Maria Aparecida Camargos Bicalho; N Maritza Dowling; Sonia Maria Dozzi Brucki; Zahinoor Ismail; Kensaku Kasuga; Elizabeth Kuhn; Katya Numbers; Anna Aaronson; Davide Vito Moretti; Arturo X Pereiro; Gonzalo Sánchez-Benavides; Allis F Sellek Rodríguez; Prabitha Urwyler; Kristina Zawaly Journal: Alzheimers Dement (N Y) Date: 2022-10-04