Objectives: To determine if the fear of developing Alzheimer's disease (FDAD) construct, in combination with similar psychoemotional factors, could help elucidate the nature of older adults' subjective memory complaints (SMCs) and subsequent objective memory performance. Methods: One hundred ninety-three healthy older adults (aged 65-93) were administered clinician and self-report measures of depression, worry, anxiety, illness attitudes, and memory, and each rated their concern with developing AD. Results: Self-reported FDAD was not associated with objective memory performance (p > .05). FDAD, trait anxiety, general anxiety, and general and illness-related worry were independently associated with subjective memory report (ps < .05). The relationship between FDAD and subjective memory report was mediated by measures of general trait and state anxiety, but not general worry or illness-specific worry.Conclusions: FDAD was not associated with objective memory functioning, suggesting AD concerns were not reflective of memory pathology. The mediating effect of anxiety on the relationship between FDAD and subjective memory report suggests that assessment of anxiety, beyond AD fear, may help identify older adults at risk for developing negative perceptions of memory and related distress.
Objectives: To determine if the fear of developing Alzheimer's disease (FDAD) construct, in combination with similar psychoemotional factors, could help elucidate the nature of older adults' subjective memory complaints (SMCs) and subsequent objective memory performance. Methods: One hundred ninety-three healthy older adults (aged 65-93) were administered clinician and self-report measures of depression, worry, anxiety, illness attitudes, and memory, and each rated their concern with developing AD. Results: Self-reported FDAD was not associated with objective memory performance (p > .05). FDAD, trait anxiety, general anxiety, and general and illness-related worry were independently associated with subjective memory report (ps < .05). The relationship between FDAD and subjective memory report was mediated by measures of general trait and state anxiety, but not general worry or illness-specific worry.Conclusions: FDAD was not associated with objective memory functioning, suggesting AD concerns were not reflective of memory pathology. The mediating effect of anxiety on the relationship between FDAD and subjective memory report suggests that assessment of anxiety, beyond AD fear, may help identify older adults at risk for developing negative perceptions of memory and related distress.
Entities:
Keywords:
Anticipatory dementia; anxiety; depression; fear of developing Alzheimer’s disease; subjective memory complaints
Authors: Yuri Jang; Eunyoung Choi; Min-Kyoung Rhee; Hyunwoo Yoon; Nan Sook Park; David A Chiriboga Journal: Aging Ment Health Date: 2020-01-31 Impact factor: 3.658
Authors: Kathi L Heffner; Maria M Quiñones; Autumn M Gallegos; Hugh F Crean; Feng Lin; Julie A Suhr Journal: Aging Ment Health Date: 2021-03-30 Impact factor: 3.514
Authors: André Hajek; Franziska Bertram; Victoria van Rüth; Katharina Dost; Wiebke Graf; Anna Brenneke; Veronika Kowalski; Klaus Püschel; Christine Schüler; Benjamin Ondruschka; Fabian Heinrich; Hans-Helmut König Journal: Front Public Health Date: 2022-08-10