Distress Symptoms of Old Age and Mild Cognitive Impairment Are Two Distinct Dimensions in Older Adults Without Major Depression

Overview

Journal Psychol Res Behav Manag

Publisher Dove Medical Press

Specialty Social Sciences

Date 2024 Jan 11

PMID 38204566

Authors

Vinh-Long Tran-Chi

Michael Maes

Gallayaporn Nantachai

Solaphat Hemrungrojn

Marco Solmi

Chavit Tunvirachaisakul

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Studies in old adults showed bidirectional interconnections between amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and affective symptoms and that adverse childhood experiences (ACE) may affect both factors. Nevertheless, these associations may be confined to older adults with clinical depression.

Aim: To delineate the relationship between clinical symptoms of aMCI and affective symptoms in older adults without major depression (MDD) or dysfunctions in activities of daily living (ADL).

Methods: This case-control study recruited 61 participants with aMCI (diagnosed using Petersen's criteria) and 59 older adults without aMCI and excluded subjects with MDD and ADL dysfunctions.

Results: We uncovered 2 distinct dimensions, namely distress symptoms of old age (DSOA), comprising affective symptoms, perceived stress and neuroticism, and mild cognitive dysfunctions, comprising episodic memory test scores, the total Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores. A large part of the variance (37.9%) in DSOA scores was explained by ACE, negative life events (health and financial problems), a subjective feeling of cognitive decline, and education (all positively). ACE and NLE have a highly significant impact on the DSOA score and are not associated with aMCI or its severity. Cluster analysis showed that the diagnosis of aMCI is overinclusive because some subjects with DSOA symptoms may be incorrectly classified as aMCI.

Conclusion: The clinical impact is that clinicians should carefully screen older adults for DSOA after excluding MDD. DSOA might be misinterpreted as aMCI.

Citing Articles

Cytokine dysregulation in amnestic mild cognitive impairment.

Tran-Chi V, Maes M, Nantachai G, Hemrungrojn S, Solmi M, Stoyanov D Sci Rep. 2024; 14(1):22486.

PMID: 39341896 PMC: 11439069. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-73099-z.

Neurocognitive Features of Mild Cognitive Impairment and Distress Symptoms in Older Adults Without Major Depression.

Nantachai G, Maes M, Tran-Chi V, Hemrungrojn S, Tunvirachaisakul C Clin Interv Aging. 2024; 19:1445-1459.

PMID: 39185278 PMC: 11345013. DOI: 10.2147/CIA.S473730.

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