The Paradox in Positive and Negative Aspects of Emotional Functioning Among Older Adults with Early Stages of Cognitive Impairment

Bibliographic Data

ID12798337
AuthorsManrui Zhang (0000-0001-8471-8578, Northwestern University, corresponding author), Emily Ho (0000-0002-3522-3779, Northwestern University), Cindy J Nowinski (0000-0001-5608-909X, Northwestern University), Rina S Fox (0000-0003-4307-5259, Northwestern University), Ezgi Aytürk (0000-0001-6509-4288, College of Social Sciences and Humanities, KOC Universitesi, Istanbul, Turkey), Tatiana Karpouzian‐Rogers (0000-0003-2902-5896, Northwestern University), Tatiana Karpouzian-Rogers (Northwestern University), Miriam A Novack (0000-0003-0522-0371, Northwestern University), Miriam Novack (Northwestern University), Hiroko H Dodge (Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA), Hiroko Dodge (0000-0001-7290-8307, Harvard University), Sandra Weintraub (Northwestern University), Sandra Weıntraub (0000-0003-2605-5205, Northwestern University), Richard Gershon (0000-0003-0085-0112, Northwestern University)
Year2023
Volume36
Issue7-8
Pages471-483
Publication date2023-10-06
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Aging and Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1552-6887 • E-ISSN: 0898-2643
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/08982643231199806
PMID37800686
OpenAlexW4387393390
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited68

Introduction: Emotional functioning in older adults is influenced by normal aging and cognitive impairment, likely heterogeneous across positive versus negative aspects of emotional functioning. Little is known about positive emotional experiences at the early stages of cognitive impairment. Methods: We assessed different aspects of emotional functioning among 448 participants aged 65+ (Normal Control (NC) = 276, Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) = 103, and mild dementia of the Alzheimer type (mild DAT) = 69) and tested moderators. Results: Compared to NC, older adults with MCI and mild DAT have maintained many positive aspects of emotional functioning, despite higher levels of negative affect, sadness, and loneliness. Among the oldest-old, the mild DAT group experienced higher fear and lower self-efficacy. Discussion: Older adults at early stages of cognitive impairment can experience positive aspects of emotional functioning, such as positive affect, purpose, and life satisfaction, all of which are important buildable psychological resources for coping

Affect (linguistics · Cognition · Cognitive impairment · Coping (psychology · Dementia · Developmental psychology · Disease · Loneliness · Psychiatry · Sadness · Aging and Gerontology Research · Clinical Psychology · Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research · Health and Well-being Studies · Medicine · Psychology

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