Dataset Information

Actual memory as a mediator of the amyloid-subjective cognitive decline relationship.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Amyloid pathology in cognitively normal adults is associated with subjective cognitive decline, potentially reflecting awareness of Alzheimer's-related memory deficits. To clarify the mechanism underlying this relationship, we used mediational analyses to determine the role of depression, anxiety, and actual memory performance.

Methods

To assess amyloid deposition, we imaged 85 cognitively normal adults with florbetapir positron emission tomography imaging. Subjective cognitive decline was measured using a multidimensional instrument that assessed seven subjective memory domains. Mediational measures included assessments of actual memory performance (current and retrospective longitudinal change), depression, and anxiety.

Results

The relationship between amyloid and subjective cognitive decline was mediated by poorer memory performance and greater retrospective memory decline, not depression or anxiety. The mediational roles were significant for domains associated with memory function and memory-related anxiety.

Discussion

In individuals harboring amyloid, self-reported beliefs of declining memory likely indicate early self-awareness of actual worsening function rather than depression or anxiety.

SUBMITTER: Chen X

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6376166 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Actual memory as a mediator of the amyloid-subjective cognitive decline relationship.

Chen Xi X Farrell Michelle E ME Moore William W Park Denise C DC

Alzheimer's & dementia (Amsterdam, Netherlands) 20190214

<h4>Introduction</h4>Amyloid pathology in cognitively normal adults is associated with subjective cognitive decline, potentially reflecting awareness of Alzheimer's-related memory deficits. To clarify the mechanism underlying this relationship, we used mediational analyses to determine the role of depression, anxiety, and actual memory performance.<h4>Methods</h4>To assess amyloid deposition, we imaged 85 cognitively normal adults with florbetapir positron emission tomography imaging. Subjective ...[more]

PMID: 30809586

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Project description:Importance:The ability to explore associations between reports of subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and biomarkers of early Alzheimer disease (AD) pathophysiologic processes (accumulation of neocortical ?-amyloid [A?] and tau) provides an important opportunity to understand the basis of SCD and AD risk. Objective:To examine associations between SCD and global A? and tau burdens in regions of interest in clinically healthy older adults. Design, Setting, and Participants:This imaging substudy of the Harvard Aging Brain Study included 133 clinically healthy older participants (Clinical Dementia Rating Scale global scores of 0) participating in the Harvard Aging Brain Study who underwent cross-sectional flortaucipir F 18 (previously known as AV 1451, T807) positron emission tomography (FTP-PET) imaging for tau and Pittsburgh compound B carbon 11-labeled PET (PiB-PET) imaging for A?. The following 2 regions for tau burden were identified: the entorhinal cortex, which exhibits early signs of tauopathy, and the inferior temporal region, which is more closely associated with AD-related pathologic mechanisms. Data were collected from June 11, 2012, through April 7, 2016. Main Outcomes and Measures:Subjective cognitive decline was measured using a previously published method of z-transforming subscales from the Memory Functioning Questionnaire, the Everyday Cognition battery, and a 7-item questionnaire. The A? level was measured according to a summary distribution volume ratio of frontal, lateral temporal and parietal, and retrosplenial PiB-PET tracer uptake. The FTP-PET measures were computed as standardized uptake value ratios. Linear regression models focused on main and interactive effects of A?, entorhinal cortical, and inferior temporal tau on SCD, controlling for age, sex, educational attainment, and Geriatric Depression Scale score. Results:Of the 133 participants, 75 (56.3%) were women and 58 (43.6%) were men; mean (SD) age was 76 (6.9) years (range, 55-90 years). Thirty-nine participants (29.3%) exhibited a high A? burden. Greater SCD was associated with increasing entorhinal cortical tau burden (??=?0.35; 95% CI, 0.19-.52; P?<?.001) and A? burden (??=?0.24; 95% CI, 0.08-.40; P?=?.005), but not inferior temporal tau burden (??=?0.10; 95% CI, -0.08 to 0.28; P?=?.27). This association between entorhinal cortical tau burden and SCD was largely unchanged after accounting for A? burden (??=?0.36; 95% CI, 0.15-.58; P?=?.001), and no interaction influenced SCD (??=?-0.36; 95% CI, -0.34 to 0.09; P?=?.25). An exploratory post hoc whole-brain analysis also indicated that SCD was predominantly associated with greater tau burden in the entorhinal cortex. Conclusions and Relevance:Subjective cognitive decline is indicative of accumulation of early tauopathy in the medial temporal lobe, specifically in the entorhinal cortex, and to a lesser extent, elevated global levels of A?. Our findings suggest multiple underlying pathways that motivate SCD that do not necessarily interact to influence SCD endorsement. As such, multiple biological factors must be considered when assessing SCD in clinically healthy older adults.

Project description:During the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, fear of disease and its consequences, recommended lifestyle changes, and severe restrictions set by governments acted as stressors and affected people's mood, emotions, mental health, and wellbeing. Many studies conducted during this crisis focused on affective and physiological responses to stress, but few studies examined how the crisis affected cognition. The present cross-sectional study examined the relationship between physiological, affective, and cognitive responses to the epidemic. In an online survey conducted at the height of the first wave of the epidemic in Slovenia (April 15-25, 2020), 830 Slovenian residents aged 18-85 years reported the effects of stressors (confinement, problems at home, problems at work, lack of necessities, and increased workload), experienced emotions, generalized anxiety, perceived stress, changes in health, fatigue and sleep quality, and perceived changes in cognition during the epidemic. Risk factors for stress (neuroticism, vulnerability, general health, gender, and age) were also recorded. We hypothesized that stressors and stress risk factors will be related to subjective cognitive decline, with negative emotions, generalized anxiety, perceived stress, and physical symptoms acting as mediator variables. On average, the results showed a mild subjective cognitive decline during the epidemic. In structural equation modeling, 34% of its variance was predicted by the mediator variables, with negative emotions and physical symptoms having the largest contribution. Stress risk factors were predictably related to the four mediator variables. Among the stressors, confinement showed the strongest effect on the four mediator variables, implying the importance of thoughtful communication about necessary restrictive measures during emergency circumstances. The results of this study indicate that the possibility of altered cognitive function should be considered when planning work and study activities during the epidemic.

Dataset Information

Actual memory as a mediator of the amyloid-subjective cognitive decline relationship.

Introduction

Methods

Results

Discussion

Publications

Actual memory as a mediator of the amyloid-subjective cognitive decline relationship.

Similar Datasets

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