The Diagnostic Accuracy of Late-Life Depression is Influenced by Subjective Memory Complaints and Educational Level in an Older Population in Southern Italy

While objective memory performance in older adults was primarily shown to be affected by education as indicator of life course socioeconomic conditions, other life course socioeconomic conditions seem to relate to subjective memory complaints. However, studies differ in which life course stages were investigated. Moreover, studies have explored these effects in an isolated way, but have not yet investigated their unique effect when considering several stages of the life course simultaneously. This study, therefore, examined the respective influence of socioeconomic conditions from childhood up to late-life on prospective memory (PM) performance as an objective indicator of everyday memory as well as on subjective memory complaints (SMC) in older age using structural equation modeling. Data came from two waves of the Vivre-Leben-Vivere aging study (n=993, Mage=80.56). The results indicate that only socioeconomic conditions in adulthood significantly predicted late-life PM performance. PM performance was also predicted by age and self-rated health. In contrast, SMC in older age were not predicted by socioeconomic conditions at any stage of the life course but were predicted by level of depression. In line with the cognitive reserve hypothesis, present results highlight the significance of education and occupation (adulthood socioeconomic conditions) for cognitive functioning in later life.

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An ERP study on facial emotion processing in young people with subjective memory complaints

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-90861-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Vanesa Perez ◽

Ruth Garrido-Chaves ◽

Mario Perez-Alarcón ◽

Tiago O. Paiva ◽

Matias M. Pulopulos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Young People ◽

Early Stage ◽

Emotion Processing ◽

Affective State ◽

Event Related Potential ◽

Facial Emotion ◽

Subjective Memory Complaints ◽

Subjective Memory ◽

Memory Complaints ◽

Facial Emotion Processing

AbstractSubjective memory complaints (SMCs) are commonly related to aging, but they are also presented by young adults. Their neurophysiological mechanisms are not thoroughly understood, although some aspects related to affective state have been mentioned. Here, we investigated whether facial emotion processing is different in young people with (n = 41) and without (n = 39) SMCs who were exposed to positive, negative, and neutral faces, by recording the event-related potential (ERP) activity. From the ERP activity, the N170 (an index of face processing) and the LPP (an index of motivated attention) components were extracted. Regarding the N170, results showed less amplitude for positive and neutral faces in the participants with SMCs than in those without SMCs. Moreover, women with SMCs displayed longer latencies for neutral faces than women without SMCs. No significant differences were found between the groups in the LPP component. Together, our findings suggest deficits in an early stage of facial emotion processing in young people with SMCs, and they emphasize the importance of further examining affective dimensions.

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Z-score neurofeedback, heart rate variability biofeedback, and brain coaching for older adults with memory concerns

Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience ◽

10.3233/rnn-201053 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-29

Author(s):

Kyle D. Meeuwsen ◽

Kayleah M. Groeneveld ◽

Linda A. Walker ◽

Anna M. Mennenga ◽

Rachel K. Tittle ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Boot Camp ◽

Relative Power ◽

Z Score ◽

Subjective Memory Complaints ◽

Subjective Memory ◽

Memory Complaints ◽

Anxiety Depression

Background: The three-month, multidomain Memory Boot Camp program incorporates z-score neurofeedback (NFB), heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback, and one-on-one coaching to teach memory skills and encourage behavior change in diet, sleep, physical fitness, and stress reduction. Objective: This prospective trial evaluates the Memory Boot Camp program for adults ages 55 to 85 with symptoms of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and subjective memory complaints. Methods: Participants were evaluated via the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), NeuroTrax Global Cognitive Index, measures of anxiety, depression, sleep, quality of life, quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG), and HRV parameters at four timepoints: baseline, pre-program, post-program, and follow-up. The trial included a three-month waiting period between baseline and pre-program, such that each participant acted as their own control, and follow-up took place six months after completion of the program. Results: Participants’ MoCA scores and self-reported measures of anxiety, depression, sleep quality, and quality of life improved after treatment, and these changes were maintained at follow-up. Physiological changes in HRV parameters after treatment were not significant, however, breathing rate and QEEG parameters were improved at post-program and maintained at follow-up. Finally, participants’ improvement in MoCA score over the treatment period was correlated with their improvement in two brain oscillation parameters targeted by the z-score NFB protocol: relative power of delta and relative power of theta. Conclusions: Trial results suggest that the Memory Boot Camp program is a promising treatment strategy for older adults with symptoms of MCI and subjective memory complaints.

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