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Emotional Recognition: A Comparative Study of People with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease Self-Report with Caregiver Perspectives

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Objective : This study compared emotional recognition in participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild to moderate Alzheimer ’s disease (AD) against caregivers' perceptions of these participants' emotional states, while exploring the influence of clinical variables. Methods : We included 141 participants (32 with MCI, 50 with mild AD, and 59 with moderate AD) and their primary caregivers. We employed tasks assessing emotional decoding, identification, and correspondence, along with objective evaluations. Results : Participants across all groups showed significant differences in cognition and functionality. However, emotional recognition abilities did not significantly differ between MCI and mild or moderate AD groups. Most cognitive and neuropsychiatric variables had no significant impact on emotion recognition or social functioning. No differences emerged in patients’ self-evaluations of social and emotional functioning. Caregiver assessments revealed significant differences only between the MCI and moderate AD groups. Conclusion : Participants with MCI and AD displayed expected clinical progression while retaining some emotional recognition and social functioning capabilities.

Source: Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology

DOI: 10.1177/08919887251338266

Authors: Rogeria Cristina Rangel, Tatiana T. Belfort, Michelle Mattoso Brandt, Marcela Lima Nogueira, Marcia C. N. Dourado

Institution: Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro

Language: English

Topic: Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research

Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro