Among participants with Alzheimer's disease (AD) we estimated the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) in apathy symptom severity on three scales.

Retrospective anchor- and distribution-based analyses of change in apathy symptom scores.

Apathy in Dementia Methylphenidate Trial (ADMET) and ADMET 2 randomized controlled trials conducted at three and ten clinics specialized in dementia care in United States and Canada, respectively.

Two hundred and sixty participants (60 ADMET, 200 ADMET 2) with clinically significant apathy in Alzheimer’s disease.

The Clinical Global Impression of Change in Apathy scale was used as the anchor measure and the MCID on the Neuropsychiatric Inventory – Apathy (NPI-A), Dementia Apathy Interview and Rating (DAIR), and Apathy Evaluation Scale-Informant (AES-I) were estimated with linear mixed models across all study visits. The estimated thresholds were evaluated with performance metrics.

Among the MCID was a decrease of four points (95% CI: −4.0 to −4.8) on the NPI-A, 0.56 points (95% CI: −0.47 to −0.65) on the DAIR, and three points on the AES-I (95% CI: −0.9 to −5.4). Distribution-based analyses were largely consistent with the anchor-based analyses. The MCID across the three measures showed ∼60% accuracy. Sensitivity analyses found that MMSE scores and apathy severity at baseline influenced the estimated MCID.

MCIDs for apathy on three scales will help evaluate treatment efficacy at the individual level. However, the modest correspondence between MCID and clinical impression of change suggests the need to consider other scales.

We explored the influence of study partner (SP) characteristics on SP-reported neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) presence across the neurocognitive spectrum and on the prognostic utility of mild behavioral impairment (MBI).

We performed cross-sectional (n = 26,748) and longitudinal (n = 12,794) analyses using participant-SP dyad data from the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center. Participants were cognitively normal (CN; n = 11,951) or had mild cognitive impairment (MCI; n = 5686) or dementia (n = 9111).

SPs rated NPS using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire. We used multivariable logistic regression to model the association between SP characteristics (age, sex, and relationship to participant [spouse, child, and other]) and NPS status (outcome). Cox regressions assessed SP characteristics as moderators of MBI associations with incident dementia or as predictors of incident dementia in MBI + participants only.

Among CN persons, younger, female, and spouse SPs reported NPS more frequently. In MCI, younger SPs and those who were spouses or children of participants reported higher NPS odds. For dementia participants, NPS odds were higher in female and spouse SPs. MBI associations with incident dementia were slightly weaker when SPs were older but did not depend on SP sex or relationship to participant. Among MBI + participants with spouse or child SPs, hazard for dementia was higher when compared to MBI + participants with other SPs.

SP age, sex, and relationship to participant influence NPS reporting across the neurocognitive spectrum, with potential implications for MBI prognosis. Considering SP characteristics may enhance the accuracy of NPS assessments, which may facilitate therapy planning and prognosis.

In older patients with mental and physical multimorbidity (MPM), personality assessment is highly complex. Our aim was to examine personality traits in this population using the Hetero-Anamnestic Personality questionnaire (HAP), and to compare the premorbid perspective of patients’ relatives (HAP) with the present-time perspective of nursing staff (HAP-t).

Cross-sectional.

Dutch gerontopsychiatric nursing home (GP-NH) units.

Totally, 142 GP-NH residents with MPM (excluding dementia).

NH norm data of the HAP were used to identify clinically relevant premorbid traits. Linear mixed models estimated the differences between HAP and HAP-t trait scores (0–10). Agreement was quantified by intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). All HAP-HAP-t analyses were corrected for response tendency (RT) scores (−10–10).

78.4% of the patients had at least one premorbid maladaptive trait, and 62.2% had two or more. Most prevalent were: “disorderly” (30.3%), “unpredictable/impulsive” (29.1%) and “vulnerable” (27.3%) behavior. The RT of relatives appeared significantly more positive than that of nursing staff (+1.8, 95% CI 0.6–2.9, p = 0.002). After RT correction, the traits “vulnerable”, “perfectionist” and “unpredictable/impulsive” behavior scored higher on the HAP than HAP-t (respectively +1.2, 95% CI 0.6–1.7, p < 0.001; +2.1, 95% CI 1.3–2.8, p < 0.001; +0.6, 95% CI 0.1–1.1, p = 0.013), while “rigid” behavior scored lower (−0.7, 95% CI −1.3 to −0.03, p = 0.042). Adjusted ICCs ranged from 0.15 to 0.58.

Our study shows high percentages of premorbid maladaptive personality traits, which calls for attention on personality assessment in MPM NH residents. Results also indicate that the HAP and HAP-t questionnaires should not be used interchangeably for this patient group in clinical practice.

We aimed to examine associations between neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) and white matter hyperintensities (WMH) status in older adults without dementia under the hypothesis that WMH increased the odds of having NPS.

Longitudinal analysis of data acquired from the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center Uniform Data Set.

Data were derived from 46 National Institute on Aging – funded Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers.

NACC participants aged ≥50 years with available data on WMH severity with a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or who were cognitively unimpaired (CU) were studied. Among 4617 CU participants, 376 had moderate and 54 extensive WMH. Among 3170 participants with MCI, 471 had moderate and 88 had extensive WMH.

Using Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) scores, WMH were coded as no to mild (CHS score: 0–4), moderate (score: 5–6) or extensive (score: 7–8). NPS were quantified on the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire. Binary logistic regression models estimated the odds of reporting each of 12 NPS by WMH status separately for individuals with MCI or who were CU.

Compared to CU individuals with no to mild WMH, the odds of having elation [9.87, (2.63–37.10)], disinhibition [4.42, (1.28–15.32)], agitation [3.51, (1.29–9.54)] or anxiety [2.74, (1.28–5.88)] were higher for the extensive WMH group, whereas the odds of having disinhibition were higher for the moderate WMH group [1.94, (1.05–3.61)]. In the MCI group, he odds of NPS did not vary by WMH status.

Extensive WMH were associated with higher odds of NPS in CU older adults but not in those with MCI.

Few studies have examined the impact of late-life depression trajectories on specific domains of cognitive function. This study aims to delineate how different depressive symptom trajectories specifically affect cognitive function in older adults.

Prospective longitudinal cohort study

Australia and the United States of America

In total, 11,035 community-dwelling older adults with a mean age of 75 years

Depressive trajectories were modelled from depressive symptoms according to annual Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale 10 (CES-D-10) surveys. Four trajectories of depressive symptoms were identified: low (“nondepressed”), consistently mild (“subthreshold depression”), consistently moderate (“persistent depression”), and initially low but increasing (“emerging depression”). Global cognition (Modified Mini-Mental State Examination [3MS]), verbal fluency (Controlled Oral Word Association Test [COWAT]), processing speed (Symbol Digit Modalities Test [SDMT]), episodic memory (Hopkins Verbal Learning Test – Revised [HVLT-R]), and a composite z-score were assessed over a subsequent median 2 years.

Subthreshold depression predicted impaired performance on the SDMT (Cohen’s d −0.04) and composite score (−0.03); emerging depression predicted impaired performance on the SDMT (−0.13), HVLT-R (−0.09), 3 MS (−0.08) and composite score (−0.09); and persistent depression predicted impaired performance on the SDMT (−0.08), 3 MS (−0.11), and composite score (−0.09).

Depressive symptoms are associated with later impaired processing speed. These effects are small. Diverse depression trajectories have different impacts on cognitive function.

We aimed to explore the reciprocal effects of social participation, loneliness, and physical inactivity over a period of 6 years in a representative sample of European adults over 50 years old.

A longitudinal study with a six-year follow-up period was conducted.

Four waves of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe project were used.

This study includes 64,887 participants from Europe and Israel, who were aged 50 or older at the first time.

The relationship between participation in social activities, loneliness and physical inactivity was analyzed, controlling for age, gender, and disability. A series of cross-lagged panel models (CLPMs) were applied to analyze the relationships among these variables.

A CLPM with equal autoregressive cross-lagged effects across waves was the best fit to the data (χ2 = 7137.8, CFI = .972, RMSEA = .049, SRMR = .036). The autoregressive effects for the three variables showed high stability across waves, and all the cross-lagged effects in the model were statistically significant. Social activity and physical inactivity maintained a strong negative cross-lagged effect, while their cross-lagged effects on loneliness were comparatively smaller. Social activity had a positive cross-lagged effect on loneliness, while physical inactivity had a negative cross-lagged effect on loneliness.

These findings highlight the importance of promoting physical activity and social participation and addressing loneliness through targeted interventions in older adults.

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to assess the prevalence of loneliness in many countries worldwide which have different ways of assessing it.

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

We searched seven electronic databases for English peer-reviewed studies published between 1992 and 2021.

We selected English-language peer-reviewed articles, with data from non-clinical populations of community-dwelling older adults (>60 years), and with “loneliness” or “lonely” in the title.

A multilevel random-effects meta-analysis was used to estimate the prevalence of loneliness across studies and to pool prevalence rates for different measurement instruments, data collection methods, and countries.

Our initial search identified 2,021 studies of which 45 (k = 101 prevalence rates) were included in the final meta-analysis. The estimated pooled prevalence rate was 31.6% (n = 168,473). Measurement instrument was a statistically significant moderator of the overall prevalence of loneliness. Loneliness prevalence was lowest for single-item questions and highest for the 20-item University of California-Los Angeles Loneliness Scale. Also, differences between modes of data collection were significant: the loneliness prevalence was significantly the highest for face-to-face data collection and the lowest for telephone and CATI data collection. Our moderator analysis to look at the country effect indicated that four of the six dimensions of Hofstede also caused a significant increase (Power Distance Index, Uncertainty Avoidance Index, Indulgence) or decrease (Individualism) in loneliness prevalence.

This study suggests that there is high variability in loneliness prevalence rates among community-dwelling older adults, influenced by measurement instrument used, mode of data collection, and country.

We aimed to psychometrically evaluate and validate a Japanese version of the Social Functioning in Dementia scale (SF-DEM-J) and investigate changes in social function in people with dementia during the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic.

We interviewed people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild dementia and their caregivers during June 2020–March 2021 to validate patient- and caregiver-rated SF-DEM-J and compared their scores at baseline (April 2020 to May 2020) and at 6–8 months (January 2021 to March 2021) during a time of tighter COVID-19 restrictions.

The neuropsychology clinic in the Department of Psychiatry at Osaka University Hospital and outpatient clinic in the Department of Psychiatry and Neurology at Daini Osaka Police Hospital, Japan.

103 dyads of patients and caregivers.

SF-DEM-J, Mini-Mental State Examination, Neuropsychiatric Inventory, UCLA Loneliness Scale, and Apathy Evaluation Scale.

The scale’s interrater reliability was excellent and test–retest reliability was substantial. Content validity was confirmed for the caregiver-rated SF-DEM-J, and convergent validity was moderate. Caregiver-rated SF-DEM-J was associated with apathy, irritability, loneliness, and cognitive impairment. The total score of caregiver-rated SF-DEM-J and the score of Section 2, “communication with others,” significantly improved at 6–8 months of follow-up.

The SF-DEM-J is acceptable as a measure of social function in MCI and mild dementia. Our results show that the social functioning of people with dementia, especially communicating with others, improved during the COVID-19 pandemic, probably as a result of adaptation to the restrictive life.

Eating problems frequently occur in people with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), but few studies have investigated the clinical background of this phenomenon. This study examined the relationship between eating problems and various symptoms of DLB and the relation between the treatment needs for DLB people with eating problems and the understanding of their eating problems by caregivers and physicians.

This was a subanalysis of a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based survey study. Two hundred sixty-one subjects with DLB were divided into subjects with or without eating problems. Logistic or linear regression analysis was used to investigate the factors influencing eating problems. The treatment needs of DLB people for their eating problems and the understanding of these needs by caregivers and physicians were calculated as participant–caregiver and participant–physician kappa coefficient.

Of the 261 participants, 27% suffered from eating problems. The presence of eating problems in participants with DLB was related to depression (p = 0.01, OR : 2.19, 95% CI: 1.23–3.91) and apathy (p = 0.01, OR 2.15, 95% CI: 1.20–3.87), while the worsening of eating problems was related to dysphagia (β = 0.24, p = 0.03), apathy (β = 0.23, p = 0.05), and nighttime behavior (β = 0.24, p = 0.04). The participant–physician kappa coefficient for physician understanding of constipation, weight loss, dysphagia, weight gain, and increase in appetite was significantly lower than the corresponding participant–caregiver kappa coefficient (p-value of five symptoms < 0.01).

Physicians need to pay more attention to eating problems and their neuropsychiatric background in the long-term support and management of DLB subjects.

Research on suicide rarely focuses on protective factors. The goal of this systematic review was to assess the evidence of the associations between protective factors and reduced suicidality among older adults.

First, a scoping review was conducted to identify pertinent terms that refer to various protective factors against suicidality. A systematic review, following the PRISMA guidelines, was then conducted on a selection of 15 protective factors (e.g., perceived control, well-being and quality of life, life satisfaction, purpose-in-life, resilience, coping, religiosity, hope, self-regulation, sense of belonging, mattering, positive relationship, social support, social connectedness, and social participation), with separate searches performed on each factor in five databases. Empirical studies were eligible if participants were adults aged 60 years and over, and if the studies reported predictive statistical analysis.

A total of 70 studies were retained for the review. Suicidal ideation was the main outcome measure (91%). Significant associations were consistently observed between all protective factors and reduced suicidal ideations or behaviors, particularly for purpose-in-life, resilience, and positive relationships, indicating that these are solid components for suicide prevention. Using scales, instead of a single item, to measure protective factors (e.g. life satisfaction) was more efficient to capture the associations. On the other hand, results were similar whether studies used subjective (e.g., sense of belonging) or objective (e.g., social connectedness) measures.

Protective factors were inversely associated with suicidal ideation. Improving protective factors is essential for the development of late-life suicide prevention and interventions, instead of merely focusing on risk factors.

Social isolation and loneliness are prevalent in older adults and are detrimental to physical and mental health. Social media use has been shown to be effective in maintaining social connections and improving older adults’ psychosocial outcomes. This study aimed to systematically review and synthesize current research on this topic.

Searches were conducted in November 2021 (and updated in October 2023) in PsycINFO, PubMed, and CINAHL. Inclusion criteria: (1) participants ≥ 65 years (mean, median, or minimum age) and (2) reported impact of social media use on psychosocial outcomes (including loneliness, depression, anxiety, social connectedness, wellbeing, life satisfaction, and quality of life). Quality appraisal tools were utilized, and results were synthesized using narrative synthesis.

Sixty-four papers met inclusion criteria, including cross-sectional (n = 38), observational longitudinal (n = 6), interventional (n = 9), mixed-methods (n = 4), and qualitative (n = 7) studies. Participant numbers ranged from 6 to 16,925. While associations between social media use and positive psychosocial outcomes were generally reported in cross-sectional studies, the impact of social media use over time from longitudinal studies was mixed and inconclusive.

While social media use is associated with positive psychosocial outcomes, casual conclusions cannot be drawn. Few longitudinal and randomized controlled trial studies existed, and these reported mixed findings. Large variations in study methodology including participants, measurement of social media use, and outcome measures contributed to the inconsistencies of findings. Addressing this heterogeneity through standardized approaches and more rigorous research may enhance understanding.

To assess differences in psychosocial and mental health outcomes between older lesbian and bisexual women compared to heterosexual women.

Cross sectional study.

The study was carried out in the California Teachers Study, a prospective cohort study.

Self-identified heterosexual (n = 35,846), lesbian (n = 710), and bisexual (n = 253) women 50 years of age and older were enrolled.

Validated questionnaires were used to measure social connection, overall happiness, and depression. Logistic regression modeling was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) comparing lesbian and bisexual women separately to heterosexual women in relation to psychosocial and mental health outcomes.

After controlling for age and marital status, older bisexual women were significantly more likely to report lack of companionship (OR = 2.00; 95% CI, 1.30–3.12) and feeling left out (OR = 2.33; 95% CI, 1.36–3.97) compared to older heterosexual women. The odds of reporting feeling isolated from others was significantly higher in lesbian (OR = 1.56; 95% CI, 1.06–2.30) and bisexual women (OR = 2.30; 95% CI, 1.37–3.87) than in heterosexual women. The OR (95% CI) for reporting not being very happy overall was 1.96 (CI, 1.09–3.52) in bisexual women and 1.40 (0.92–2.14) in lesbian women compared to heterosexual women. The likelihood of reporting diagnosed depression was significantly higher in lesbian women (OR = 1.65; 95% CI, 1.38–1.97) and bisexual women (OR = 2.21; 95% CI, 1.67–2.93) compared to heterosexual women.

Inclusion of lesbian and bisexual women in aging research is essential to understand their unique mental and other health needs, including those specific to bisexual women.

Gender norms embedded in communities may restrict opportunities and harm the mental health of older adults, yet this phenomenon has received little attention. This study investigates the connection between older adults’ perceptions of community gender norms and mental health and suicide-related outcomes.

Cross-sectional.

This study analyzed data from the 2019 wave of the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study.

In total, 25,937 participants aged 65 years or older in 61 municipalities.

Perceptions of community gender norms were assessed by the respondents’ perceptions of the gender-differentiating language used by those around them such as “You should/should not do XXX, because you are a man/woman.”

The prevalence of all mental health outcomes was higher among both men and women who perceived community gender norms as restrictive. These associations remained in fully adjusted multivariable analyses. Prevalence ratios for men were 1.36 [95% confidence interval: 1.13, 1.65] for psychological resistance to obtaining help, 1.85 [1.54, 2.23] for depressive symptoms, 1.99 [1.34, 2.96] for suicidal ideation, and 2.15 [1.21, 3.80] for suicide attempts. The corresponding figures for women were 1.39 [1.17, 1.65], 1.80 [1.55, 2.10], 2.13 [1.65, 2.74], 2.62 [1.78, 3.87]. There was a more pronounced association between perceiving community gender norms as restrictive and depressive symptoms and suicidal behaviors among those with nonconventional gender role attitudes compared to those with conventional attitudes.

Considering the effects of community gender norms, in addition to individual gender role attitudes, may be critical in designing effective public health interventions for improving mental health.

This study investigated whether the association between modifiable dementia risk and rate of cognitive decline differs across socioeconomic status (SES) strata.

Data were used from Maastricht Aging Study, a prospective cohort study with a 12-year follow-up. The baseline sample consisted of 1023 adults over 40 years old.

The “LIfestyle for BRAin health” (LIBRA) index was used to assess modifiable dementia risk. Cognitive performance was assessed at baseline, 6 and 12 years, and measured in the domains of information processing speed, executive functioning and verbal memory function. An SES score was calculated from equivalent income and educational level (tertiles). Linear mixed models were used to study the association between LIBRA, SES and their interaction on the rate of cognitive decline.

Participants in the lowest SES tertile displayed more decline in information processing speed (vs. middle SES: X2 = 7.08, P = 0.029; vs. high SES: X2 = 9.49, P = 0.009) and verbal memory (vs. middle SES: X2 = 9.28, P < 0.001; vs. high SES: X2 = 16.68, P < 0.001) over 6 years compared to their middle- and high-SES counterparts. Higher (unhealthier) LIBRA scores were associated with more decline in information processing speed (X2 = 12.66, P = 0.002) over 12 years and verbal memory (X2 = 4.63, P = 0.032) over 6 years. No consistent effect modification by SES on the association between LIBRA and cognition was found.

Results suggest that lifestyle is an important determinant of cognitive decline across SES groups. Yet, people with low SES had a more unfavorable modifiable risk score suggesting more potential for lifestyle-based interventions.

The aim of this systematic review is to examine the cognitive impact of psychotropic medications including benzodiazepines, antidepressants, mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, or a combination of these drugs on older adults.

Systematic review.

We searched Medline, PsycINFO, and Embase through the Ovid platform, CINAHL through EBSCO, and Web of Science.

Randomized control trials (RCTs) and cohort studies that used a validated scale to measure cognition with a follow-up period of at least six months were included.

The primary outcome of interest was cognitive change associated with psychotropic medication use.

A total of 7551 articles were identified from the primary electronic literature search across the five databases after eliminating duplicates. Based on full-text analysis, 27 articles (two RCTs, 25 cohorts) met the inclusion criteria. Of these, nine each examined the impact of benzodiazepines and antidepressants, five examined psychotropic combinations, three on antipsychotic drugs, and one on the effects of mood stabilizers.

This is the first systematic review to examine the cognitive impact of multiple psychotropic drug classes in older adults over an extended follow-up period (six months or more) using robust sample sizes, drug-free control groups, and validated cognitive instruments. We found evidence to indicate cognitive decline with the cumulative use of benzodiazepines and the use of antidepressants, especially those with anticholinergic properties among older adults without cognitive impairment at baseline. Further, the use of antipsychotics and psychotropic combinations is also associated with cognitive decline in older adults.

To examine trends in rates of self-harm among emergency department (ED) presenting older adults in Ireland over a 13-year period.

Population-based study using data from the National Self-Harm Registry Ireland.

National hospital EDs.

Older adults aged 60 years and over presenting with self-harm to hospital EDs in Ireland between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2019.

ED self-harm presentations.

Between 2007 and 2019, there were 6931 presentations of self-harm in older adults. The average annual self-harm rate was 57.8 per 100,000 among older adults aged 60 years and over. Female rates were 1.1 times higher compared to their male counterparts (61.4 vs 53.9 per 100,000). Throughout the study time frame, females aged 60–69 years had the highest rates (88.1 per 100,000), while females aged 80 years and over had the lowest rates (18.7 per 100,000). Intentional drug overdose was the most commonly used method (75.5%), and alcohol was involved in 30.3% of presentations. Between the austerity and recession years (2007–2012), self-harm presentations were 7% higher compared to 2013–2019 (incidence rate ratio (IRR): 1.07 95% CI 1.02–1.13, p = 0.01).

Findings indicate that self-harm in older adults remains a concern with approximately 533 presentations per year in Ireland. While in younger age groups, females report higher rates of self-harm, this gender difference was reversed in the oldest age group (80 years and over), with higher rates of self-harm among males. Austerity/recession years (2007–2012) had significantly higher rates of self-harm compared to subsequent years.