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Awareness of memory functioning in early Alzheimer's disease: lessons from a comparison with healthy older people and young adults
- Authors:
- OYEBODE J. R., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 11(6), November 2007, pp.761-767.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
To compare awareness of memory in people with early Alzheimer's disease (AD) with older and younger control groups in order to clarify the contributions of disease and ageing. Twenty-one individuals with early AD, 32 older people (OP) and 32 younger people (YP) estimated their performance before and following each of four tests of memory. Those with AD significantly overestimated performance prior to testing, confirming the presence of unawareness for prediction. Their estimates were adjusted for age in a similar way to those of OP, who predicted their performance accurately. Younger people significantly underestimated their performance. Following memory tests, YP and those with AD significantly adjusted their ratings towards greater accuracy but on average those with AD still overestimated. There were variations in post-test ratings from over to under prediction in all three groups. Heightened awareness post-performance may open possibilities of cognitive rehabilitation to consolidate momentary into more long-term awareness, whilst the operation of possible psychosocial influences suggests that emotion oriented interventions to increase acceptance and decrease shame might be helpful.
Are loneliness and social isolation associated with cognitive decline?
- Authors:
- LARA Elvira, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 34(11), 2019, pp.1613-1622.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Objective: This study aimed to examine the association of loneliness and social isolation on cognition over a 3‐year follow‐up period in middle‐ and older‐aged adults. Methods: Data from a Spanish nationally representative sample were analyzed (n = 1691; aged 50 years or older). Loneliness, social isolation, and cognition (immediate recall, delayed recall, verbal fluency, forward digit span, backward digit span, and a composite cognitive score) were assessed both at baseline and at follow‐up. Adjusted generalized estimating equations models were performed. Results: Loneliness was significantly associated with lower scores in the composite cognitive score, immediate and delayed recall, verbal fluency, and backward digit span (B = −0.14 to B = −3.16; P < .05) and with a more rapid decline from baseline to follow‐up in two out of six cognitive tests. Higher social isolation was associated with lower scores in the composite cognitive score, verbal fluency, and forward digit span (B = −0.06 to B = −0.85; P < .05). The effect of loneliness and social isolation on cognition remained significant after the exclusion of individuals with depression. Conclusions: Both loneliness and social isolation are associated with decreased cognitive function over a 3‐year follow‐up period. The development of interventions that include the enhancement of social participation and the maintenance of emotionally supportive relationships might contribute to cognitive decline prevention and risk reduction. (Publisher abstract)
Working out at the memory gym
- Author:
- BARNES Colin
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Dementia Care, 18(1), January 2010, pp.18-19.
- Publisher:
- Hawker
Using the example of groups for people with mild memory problems run by speech and language therapists in Portsmouth, this article reports on therapy for people with mild memory impairment. It describes how, after reviewing the therapy programme in 2006, the team identified three key factors to drive future service developments: a clear link between achieving improvement in function and mildness of memory impairment, an increasing health promotion and prevention agenda locally and nationally recognising the importance of good cognitive health, and an increase in referrals of people who were presenting with very mild memory impairments. A new form of memory group for people with very mild memory impairment was established, called the Memory Gym, using paper-based and computer-based exercises, and aiming to provide support and advice for people with very mild memory impairments, explore the use of cognitive exercises in a group setting, enable individuals to identify the most suitable memory strategies and cognitive exercises for their own use, enable individuals to develop lasting memory strategy use, and enable the development of resources and experience that could be used to promote cognitive exercise more widely in Portsmouth. The first three groups were evaluated using client reports and a client-completed evaluation form, with generally positive results.
Specificity of autobiographical memory in depressed older adults and its relationship with working memory and IQ
- Authors:
- BIRCH Lucy S., DAVIDSON Kate M.
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 46(2), June 2007, pp.175-186.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The study investigated whether depressed older adults retrieve fewer specific memories and more categoric memories than non-depressed older adults on the autobiographical memory test (AMT). The second objective was to investigate the relationship between AMT performance and both working memory and intelligence quotient (IQ). The study was cross-sectional, involving a single interview with each participant. A group of 17 depressed participants was matched for age, gender and education with a group of 17 non-depressed participants. All were screened for cognitive impairment. Participants completed the AMT, spatial span and letter-number sequencing subtests of the Wechsler Memory Scale III and the Wechsler Test of Adult Reading. The depressed group retrieved significantly fewer specific memories than the non-depressed group, but did not differ in their categoric memory recall. Specific memory scores were positively correlated with measures of working memory, but not with IQ. Categoric memory scores were negatively correlated with measures of working memory, but not with IQ.Depression adversely affects older adults' ability to retrieve specific memories. Working memory capacity was related to specific autobiographical memory retrieval independently of IQ. A strong relationship between AMT performance and spatial span is discussed.
Personality and behavioural changes do not precede memory problems as possible signs of dementia in ageing people with Down syndrome
- Authors:
- BLOK J.B., SCHEIRS J.G.M., THIJM N.S.
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 32(12), 2017, pp.1257-1263.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Objective: The objective was to find out whether changes in personality and adaptive functioning or memory processes decline first in ageing people with Down syndrome. Methods: The authors measured these variables cross-sectionally in a Dutch sample (22 to 62 years of age) of 68 institutionalised people with Down syndrome. Results: The scores on all the variables except one of the temperament scales were found to decline gradually with increasing age, but deterioration of episodic memory started earlier. Conclusions: The authors argued that a subset of their sample suffered from dementia. Furthermore, the data suggested that immediate memory impairment is one of the earliest signs of the disease in people with Down syndrome, just as it is in the general population. (Edited publisher abstract)
Cognitive and psychiatric predictors of medical treatment adherence among older adults in primary care clinics
- Authors:
- MACKIN R. Scott, AREAN Patricia A.
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 22(1), January 2007, pp.55-60.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Medical treatment non-adherence among older adults is common and represents a significant public health care concern. Treatment non-adherence has been associated with a number of factors in older adults; however few studies have delineated the role of cognition and psychiatric status. Data were collected from 212 ethnically diverse older primary care patients as part of a larger study. Cognitive status was evaluated with the Mattis Dementia Rating scale (DRS). Psychiatric status was evaluated using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Treatment adherence was assessed by the total number of missed healthcare appointments and by physician and patient ratings. Physician ratings of patients' understanding of medical instructions were also obtained. A series of multiple regression analyses were conducted to determine cognitive and psychiatric predictors for each measure of treatment adherence. GDS and DRS memory scores were both independent predictors of the total number of missed medical appointments, F(7,55) = 2.34, p = 0.038. GDS score was also shown to be a significant predictor of physician ratings of patients' understanding of medical instructions, F(7,33) = 0.89, p = 0.031. Neither cognitive performance nor psychiatric status was associated with patient or physician ratings of treatment adherence. Measures of cognitive functioning and depression severity were supported as predictors of objective measures of treatment adherence but they were not associated with physician or patient ratings of adherence. Patient depression may influence physician ratings of patients' comprehension of medical instructions