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Quaranta D, Di Tella S, Cassano V, L'Abbate F, Bruno M, Gaudino S, Panfili M, Silveri MC, Marra C. Neural correlates of empathy in mild cognitive impairment. COGNITIVE, AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2024; 24:171-183. [PMID: 38158451 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-023-01146-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
The occurrence of clinically significant changes in empathy is a matter of debate in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Altered empathic mechanisms observed in AD may be a consequence of cognitive impairment, more specifically of reduced mental flexibility and self-regulation. The present study explored possible changes in empathy for subjects in the prodromal phase of AD, namely mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to AD, and of their neural substrates. Eighteen MCI patients and 20 healthy controls (HC) were included in the study. The Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) questionnaire was administered to each participant. The IRI encompasses four factors: Perspective Taking; Fantasy; Empathic Concern; Personal Distress. MCI patients underwent a magnetic resonance imaging structural examination and were compared to 30 healthy controls (HC-MRI). A limited number of cortical and subcortical regions involved in social cognition was selected as regions of interest (ROIs). MCI individuals obtained lower scores than HC in the Perspective Taking and Fantasy subscales of the IRI, whereas they obtained higher scores on Empathic Concern. Regarding neuroimaging data, a significant correlation emerged between IRI scores and the neural measurements of different regions involved in empathy, especially covering the temporoparietal junction, which is a critical region engaged in both affective and cognitive dimensions of empathy. The results of the present study suggest that a subtle impairment in regulatory mechanisms of empathy may occur very early during the course of AD, possibly as a consequence of neuropathological changes occurring in brain regions involved in social cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Quaranta
- Neurology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "Agostino Gemelli" IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
- Department of Neuroscience, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
- Department of Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milan, Italy.
| | - Sonia Di Tella
- Department of Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Federica L'Abbate
- Neurology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "Agostino Gemelli" IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Matilde Bruno
- Memory Clinic, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Simona Gaudino
- Radiology and Neuroradiology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "Agostino Gemelli" IRCSS, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Panfili
- Radiology and Neuroradiology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "Agostino Gemelli" IRCSS, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Camillo Marra
- Neurology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "Agostino Gemelli" IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
- Department of Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milan, Italy
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Giacomucci G, Galdo G, Polito C, Berti V, Padiglioni S, Mazzeo S, Chiaro E, De Cristofaro MT, Bagnoli S, Nacmias B, Sorbi S, Bessi V. Unravelling neural correlates of empathy deficits in Subjective Cognitive Decline, Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease. Behav Brain Res 2022; 428:113893. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.113893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Fischer A, Landeira-Fernandez J, Sollero de Campos F, Mograbi DC. Empathy in Alzheimer’s Disease: Review of Findings and Proposed Model. J Alzheimers Dis 2019; 69:921-933. [DOI: 10.3233/jad-180730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Fischer
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Jesus Landeira-Fernandez
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Flavia Sollero de Campos
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Daniel C. Mograbi
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
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