Combined Influences of Dementia Exposure and Personality on Self-Reported Memory Problems

Parental dementia and subjective memory impairment in the health and retirement study

OBJECTIVES

To examine relationships between subjective memory impairment (SMI) and parental dementia among in older adults while considering the interactive influence of depressive symptoms, ethnicity, and race.

METHOD

The sample was drawn from the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative longitudinal study of aging (n = 3,809; M_age = 66.09; SD = 1.88; 84.20% White; 12.23% Black; 7.88% Hispanic). Biennial assessments included two measures of SMI (current memory problems and perceived memory decline), depressive symptoms, and parental dementia, over periods of up to sixteen years. Multilevel modeling analyses examined longitudinal relationships between parental dementia and SMI and whether depressive symptoms, ethnicity, and race interactively influenced this association.

RESULTS

Results showed that when older adults reported parental dementia, they were more likely to report a decline in memory in the past two years. They also reported poorer current memory problems, especially when they experienced increased depressive symptoms. Associations of parental dementia were consistent across ethnicity and race.

CONCLUSIONS

Results demonstrate the importance of considering parental dementia as a factor that may contribute to SMI in older adults.

Factors that influence the emotional impact of memory problems in older adults: A qualitative descriptive study

BACKGROUND

Associations among psychological health and memory concerns in older adults are well-established, but much of this research is quantitative.

OBJECTIVES

This study examined how memory problems influence emotional well-being in older adults without dementia, and whether this differs by cognitive status and current depressive or anxiety symptoms.

METHODS

A qualitative descriptive design was used to examine our research questions. Community-dwelling older adults without dementia (n = 49, M_age  = 74.5[10.1], 63% women) completed a cognitive assessment, questionnaires and two semi-structured interviews. Content analysis was used to code and categorise the transcribed interview data, then identify themes within and across participant groups.

RESULTS

Five themes described the influence of memory problems on emotional well-being: Evoking Emotions, Fearing Future, Undermining Self, Normalising Problems and Adjusting Thinking. Memory problems' impact on emotional well-being varied by current anxiety symptoms, characteristics of the problem and personal experience with dementia.

CONCLUSION

The emotional impact of memory problems tended to differ by affective symptoms, not cognitive status. Older adults who report memory concerns without objective evidence of impairment may be at risk for negative impacts to mental health and well-being.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Cognitive screening guidelines should consider best practices for responding to memory concerns when cognitive testing results are normal.