Impact of Environment, Mood, and Fatigue on Cognitive Assessments in Older Adults
Author Information
Author(s): Wilks Hannah, Welhaf Matthew, Aschenbrenner Andrew, Morris John, Hassenstab Jason
Primary Institution: Washington University in St. Louis
Hypothesis
How do environmental context, mood, and fatigue affect cognition in older adults at risk for Alzheimer's disease?
Conclusion
Environmental and affective factors can influence memory and processing speed in older adults at risk for Alzheimer's disease.
Supporting Evidence
- Cognition was worse in distracting environments and after sedentary behavior.
- Affective states were not associated with cognition.
- Effects were stronger in participants with mild dementia symptoms.
Takeaway
The place and situation you're in can make it harder for older people to remember things, especially if they have early signs of dementia.
Methodology
Participants were assessed using a smartphone app to measure cognition, context, and mood up to 28 times over a week.
Limitations
The study may not account for all variables affecting cognition in naturalistic settings.
Participant Demographics
Participants had a mean age of 75, with ages ranging from 61 to 97.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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