P1‐476: Executive Functions and Impulsivity Predict Perception of Cognitive Decline Six Years Later
Year: 2019
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: This study aimed to characterize the overlap between executive function (EF) abilities and impulsivity in middle-aged adults, and examine whether they jointly or uniquely predict subjective cognitive decline as measured by the Everyday Cognition Questionnaire (ECog) 6 years later. The ECog is a 39-item instrument that asks individuals to rate how much they think memory, language, visual-perceptual, executive-planning, executive-organization, and executive-divided attention functions have declined from 10 years earlier. However, ECog items bear strong resemblance to questionnaires assessing everyday goal-management abilities that are associated with EF tasks and impulsivity questionnaires in young adults. We tested the hypothesis that subjective decline can be predicted by earlier levels of EF and impulsivity, and that both measures may demonstrate some unique predictive ability. 1059 male twins completed 7 neuropsychological EF tasks and the Barratt Impulsiveness Questionnaire at mean age 62. In a follow-up assessment at mean age 68, study participants and informants each completed the ECog questionnaire. There was a moderate negative correlation between the “common EF” latent factor (capturing shared variance in all 7 EF tasks) and self-reported impulsivity at age 62 (r = –.36), explained primarily by shared genetic influences. Both poor EFs and greater impulsivity at age 62 were correlated with age 68 participant-rated decline (rs = .18 to .44) and informant-rated decline (rs = .19 to .27) from all 6 ECog subscales. However, regression analyses indicated that poor objectively assessed EF ability at age 62 better predicted informant-rated decline (β = .16 to .29) whereas impulsivity at age 62 predicted participant-rated decline (β = .27 to .39), controlling for age, depression symptoms, and anxiety symptoms. Perceptions of cognitive decline are modestly correlated with objective EF ability 6 years earlier. Participants’ cognitive status had more of an influence of informants, whereas internal perceptions of one's own impulsive tendencies had more of an influence on participants themselves. A common concern about perceptions of cognitive decline is whether they are influenced by depressive affect. However, these findings suggest that much of the variance in subjective decline can be explained by initial levels of both cognition and impulsivity.
Source: Alzheimer s & Dementia
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2980669651