Impaired emotion recognition in dementia is associated with increased patient agitation, behavior management difficulties, and caregiver burden. Emerging evidence supports the presence of very early emotion recognition difficulties in mild cognitive impairment (MCI); however, the relationship between these impairments and psychosocial measures is not yet explored.
Methods:
Emotion recognition abilities of 27 patients with nonamnestic MCI (naMCI), 29 patients with amnestic MCI (aMCI), and 22 control participants were assessed. Self-report measures assessed patient functional disability, while informants rated the degree of burden they experienced.
Results:
Difficulties in recognizing anger was evident in the amnestic subtype. Although both the patient groups reported greater social functioning disability, compared with the controls, a relationship between social dysfunction and anger recognition was evident only for patients with naMCI. A significant association was found between burden and anger recognition in patients with aMCI.
Conclusions:
Impaired emotion recognition abilities impact MCI subtypes differentially. Interventions targeted at patients with MCI, and caregivers are warranted.
BrüneMBrüne-CohrsU. Theory of mind—evolution, ontogeny, brain mechanisms and psychopathology. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2006;30(4):437–455.
2.
GreveKWCadieuxNHaleMA. Emotion processing and caregiver stress in Alzheimer's disease: a preliminary report. Clin Gerontol. 1995;15(2):75–77.
3.
SpoletiniIMarraCDi IulioFFacial emotion recognition deficit in amnestic mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer disease. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2008;16(5):389–398.
4.
WeissEMKohlerCGVonbankJImpairment in emotion recognition abilities in patients with mild cognitive impairment, early and moderate Alzheimer disease compared with healthy comparison subjects. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2008;16(12):974–980.
5.
BediouBRyffIMercierBImpaired social cognition in mild Alzheimer disease. J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol. 2009;22(2):130–140.
6.
PhillipsLHScottCHenryJDEmotion perception in Alzheimer's disease and mood disorder in old age. Psychol Aging. 2010;25(1):38–47.
7.
StaffRTAhearnTSPhillipsLHThe cerebral blood flow correlates of emotional facial processing in mild Alzheimer's disease. Neurosci Med. 2011;2(1):6–13.
8.
ShimokawaAYatomiNAnamizuSInfluence of deteriorating ability of emotional comprehension on interpersonal behavior in Alzheimer-type dementia. Brain Cogn. 2001;47(3):423–433.
9.
NelisSMClareLMartyrAAwareness of social and emotional functioning in people with early-stage dementia and implications for carers. Aging Ment Health. 2011;15(8):961–969.
10.
PetersenRC. Mild cognitive impairment as a diagnostic entity. J Intern Med. 2004;256(3):183–194.
11.
FujieSNamikiCNishiHThe role of the uncinate fasciculus in memory and emotional recognition in amnestic mild cognitive impairment. Dement Geriatr Cogn Dis. 2008;26(5):432–439.
12.
TengELuPHCummingsJL. Deficits in facial emotion processing in mild cognitive impairment. Dement Geriatr Cogn Dis. 2007;23(4):271–279.
13.
HenryJDThompsonCRuffmanTThreat perception in mild cognitive impairment and early dementia. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2009;64(5):603–607.
14.
RasquinSMLodderJVisserPJLousbergRVerheyFR. Predictive accuracy of MCI subtypes for Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia in subjects with mild cognitive impairment: a 2-Year follow-up study. Dement Geriatr Cogn Dis. 2005;19(2-3):113–119.
15.
FirstMBGibbonMSpitzerRLStructured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II Personality Disorders, (SCID-II). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press, Inc.; 1997.
16.
HamiltonM. A rating scale for depression. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1960;23:56–62.
17.
WechslerD. WAIS-III Adult Intelligence Scale. 3rd ed. San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation; 1997.
18.
WechslerD. Wechsler Memory Scale. 3rd ed. New York, NY: The Psychological Corporation; 1997.
19.
KaplanEGoodglassHWeintraubS. Boston Naming Test. Philadelphia, PA: Lea and Febiger; 1983.
20.
MeyersJEMeyersKR. Rey Complex Figure Test and Recognition Trial: Professional Manual. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources Inc.; 1995.
YoungAWPerrettDCalderAFacial Expressions of Emotions: Stimuli and Test (FEEST). UK: Thames Valley Test Company; 2002.
23.
BentonALSivanABHamsherKSFacial Recognition. Stimulus and Multiple Choice Pictures. New York, NY: Oxford University Press; 1983.
24.
World Health Organisation. World health organisation disability assessment schedule II; 2001. http://www.who.int/icidh/whodas/. Accessed June 13, 2009.
25.
ZaritSHReeverKEBach-PetersonJ. Relatives of the impaired elderly: correlates of feelings of burden. Gerontologist. 1980;20(6):649–655.
26.
HennenlotterASchroederU. Partly dissociable neural substrates for recognizing basic emotions: a critical review. Prog Brain Res. 2006;156:443–456.
27.
WhitwellJLPetersenRCNegashSPatterns of atrophy differ among specific subtypes of mild cognitive impairment. Arch Neurol. 2007;64(8):1130–1138.
28.
TabertMHAlbertSMPBorukhova-MilovLBFunctional deficits in patients with mild cognitive impairment: prediction of AD. Neurology. 2002;58(5):758–764.
29.
WadleyVGCroweMMarsiskeMChanges in everyday function in individuals with psychometrically defined mild cognitive impairment in the advanced cognitive training for independent and vital elderly study. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2007;55(8):1192–1198.
30.
LuckTLuppaMAngermeyerMCImpact of impairment in instrumental activities of daily living and mild cognitive impairment on time to incident dementia: results of the leipzig longitudinal study of the aged. Psychol Med. 2011;41(5):1087–1097.
31.
GarandLDewMAEazorLRDeKoskySTReynoldsCF III. Caregiving burden and psychiatric morbidity in spouses of persons with mild cognitive impairment. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2005;20(6):512–522.
32.
AgnewSKMorrisRG. The heterogeneity of anosognosia for memory impairment in Alzheimer's disease: a review of the literature and a proposed model. Aging Ment Health. 1998;2(1):7–19.
33.
LuppaMLuckTBraehlerEPrediction of institutionalisation in dementia—a systematic review. Dement Geriatr Cogn Dis. 2008;26(1):65–78.
34.
AverillJR. Anger and Aggression. New York, NY: Springer-Verlag; 1982.
35.
KippsCMMioshEHodgesJR. Emotion, social functioning and activities of daily living in frontotemporal dementia. Neurocase. 2009;15(3):182–189.
36.
SavundranayagamMYHummertMLMontgomeryRJ. Investigating the effects of communication problems on caregiver burden. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2005;60(1):S48–S55.
37.
van KleefGAvan DijkESteinelWHarinckFvan BeestL. Anger in social conflict: cross-situational comparisons and suggestions for the future. Group Decis Negot. 2008;17(1):13–30.
38.
DiongS-MBishopGD. Anger expression, coping styles, and well-being. J Health Psychol. 1999;4(1):81–96.
