The impact of acute stress on cognitive functioning: a matter of cognitive demands?

Objectives: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with impairments in both cognition and functioning. However, whether cognitive deficits significantly contribute to impaired psychosocial and occupational functioning, independent of other depressive symptoms, is not well established. We examined the relationship between cognitive performance and functioning in depressed patients before and after antidepressant treatment using secondary data from the first Canadian Biomarker Integration Network in Depression-1 study. Methods: Cognition was assessed at baseline in unmedicated, depressed participants with MDD ( n = 207) using the Central Nervous System Vital Signs computerized battery, psychosocial functioning with the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS), and occupational functioning with the Lam Employment Absence and Productivity Scale (LEAPS). Cognition ( n = 181), SDS ( n = 175), and LEAPS ( n = 118) were reassessed after participants received 8 weeks of open-label escitalopram monotherapy. A series of linear regressions were conducted to determine (1) whether cognitive functioning was associated with psychosocial and occupational functioning prior to treatment, after adjusting for overall depressive symptom severity and (2) whether changes in cognitive functioning after an 8-week treatment phase were associated with changes in psychosocial and occupational functioning, after adjusting for changes in overall symptom severity. Results: Baseline global cognitive functioning, after adjusting for depression symptom severity and demographic variables, was associated with the SDS work/study subscale (β = −0.17; P = 0.03) and LEAPS productivity subscale (β = −0.17; P = 0.05), but not SDS total (β = 0.19; P = 0.12) or LEAPS total (β = 0.41; P = 0.17) scores. Although LEAPS and SDS scores showed significant improvements after 8 weeks of treatment ( P < 0.001), there were no significant associations between changes in cognitive domain scores and functional improvements. Conclusion: Cognition was associated with occupational functioning at baseline, but changes in cognition were not associated with psychosocial or occupational functional improvements following escitalopram treatment. We recommend the use of more comprehensive functional assessments to determine the impact of cognitive change on functional outcomes in future research.

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The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on wellbeing and cognitive functioning of older adults

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-84127-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Sarah De Pue ◽

Céline Gillebert ◽

Eva Dierckx ◽

Marie-Anne Vanderhasselt ◽

Rudi De Raedt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

At Risk ◽

Sleep Quality ◽

Cognitive Functioning ◽

Online Survey ◽

Activity Level ◽

The Impact

AbstractCOVID-19 took a heavy toll on older adults. In Belgium, by the end of August, 93% of deaths due to COVID-19 were aged 65 or older. Similar trends were observed in other countries. As a consequence, older adults were identified as a group at risk, and strict governmental restrictions were imposed on them. This has caused concerns about their mental health. Using an online survey, this study established the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adults aged 65 years or older, and which factors moderate this impact. Participants reported a significant decrease in activity level, sleep quality and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Depression was strongly related to reported declines in activity level, sleep quality, wellbeing and cognitive functioning. Our study shows that the COVID-19 pandemic had a severe impact on the mental health of older adults. This implies that this group at risk requires attention of governments and healthcare.

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The Relationship Between Daily Rapid-Eye Movement Sleep and Cognitive Functioning in Older Adults

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.518 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 159-159

Author(s):

Tiana Broen ◽

Tomiko Yoneda ◽

Jonathan Rush ◽

Jamie Knight ◽

Nathan Lewis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Working Memory ◽

Cognitive Functioning ◽

Eye Movement ◽

Rem Sleep ◽

Cognitive Tests ◽

Rapid Eye Movement ◽

Targeted Interventions ◽

The Impact ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Previous cross-sectional research suggests that age-related decreases in Rapid-Eye Movement (REM) sleep may contribute to poorer cognitive functioning (CF); however, few studies have examined the relationship at the intraindividual level by measuring habitual sleep over multiple days. Applying a 14-day daily diary design, the current study examines the dynamic relationship between REM sleep and CF in 69 healthy older adults (M age=70.8 years, SD=3.37; 73.9% female; 66.6% completed at least an undergraduate degree). A Fitbit device provided actigraphy indices of REM sleep (minutes and percentage of total sleep time), while CF was measured four times daily on a smartphone via ambulatory cognitive tests that captured processing speed and working memory. This research addressed the following questions: At the within-person level, are fluctuations in quantity of REM sleep associated with fluctuations in next day cognitive measures across days? Do individuals who spend more time in REM sleep on average, perform better on cognitive tests than adults who spend less time in REM sleep? A series of multilevel models were fit to examine the extent to which each index of sleep accounted for daily fluctuations in performance on next day cognitive tests. Results indicated that during nights when individuals had more REM sleep minutes than was typical, they performed better on the working memory task the next morning (estimate = -.003, SE = .002, p = .02). These results highlight the impact of REM sleep on CF, and further research may allow for targeted interventions for earlier treatment of sleep-related cognitive impairment.

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Spousal Loss and Cognitive Functioning: Do Pre-Loss Marital Quality and Gender Matter?

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1178 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 366-366

Author(s):

Joohong Min ◽

Jieun Song

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Decline ◽

Cognitive Functioning ◽

Marital Quality ◽

The United States ◽

Cognitive Change ◽

Life Transitions ◽

Cognitive Changes ◽

Spousal Loss ◽

And Gender ◽

The Impact

Abstract Prior research has found that the risk of cognitive decline increases after the death of a spouse. In general, the impact of life transitions is contingent on contextual factors such as socio-demographic characteristics or relationship quality. However, there is limited research on how marital quality before spousal loss and gender influence the association between spousal loss and cognitive change. The current study examines the effects of spousal loss on change in cognitive functioning as well as the moderating effects of pre-loss marital quality and gender. Data from two waves of the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study were analyzed (MIDUS2: 2004-05, MIDUS3: 2013-14). The analytic sample consists of two groups: (1) 179 bereaved adults who were age 54 or older at MIDUS2 (M = 65.2, SD = 9.5) and whose spouses died between MIDUS2 and MIDUS3, and (2) 179 non-bereaved adults, matched with the bereaved group on age and gender, who did not experience spousal loss between the two waves. Cognitive function was assessed via BTACT (Brief Telephone Adult Cognition Test) at both waves. Regression results show that both pre-loss marital quality and gender significantly moderate the association between spousal loss and change in cognitive functioning. Specifically, relative to their counterparts, men and those who reported better marital relationships prior to spousal death had a greater risk of cognitive decline after a spouse’s death. The findings suggest the significance of pre-loss marital quality and gender for cognitive changes in widowhood and have implications for the development of efficient interventions

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The Association between Physical Activity and Selected Parameters of Psychological Status and Dementia in Older Women

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18147549 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (14) ◽

pp. 7549

Author(s):

Angelika Cisek-Woźniak ◽

Kinga Mruczyk ◽

Rafał W. Wójciak

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Cognitive Functioning ◽

Cognitive Functions ◽

Protective Factor ◽

The Elderly ◽

Regular Physical Activity ◽

Psychological Status ◽

The Impact

Physical activity has an unquestionable impact on broadly understood human health. One interesting issue related to this is the importance of movement on mental health and cognitive functioning. Research shows that regular physical activity improves the cognitive functioning of adults and people with mental disorders. Regular physical activity can be an important and powerful protective factor in cognitive impairment and dementia in the elderly, and exercise is an important non-pharmacological treatment for mild cognitive impairment or neurodegenerative diseases. This study aims to present the impact of physical activity on selected cognitive functions in physically active women over 60 years of age. The research was carried out in a group of 110 generally healthy women from the area of western Poland over 60 years of age, who were divided into four groups based on the intensity of their physical activity. A pedometer (sport watch) and a physical activity diary were used to measure physical activity. Body Mass Index was assessed. Selected cognitive functions were assessed using the MMSE test, motor and psychomotor skills were measured, and Luria’s auditory memory test and recall test, a clock drawing test, and a GDS test were performed. There were statistically significant relationships between the level of physical activity and the effectiveness of cognitive processes. These results show that about 5000 steps a day is enough to see a positive effect on the mental health and cognitive functioning of this group of the elderly population. The women had an average BMI of 28.1 ± 4.7. BMI, indicating an overweight condition (over 30 kg/m2), was observed in 31% of women. The results of this study lead the authors to conclude that physical activity positively influences cognitive function and can be recommended for all seniors who do not have other serious comorbidities that would prevent them from playing sports.

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The Impact of Insomnia on Cognitive Functioning in Older Adults

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society ◽

10.1046/j.1532-5415.2001.49235.x ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 49 (9) ◽

pp. 1185-1189 ◽

Cited By ~ 220

Author(s):

Meredith Cricco ◽

Eleanor M. Simonsick ◽

Daniel J. Foley

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Functioning ◽

The Impact

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The effects of telehealth use for post-acute rehabilitation patient outcomes

Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare ◽

10.1177/1357633x16686771 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 24 (3) ◽

pp. 179-184 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Stephanie A Hicks ◽

Verena R Cimarolli

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Functioning ◽

Patient Outcomes ◽

Skilled Nursing Facility ◽

Functional Independence ◽

Emergency Department Visits ◽

Nursing Facility ◽

Skilled Nursing ◽

Rehabilitation Care ◽

Acute Rehabilitation ◽

The Impact

Introduction Previous research has shown that home telehealth services can reduce hospitalisations and emergency department visits and improve clinical outcomes among older adults with chronic conditions. However, there is a lack of research on the impact of telehealth (TH) use on patient outcomes in post-acute rehabilitation settings. The current study examined the effects of TH for post-acute rehabilitation patient outcomes (i.e. discharge setting and change in functional independence) when controlling for other factors (e.g. cognitive functioning). Methods For this retrospective study, electronic medical records (EMRs) of 294 patients who were discharged from a post-acute rehabilitation unit at a skilled nursing facility were reviewed. Only patients with an admitting condition of a circulatory disease based on ICD-9 classification were included. Main EMR data extracted included use of TH, cognitive functioning, admission and discharge functional independence, and discharge setting (returning home vs. returning to acute care/re-hospitalisation). Results Results from a regression analysis showed that although TH use was unrelated to post-acute rehabilitation care transition, it was significantly related to change in functional independence. Patients who used TH during their stay had significantly more improvement in functional independence from admission to discharge when compared to those who did not use TH. Discussion Findings indicate that TH use during post-acute rehabilitation has the potential to improve patient physical functioning.

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Physiological responses to acute stress and the drive to eat: The impact of perceived life stress

Appetite ◽

10.1016/j.appet.2018.11.019 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 133 ◽

pp. 393-399 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Rebecca R. Klatzkin ◽

Allie Baldassaro ◽

Saniya Rashid

Keyword(s):

Life Stress ◽

Acute Stress ◽

Physiological Responses ◽

The Impact

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